49ers’ Jerick McKinnon Suffers Setback
You’ve got to feel for Jerick McKinnon. The 49ers running back suffered a setback in practice this week and GM John Lynch says it’s “not encouraging,” (Twitter link via Brian Murphy of KNBR). Details are sparse at the moment, but it sounds like McKinnon’s status is very much in doubt for 2019. 
The 49ers inked McKinnon to a four-year $30MM contract in 2018, but a torn ACL wiped out his first would-be season in SF. It was a huge disappointment for the team and player alike – McKinnon flashed serious potential in Minnesota and many expected him to bust out big plays in the 49ers’ offense.
In 2017, his final year with the Vikes, McKinnon enjoyed career highs in receptions (51) and receiving yards (421). With capable hands and the athleticism to break out of early tackles, McKinnon offered the ability to go for long-distance runs and serve as a security blanket for Jimmy Garoppolo. Both players were knocked out by injuries in 2018, and it sounds like McKinnon’s sideline stint will extend into at least part of 2019.
49ers DL Kentavius Street Likely To Miss Season
Another tough break for 49ers defensive lineman Kentavius Street. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Street will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, and he is likely headed for season-ending IR.
Street suffered a torn ACL during a pre-draft workout with the Giants in 2018, but the 49ers still took a chance on the NC State product and nabbed him with a fourth-round pick last year. Though he was cleared for practice near the end of his rookie campaign, he ultimately did not see any game action.
He showed some flashes in the preseason this year, and in San Francisco’s preseason tilt against the Broncos on August 19, Street posted five tackles and 1.5 sacks in 43 snaps. Unfortunately, his regular season debut will have to wait at least another year.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “[h]e’s battled through his knee all year. He’s had some knee tendinitis throughout camp – a little similar to Dee Ford. He’s been trying to battle through it and get a spot here. We decided (Monday) that he can’t do it any more.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/19
It was a busy day in the NFL as teams made early cuts in advance of the 53-man deadline. We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived/Injured: T Dieugot Joseph
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Jacob Ohnesorge
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Anthony Fish Smithson
Detroit Lions
- Released: QB David Fales
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: FB John Lovett
New England Patriots
- Waived/Injured: WR Maurice Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Hayes Pullard, S Jason Thompson
- Waived: LB Asantay Brown, S Tre Sullivan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed: CB Jhavonte Dean
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Chris Campbell, RB Brandon Wilds, WR Nick Williams
- Waived: OL Willie Beavers, OL Dillon Day
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Nyqwan Murray, WR Kahlil Lewis
- Waived: WR Amara Darboh
- Placed on IR: DL Nazair Jones, CB Kalan Reed
49ers Cut Former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith
The 49ers are releasing linebacker Malcolm Smith, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). After two seasons with the Niners, he is now free to sign with any team. 
The one-time Super Bowl MVP took a pay cut in the offseason after two injury plagued seasons with the 49ers. Smith isn’t the same player that he once was, but he could hold appeal for teams in need of experience in the front seven.
Smith joined the Niners prior to the 2017 season, but his first year was washed out by a torn pectoral muscle. Then, in 2018, he registered just 35 tackles and one pass defensed in 12 games (five starts). His Pro Football Focus grade of 63.4 was an improvement over his 2015 and 2016 showings with the Raiders, but that placed him as the 53rd best linebacker in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Smith cut saves the Niners just $1.34MM against $4.2MM in dead money.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/26/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed off waivers from Cardinals: LB/DE Jeff Holland
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: C Kirk Barron
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: CB Jhavonte Dean
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Luis Perez, RB Justin Stockton
- Waived: WR Deontez Alexander
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: RB Lamar Miller, T David Steinmetz
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Micah Abernathy, S Jacob Thieneman
- Waived: S Matthias Farley
Miami Dolphins
- Released: OL Will Holden
New England Patriots
- Waived: RB Robert Martin
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: TE Garrett Griffin
New York Jets
- Signed: S Santos Ramirez
- Waived: CB Dee Delaney
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DB Jordan Holland
- Placed on IR: CB Tim Harris Jr.
