49ers Retaining DC Robert Saleh
- Despite going 4-12, the 49ers will not shake up their staff. Robert Saleh will stay on as San Francisco’s DC, doing so after his unit set NFL records for fewest interceptions (two) in a season and takeaways (seven) in a season. Kyle Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) his entire staff will be back in 2019.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/1/19
Here are the New Year’s Day reserve/futures contract decisions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- K Tristan Vizcaino
Detroit Lions
- QB Connor Cook
Miami Dolphins
- LB James Burgess
- C Connor Hilliard
- S Chris Lammons
- DT Jamiyus Pittman
- LB Quentin Poling
- DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Oakland Raiders
- WR Saeed Blacknall
- RB James Butler
- LB Cayson Collins
- LB James Cowser
- WR Rashard Davis
- DB Makinton Dorleant
- P Drew Kaser
- QB Nathan Peterman
- FB Ryan Yurachek
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Christian DiLauro
- TE Marcus Lucas
- DB Tarvarus McFadden
- WR Jordan Smallwood
- G Najee Toran
- S Terrell Williams
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Andre Chachere
- Placed on IR: CB DeShawn Shead
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Alonzo Russell
- Placed on IR: WR Jawill Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Ryan Delaire, WR Max McCaffrey
- Placed on IR: RB Matt Breida, WR Dante Pettis
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: TE J.P. Holtz
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Houston Texas
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Steven Dunbar
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Marquis Flowers
NFL Workout Updates: 12/25/18
Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Green Bay Packers
- TE: Evan Bayliss
Houston Texans
- LB: Cory James
San Francisco 49ers
- DE: Damontre Moore
Seattle Seahawks
- CB: Quinten Rollins; SS’s: Keith Tandy, Shamarko Thomas
Tennessee Titans
- DEs: Christian LaCouture, Kendall Vickers; DT: Dee Liner
Washington Redskins
- TE: Jace Amaro; Ts: Isaiah Battle, Cyrus Kouandjio, Darius James; DL: Kwaku Boateng (EDM CFL); QBs: Max Browne, Joe Callahan; LBs: Marquis Flowers, Hau’oli Kikaha, Corey Nelson, John Timu; WRs: Carlos Henderson, ArDarius Stewart, Tre McBride, Devin Smith.
49ers' Rich Scangarello An OC Option?
- Teams with coaching vacancies have been heavily connected to offensively oriented candidates. With a supply-and-demand issue potentially arising, certain teams will have to pivot to consolation prizes or defensive coaches. For a team eyeing a possible up-and-comer for the future as an offensive coordinator, Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required) mentions an under-the-radar possibility in 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello. Kyle Shanahan‘s QBs coach in his two 49ers seasons, Scangarello was a quality control coach with the Falcons in 2015 and Wagner’s OC in 2016. Rampant injuries have affected an already-limited offense, and Scangarello has helped UDFA Nick Mullens (18th in QBR) to some decent performances.
- Although the Raiders have discussed playing at the San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Stadium next season, the team has not picked a 2019 home yet. Listing possibilities, NBC Sports Bay Area suggests Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. The Cardinal’s home field seats just more than 50,000 and is located a bit south of the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium. This has not been mentioned as a consideration, and many cities have emerged as such thus far. The NFL wants the Raiders to decide on their 2019 home by Super Bowl LIII.
Dante Pettis, Marquise Goodwin Suffer Injuries
- A pair of 49ers wideouts suffered injuries today, but they don’t sound as bad as they may have looked. Matt Barrows of The Athletic tweets that rookie receiver Dante Pettis suffered an MCL injury, which is much better than the ACL injury that some were expecting. The second-round rookie has been productive in recent weeks, and he’s hauled in 24 receptions for 446 yards and five scores this season. Meanwhile, teammate Marquise Goodwin suffered an Achilles injury, but Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets that the injury isn’t serious. After a breakout season in 2017, Goodwin has struggled this year, compiling 20 receptions for 366 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games.
[SOURCE LINK]
Raiders In Discussions With San Francisco Giants About 2019 Home Site
The city of San Francisco does not have an NFL team playing within its city limits, with 49ers home games being played at the Santa Clara-based Levi’s Stadium.
It’s possible that may change in 2019. The Raiders have engaged in discussions with the San Francisco Giants about playing their home games next season at AT&T Park.
