San Francisco 49ers Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

The Giants are likely to use the franchise tag on safety Landon Collins if the two sides don’t work out an extension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

Collins was available prior to last Tuesday’s trade deadline, but the asking price was high, as the Giants were reportedly seeking a second-round pick in exchange for the All-Pro defensive back. Despite that price tag, New York did receive interest in Collins, and Schefter reports the Packers, Chiefs, and 49ers all made inquiries.

Kansas City would have made sense as a destination for Collins, as the Chiefs nearly dealt for fellow safety Earl Thomas before he went down with a season-ending injury. Green Bay, of course, traded its own safety in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but is still squarely in contention and in need of secondary help. The 49ers aren’t going to make the postseason, but they could have acquired Collins with the intention of using their exclusive negotiating window to hammer out a long-term deal.

As Schefter notes, all three of those clubs would presumably have interest in Collins if he hits the open market, but it doesn’t sound as though the Giants will allow that to happen. Given his age (Collins will be 25 years old when free agency opens) and pedigree, Collins will surely target a $10-12MM annual salary on his next contract. The 2019 franchise tag for safeties will be worth roughly that same amount, but wouldn’t come with the long-term risk of an extension.

Collins, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been a full-time starter for the Giants since entering the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins has 62 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble this season while grading as the NFL’s 13th-best safety, per Pro Football Focus.

2 comments Green Bay Packers Kansas City Chiefs New York Giants San Francisco 49ers Landon Collins

Nick Mullens Expected To Remain 49ers’ Starting QB

By Rory Parks | at November 4, 2018 9:12 am

After 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard — who was only starting for San Francisco because No. 1 signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo is out for the season with an ACL tear — was injured during the team’s Week 8 loss to the Cardinals, the 49ers turned to Nick Mullens to replace him for their Thursday night bout against the Raiders.

All Mullens did was turn in one of the best NFL debuts in league history. The 2017 UDFA out of Southern Miss was 16 of 22 for 262 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions as the 49ers trounced their Bay Area rivals 34-3. Most have assumed that performance would allow Mullens to retain control of the starting job moving forward, and that is apparently the correct assumption.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Mullens is expected to remain the 49ers’ starting quarterback when their season resumes next Monday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has not yet made an official announcement, as he wants to talk to his players first, but Rapoport says it would be a major surprise if Mullens did not get the nod.

Even after the win, the 49ers are 2-7, and whatever playoff hopes they had went out the window when Garoppolo went down. And since the team has seen Beathard, a 2017 third-round pick, produce one win and mediocre statistics during his ten games as a starter over the last two seasons, it makes sense to at least give Mullens a shot.

Mullens, who was summoned from the practice squad to serve as Beathard’s backup in September, is Southern Mississippi’s career passing leader in every major category. His collegiate numbers considerably outshine those of fellow Golden Eagles alum Brett Favre, but it’s probably a bit too early to begin comparing their professional careers.

8 comments San Francisco 49ers Nick Mullens

49ers Re-Sign QB Tom Savage

By Andrew Ortenberg | at November 2, 2018 6:05 pm

Just a day after cutting Tom Savage, the 49ers have brought back the veteran signal caller on a one-year deal, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports (Twitter link).

Room was made for Savage on the roster when running back Raheem Mostert and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley were placed on IR earlier today. Savage will presumably be the third-string quarterback behind second-year players Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard.

Mullens played well in his NFL debut last night, and coach Kyle Shanahan remains high on Beathard, so Savage won’t push for any playing time this season. That being said, San Francisco clearly wants something of a veteran presence in their very young and inexperienced quarterback room.

It’s the third time this year Savage has been signed by the 49ers, as they’ve already done this release and re-sign routing twice. Savage was initially brought in for a workout and considered the favorite to sign in the wake of Jimmy Garoppolo‘s ACL tear, but it took a few weeks for the team to actually sign him. Savage opened 2017 as the Texans’ starter but was quickly benched for Deshaun Watson. After Watson tore his ACL, Savage ended up starting a handful more games in Houston, and performed poorly.

