49ers Move LB Mychal Kendricks To IR
Mychal Kendricks‘ 49ers stay looks set to be brief. The team placed the veteran linebacker on IR Tuesday. Kendricks will no longer be eligible to suit up with San Francisco this season. The team also released cornerback B.W. Webb.
The recently signed linebacker is battling turf toe, an injury he sustained while playing in the 49ers’ second preseason game. The 49ers signed the veteran defender just last week, after he impressed during a workout. This marks another health setback for Kendricks, who suffered an ACL tear late in the 2019 season and saw his 2018 season end due to a broken leg.
Kendricks could play this season, but the 49ers would need to cut him from their IR list — which appears likely — via an injury settlement. However, the nine-year veteran’s run of bad injury breaks will limit his appeal. The 49ers had reached a unique arrangement, signing Kendricks to play for former teammate DeMeco Ryans, who is now the team’s defensive coordinator. This would be Kendricks’ age-31 season. He has played with Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington.
Webb caught on with San Francisco earlier this month as well but did not impress enough to make it past Tuesday’s second cutdown deadline. The 31-year-old veteran has not played since the 2019 season and has never played for the same team in back-to-back years. The 49ers were his 10th NFL stop.
Webb last played for the Bengals in 2019, when he started 12 games. The slot corner also worked as a primary starter in 2018, lining up as a Giants first-stringer in 13 contests.
Additionally, the 49ers released veteran edge defender Shilique Calhoun and waived wide receiver River Cracraft and offensive lineman Corbin Kaufusi.
49ers OL Aaron Banks To Miss Time
- Aaron Banks had a good chance to become a 49ers starting guard in Week 1, but his lineup path will be delayed. The second-round pick suffered a shoulder injury in San Francisco’s first preseason game; he will be sidelined for as many as three weeks. While the Iowa product should be healthy at some point in September, Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes (subscription required) that this should allow Daniel Brunskill to keep his starting right guard spot come Week 1. Brunskill started all 16 49ers games at right guard last season.
Contract Details: Bears, Peters, 49ers, Kendricks
The Bears and 49ers both managed to make notable upgrades in the middle of August. Now, we have details on their recent deals, courtesy of ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter link): 
- Bears OT Jason Peters: One-year, $1.75MM deal. $1.075M base salary. $250K signing bonus.
- 49ers LB Mychal Kendricks: One-year, $1.215MM deal (minimum salary benefit). $200K guaranteed with a cap charge of $866K.
Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowler, agreed to terms late last week. He’ll help to solidify the line in the wake of Teven Jenkins’ back surgery. While the second-round rookie recovers, he’ll slot in as the left-side starter opposite of Lachavious Simmons. Still imposing at the age of 39, Peters is not far removed from his stellar 2019 campaign — Pro Football Focus graded Peters as its No. 6 overall tackle that season.
Kendricks, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from legal turmoil and health issues.Now 30, Kendricks played in just one game last season. On the plus side, he is another year removed from his 2019 ACL tear.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/21
Tuesday afternoon marked the deadline for teams to cut down from 90 to 85 players. We’ll keep track of those cuts and the day’s other minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed (from Packers): P Ryan Winslow
- Waived: P Tyler Newsome
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Jeff Badet
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: P Johnny Townsend
Carolina Panthers
- Waived/injured: LB Nate Hall, C Mike Panasiuk
- Placed on IR: CB Troy Pride Jr.; Pride suffered a torn ACL
Chicago Bears
- Released: WR Justin Hardy
- Waived: DB Michael Joseph, LB Ledarius Mack
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: LB Anthony Hines, FB Sewo Olonilua, CB Reggie Robinson
- Waived: CB Kyron Brown, WR Brennan Eagles
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Adrian Killins
- Waived: DB Rojesterman Farris, LB Peter Kalambayi, DT Lorenzo Neal Jr.