“There has been initial interest expressed in exploring the opportunity of the Raiders playing at AT&T Park … many details would need to be figured out,” the MLB team said in a statement. “The Giants want to do what’s best for Bay Area fans and would be open to the concept just as we hosted Cal Football in 2011 when Memorial Stadium in Berkeley was being renovate.”
With Oakland suing the Raiders, the franchise’s 2019 home is much less certain than it once was. The team’s Las Vegas domed stadium is not scheduled to be ready until 2020, and this suit may scuttle the Raiders’ intentions of playing one more season in Oakland.
A few cities have reached out to the team, Raiders president Marc Badain said (via Vince Sapienza of Fox 5, on Twitter), adding the Raiders intend to speak to a few sites about a solution they hope doesn’t disrupt the team much. Mark Davis said all options remain open.
Davis and Giants CEO Larry Baer were part of discussions for San Francisco to host the 2024 Olympics years back, per ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez. While AT&T Park has been mentioned previously, Gutierrez notes other cities — Reno, Nev., Glendale, Ariz., San Diego and a temporary partnership with the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium — remain in play. Oakland also remains an option, in the event a deal can still be brokered. Portland and Seattle have also been mentioned as stopgap solutions, but the NFL appears to view the best solution being the Raiders staying in the Bay Area.
A possible stumbling block to the Raiders playing at the National League stadium is the 49ers having territorial rights to San Francisco. The 49ers would need to consent to the Raiders playing at AT&T Park, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The 49ers have previously expressed that they would be open to the Raiders sharing their Santa Clara stadium but have not addressed a possible scenario where the Raiders play in San Francisco. Davis has not shown much enthusiasm for sharing a stadium with the 49ers.
AT&T Park, which can hold 45,000 fans in an expanded football capacity, is a much closer trek from Oakland compared to Levi’s Stadium. In addition to housing the Cal Golden Bears in 2011, the MLB venue was home for the XFL’s San Francisco Demons in 2001. A bowl game (an event now known as the Redbox Bowl) was also played there from 2002-13. Interestingly, the bowl games and Cal’s home contests in 2011 featured both teams standing on the same sideline, Gutierrez points out.
49ers Place Jaquiski Tartt On IR
The 49ers will place safety Jaquiski Tartt on injured reserve, according to head coach Mike Shanahan. Tartt has been dealing with a shoulder injury that will benefit from rest rather than playing in the team’s final two regular season games. 
A second-round pick in 2015, the 49ers rewarded Tartt with a two-year, $13MM extension prior to this season. Unfortunately, the injury bug has held him back for a second season in a row. In 2017, a broken forearm limited him to nine games. This year, he’ll finish out with just eight appearances thanks to his shoulder.
Tartt recorded 42 total tackles, two passes defensed, and an interception in his partial season. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 46 safety in the NFL, framing him as a starter, though not a top-tier option. Tartt earned a solid score for his run defense, but his coverage score left much to be desired.
Tartt’s extension has him under contract through 2020 with cap numbers of $5.1MM and $6.4MM in each of the next two seasons.
49ers, DeForest Buckner To Discuss Deal
Earlier this week, Kyle Shanahan identified DeForest Buckner as a player he wanted to be a 49er for many years. The franchise appears to be intent on exploring how to make that happen soon.
Buckner becomes extension-eligible after this season, and the standout defensive tackle said his representatives plan to meet with the 49ers this coming offseason, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Connecting the dots points to early extension discussions.
Represented by Joel Segal and Charlie Fields, Buckner said (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, Twitter link) he and his agents have discussed offseason strategy in recent weeks. Despite narrowly missing the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster, Buckner has been one of the NFL’s best interior defenders this season and would be in line to command a top-market deal.
While Buckner becomes eligible to sign a new deal soon, the 49ers can control him on his rookie contract through the 2020 season. That non-decision decision is due in May. Buckner has 11 sacks — already the most by a 49ers inside defender since Dana Stubblefield 20 years ago — and does not turn 25 until next year. The top non-Aaron Donald defensive tackle price will be within reach.
Considering Donald’s recently agreed-to extension is worth $22.5MM per year and the next-highest-paid inside lineman is Fletcher Cox at $17.1MM AAV, there will be some gap-bridging for these sides to do. But some preliminary talks are likely about to commence.