Shanahan Elaborates On Foerster's Role
After a report indicated the 49ers brought longtime offensive line coach Chris Foerster out of coaching exile surfaced Friday, Kyle Shanahan confirmed as much. The third-year 49ers coach said Foerster joined San Francisco’s staff as a consultant. Consultants do not serve as in-game coaches, and Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area notes the 49ers have Foerster working on film and in position group meetings. Shanahan said the 49ers brought on Foerster as a consultant last year and elevated his duties in 2019, though the 57-year-old assistant — who has 20-plus years of NFL coaching experience — is still classified as a consultant. Shanahan and Foerster worked together in Washington.
Nick Bosa '50-50' To Play Week 1
It’s been a rough year for 49ers injuries. A few of their key players may not be ready for Week 1. It is now possible Nick Bosa and Jason Verrett will join the likes of Garrett Celek and Jerick McKinnon (in all likelihood) as being sidelined for San Francisco’s opener. During an interview with KNBR (via Pro Football Talk), John Lynch called both Bosa and Verrett 50-50 to suit up for the 49ers’ opener against the Buccaneers. Bosa is battling a high ankle sprain — his latest in a string of maladies since his junior year at Ohio State — and Verrett is also dealing with ankle trouble. The injury-prone cornerback, who tore an Achilles’ tendon in July 2018, sprained an ankle August 7.
- Thought to be on the wrong side of the 49ers‘ roster bubble, Jordan Matthews may be on the verge of making the team. The 49ers held the veteran receiver out of action Monday in Denver, and Kyle Shanahan confirmed he did so to get a look at his younger talents. “Jordan’s had a hell of a camp,” Shanahan said, via Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required). “He’s done very good in practice; he’s been consistent in OTAs. He’s been very consistent in training camp, and we’ve seen him a lot on tape before he got here. I’ve got a lot of confidence in Jordan, and I know we can win with Jordan.” This, of course, does not mean the 27-year-old pass catcher is a roster lock. But it does paint a picture of the 49ers potentially opting for dependability here.
49ers Added Chris Foerster To Staff?
Veteran offensive line coach Chris Foerster has resurfaced with the 49ers. Nearly two years after resigning from his Dolphins post after a video emerged showing him snorting a white substance, Foerster is back in the NFL, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
The 49ers brought in the 57-year-old assistant this offseason, Laine adds, but did not announce the hire. He is not listed on the team’s website. Foerster has assisted San Francisco’s staff on the game-planning front, per Laine.
Foerster has coached for seven NFL franchises since 1993 and was the 49ers’ O-line instructor for two prior stints — under Jim Tomsula in 2015 and under Mike Singletary from 2008-09. He also spent five seasons (2010-14) as the Redskins’ O-line boss, and his tenure overlapped with Kyle Shanahan‘s run as Washington’s OC. Foerster’s highest-profile job came as the 2004 Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, but due to the ignominious nature of his most recent Miami departure, he is probably most-known for that at this point. The Rams, however, tried to interview him for their OC job in early 2017. The Dolphins, who Laine notes were paying Foerster between $2.5-$3MM per year, denied the Rams permission at the time.
Foerster resigned in October of 2017. This is his first NFL job since. Foerster was not suspended for the video, but if indeed he is back in coaching, that may be in the cards going forward. Foerster checked into rehab later in 2017.
More Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/19
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: P Sean Smith
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Brandon Bell, OL Tyler Catalina
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Jonathan Celestin, G Norman Price
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers: S Montrel Meander
- Placed on injured reserve: WR D.J. Montgomery
Denver Broncos
- Waived/injured: LB Aaron Wallace
New York Giants
- Waived: WR Da’Mari Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Andrew Lauderdale, S Tyree Robinson
- Waived: OL Christian DiLauro, WR Shawn Poindexter, RB Brandon Wilds
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Elijah Qualls
- Waived/injured: DT Shane Bowman
49ers Fear Torn ACL For WR Shawn Poindexter
- The 49ers fear that rookie wide receiver Shawn Poindexter suffered a torn ACL in Monday’s preseason win, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. Poindexter, a UDFA from Arizona, appeared to be a prime practice squad candidate, and the club has already signed WR/KR Chris Thompson to take Poindexter’s place on the 90-man roster.