- Waived/injured: WR DeVontres Dukes, RB LeVante Bellamy, DL Deyon Sizer
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
- Signed: QB Jordan Ta’amu
- Waived: DT Michael Barnett
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Chad Hansen
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: QB Jake Dolegala
- Placed on IR: TE Isaac Nauta, WR DeAndre Thompkins
- Waived: OL Zack Johnson
Houston Texans
- Reverted to reserve/NFI: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Te’von Coney
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB David Bellamy
- Waived: QB K.J. Costello, TE Matt Seybert
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: CB Amari Henderson
- Reverted to IR: K Riley Patterson, WR Blake Proehl
New England Patriots
- Waived/injured: TE Troy Fumagalli
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: OL Cameron Clark
- Waived: DL Michael Dwumfour, S Bennett Jackson, RB Austin Walter
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: DL Abdullah Anderson, DB Stephen Denmark, WR Isaiah McKoy, K Sam Sloman, OT Brandon Walton
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed (from Ravens): CB Davontae Harris
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Jake Benzinger
- Placed on IR: G Sadarius Hutcherson
- Waived/failed physical: WR John Franklin III
- Waived/injured: G Donell Stanley
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S Jamal Carter
- Placed on IR: DL Trevon Coley, S Tedric Thompson
Washington Football Team
- Waived: TE Nick Guggemos, CB Greg Stroman
49ers To Waive QB Josh Rosen
Josh Rosen is on the move again. The former top-10 pick ended up lasting through just one preseason game in San Francisco, with the 49ers opting to cut him Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Rosen has since cleared waivers, moving into free agency.
The 49ers poached the UCLA alum off the Buccaneers’ practice squad late last season, but signs this relationship was not prospering emerged recently. Kyle Shanahan said Rosen was not impressing in practice, and the once-coveted quarterback prospect noted that he was not seeing much time at 49ers workouts in the first place. Rosen did not impress in the 49ers’ preseason opener against the Chiefs.
While the 49ers were open to keeping both Rosen and third-string QB competitor Nate Sudfeld, with the loser being stashed on the team’s practice squad, Rosen being cut this early points to him needing to find a new home. The young passer has already been with four teams despite being drafted just three years ago.
The Cardinals, Dolphins, Bucs and 49ers have now punted on Rosen. Only the Cards received value for doing so, with the Dolphins sending them a second-round pick in the teams’ 2019 trade. The Dolphins waived Rosen ahead of the 2020 season, leading him to the Bucs’ practice squad. The Bucs did not opt to move the pocket passer onto their roster to stop the 49ers from adding him to theirs. Now, the 49ers have seen enough, inviting questions about Rosen’s future in the NFL.
Sudfeld, a longtime Eagles third- or second-string QB, is now in line to serve as the 49ers’ third-stringer behind Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Neither Sudfeld nor Rosen received any 11-on-11 reps in this week’s practices, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic (on Twitter). Having played just one full college season, Lance will certainly need as much practice work as possible as he transitions to the pros.
49ers Cut James Burgess
As teams trim down to 85 players, it’s mostly been smaller-name UDFA types getting let go so far. But some relatively well known veterans are also getting the boot, including James Burgess.
The 49ers announced they were cutting the linebacker on Monday. Burgess signed with the team back in May, but the addition over the weekend of fellow inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks made him expendable. A 2016 UDFA from Louisville, Burgess became a nine-game starter for the Browns in 2017.
He eventually latched on with the Jets as a waiver claim, and started 10 games in New York in 2019. Let go again at final cuts in 2020, he spent some time on the Falcons’ practice squad and played in a few games with the Packers. Despite having already been on the roster for nine different NFL teams, Burgess is still only 27.