3 comments San Francisco 49ers Tom Savage

49ers place Raheem Mostert, Emmanuel Moseley on IR

By Andrew Ortenberg | at November 2, 2018 4:28 pm

Two 49ers players saw their seasons officially end today when the team placed them on injured reserve. The team sent running back Raheem Mostert to IR with a fractured right forearm, while cornerback Emmanuel Moseley dislocated his shoulder, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports.

Both players suffered their injuries during the team’s 34-3 win over the Raiders last night. Mostert’s injury looked gruesome on the TV broadcast, and it was confirmed today that he was undergoing surgery and expected to make a full return in time for the 2019 season. Moseley was making his NFL debut in the game when he was called up from the practice squad and was never going to play many meaningful snaps, but the loss of Mostert is significant.

San Francisco’s backfield has suffered a lot of injuries this year, and Mostert’s role had been increasing in recent weeks. The fourth-year back from Purdue was getting the first real opportunity of his career, and had looked electric so far. This season he’d carried the ball 34 times for 261 yards, good for 7.7 yards per carry. Mostert, who’s also a key special teams player for the 49ers, had just scored his first career touchdown on a 52-yard run before getting hurt.

Maiocco notes the 49ers “have two running backs on their practice squad, Jeff Wilson and Matthew Dayes” who are both candidates to be called up to the 53-man roster. Starter Jerick McKinnon tore his ACL before the season started, and Matt Breida has been banged up all year long with various injuries.

1 comment San Francisco 49ers Emmanuel Moseley Raheem Mostert

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/18

By Dallas Robinson | at November 1, 2018 7:54 pm

Today’s practice squad updates:

Carolina Panthers

Signed: QB Kyle Allen
Released: S Dezmen Southward

Dallas Cowboys

Signed: WR Reggie Davis

Detroit Lions

Signed: TE Jerome Cunningham
Placed on injured list: LB Garret Dooley

Green Bay Packers

Released: FB Joe Kerridge

Indianapolis Colts

Signed: T Antonio Garcia

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: WR Victor Bolden, DB Greg Mabin
Released: WR Aaron Burbridge

Washington Redskins

Signed: DB Jason Thompson

1 comment Carolina Panthers Dallas Cowboys Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts San Francisco 49ers Transactions Washington Commanders Aaron Burbridge Antonio Garcia Dezmen Southward Garret Dooley Greg Mabin Jason Thompson Jerome Cunningham Joe Kerridge Kyle Allen Reggie Davis Victor Bolden

49ers Release QB Tom Savage

By Zachary Links | at November 1, 2018 3:51 pm

The 49ers are cutting quarterback Tom Savage, according to a team announcement. In related moves, the Niners have activated safety Marcell Harris (story) and linebacker Dekoda Watson from injured reserve. They also promoted cornerback Emmanuel Moseley to the active roster.

The release of Savage is a sign C.J. Beathard will probably be active for Thursday night’s game against the Raiders. However, he will not start for San Francisco. Because of a wrist injury that is hurting his ability to properly grip the football, Nick Mullens will throw his first NFL pass and get his first NFL start against Oakland, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Savage, like all players released after the NFL trade deadline, will be subject to waivers. If he is not claimed by Friday afternoon, he will be free to join any team.

8 comments San Francisco 49ers Transactions Dekoda Watson Emmanuel Moseley Tom Savage

49ers To Activate S Marcell Harris

By Zachary Links | at November 1, 2018 11:35 am

The 49ers are activating safety Marcell Harris off of the injured reserve list, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The rookie sixth rounder is expected to make his debut against the Raiders on Thursday night after being sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring ailment.

Harris lost his entire 2017 season at Florida due to a torn Achilles, so he has been out of action for quite a while. Before that injury, Harris turned in a strong 2016 campaign in which he totaled 73 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He also scored the first touchdown of his career on special teams at FSU on a fumbled punt.

The Niners will start D.J. Reed and Jaquiski Tartt at safety the Thursday night contest with Antone Exum and Tyvis Powell also serving as depth options. Harris will slide in as a reserve, taking a spot that opened when Adrian Colbert was placed on IR.