He’s always managed to resurface quickly in the past, so don’t be surprised if he does again this season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/16/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Bryson Young
- Cut: LB Reggie Walker
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: OL Bryce Hargrove, LB George Obinna
- Reverted to IR: WR J’Mon Moore
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: QB Kenji Bahar
- Placed on IR: CB Khalil Dorsey, CB Iman Marshall
Chicago Bears
- Waived: OL Gage Cervenka, DB Dionte Ruffin, WR Jester Weah
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: WR Reece Horn, WR Riley Lees
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: TE Stephen Carlson, WR Ryan Switzer
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: OL Jon Dietzen, P Ryan Winslow
Houston Texans
- Waived: WR Isaiah Coulter
- Waived/injured: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LS Matt Overton
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: K Austin MacGinnis, LB Derrick Moncrief, T Ryan Pope, OLB Max Roberts, DL George Silvanic
- Released from IR: DB Dayan Lake
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Khalil McClain
- Waived: TE Carson Meier
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived/injured: K Riley Patterson, WR Blake Proehl
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Brian Lewerke
- Waived/injured: QB Clayton Thorson
- Placed on IR: LB TJ Brunson, OL Kyle Murphy, S Joshua Kalu
New York Jets
- Waived: K Chris Naggar
- Activated off PUP list: DL Quinnen Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LB Donald Payne, DL Eddie Vanderdoes
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: LB Nate Evans, OT Lukayus McNeil, CB Jordan Miller, DT Walter Palmore, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams, RB Cameron Scarlett
49ers' Josh Rosen Trending Downward
- Kyle Shanahan said recently Josh Rosen was trending downward. The former top-10 pick, who is vying for the 49ers‘ third-string job, took a couple of steps back in recent practices, per Shanahan (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch). In Rosen’s preseason debut with the team, he completed 10 of 15 passes for 93 yards but threw an interception. When asked postgame about Shanahan’s critique, Rosen said he does not receive many practice reps in the first place, per Branch, who adds it is unlikely Rosen gained ground in his competition with Nate Sudfeld to make the team’s 53-man roster. Sudfeld did not play in the 49ers’ preseason opener. The 49ers keeping both, with the competition’s loser on the practice squad, is in play. But Rosen losing this battle would represent another setback in a pro career filled with them.
49ers Sign LB Mychal Kendricks
Aug. 15: Kendricks’ visit with the 49ers went well enough to land him a contract, as Rapoport tweets. It will likely be a veteran minimum pact, and based on head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s comments on the matter, Kendricks will have to fight for a roster spot.
Shanahan indicated that the plan is for Kendricks to add competition and depth to San Francisco’s LB corps as the team waits for Azeez Al-Shaair and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles to return (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com). Still, Kendricks’ experience could be a boon to a club that is hoping to contend for a postseason berth in 2021.
Aug. 13: Mychal Kendricks managed to continue his career through legal turmoil, but the veteran linebacker has not been connected to a team this year. The 49ers, however, are taking a look.
Kendricks met with the 49ers on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Now 30, Kendricks played in just one game last season. But he is another year removed from the ACL tear he suffered late in the 2019 season.
The 49ers present an interesting connection for Kendricks as well. New San Francisco defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, a 10-year NFL veteran as a linebacker, was Kendricks’ teammate for four years in Philadelphia. The Eagles drafted Kendricks in the 2012 second round, making that pick shortly after signing Ryans as a free agent. The two were Eagles starting ‘backers in each of those seasons.
The Seahawks employed Kendricks from 2018-19, using him as a starter alongside stalwarts Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. They did so despite the linebacker’s insider trading issue, which caused the Browns to cut him in the summer of 2018. However, a ruling finally came down on that matter this year. Kendricks received three years’ probation last month, clearing a path for him to continue his career without this looming cloud.
San Francisco recently gave Fred Warner a top-market linebacker extension and employs Dre Greenlaw as a fellow starter. The team is light on a surefire third starter option for its 4-3 look. Kendricks operated as an outside linebacker in Seattle’s 4-3 scheme, with his presence prompting the Seahawks to use more base sets during his tenure, and did the same in Philly for much of his six-year Eagles stay.
Washington signed Kendricks late last season, poaching him off the Seahawks’ practice squad. He has come back from both an ACL tear and a broken tibia, which ended his 2018 season early, and will attempt to continue his career in a 10th season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR Thomas Ives
Green Bay Packers
- Reverted to IR: LB Randy Ramsey
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Tytus Howard, OT Roderick Johnson, OT Laremy Tunsil
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Isaiah Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Lawrence Woods
- Waived: LB Quentin Poling
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Keith Washington
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Nate Meadors
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DL Davin Bellamy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: DE Sam Renner