49ers Considered Re-Signing Eric Reid
The Panthers signed free agent Eric Reid on Thursday, but they weren’t the only club with interest. The 49ers were among the clubs that made a “sincere run” at the safety and had interest in signing him to a one-year deal, according to Jim Trotter of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Starting strong safety Jaquiski Tartt was held out of Week 3 with a shoulder injury and free safety Adrian Colbert was forced out of that game with a knee issue, so the Niners could be looking for reinforcements. It’s not clear whether Reid was interested in returning to San Francisco after the team moved him all around the field in 2017 and showed little interest in re-signing him during the height of the offseason.
Either way, Reid’s focus is now on helping the Panthers win. And, apparently, the Panthers were not focused on Reid’s anthem protests. The team did not ask Reid about how he plans to handle the anthem this year, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, though raising the question wasn’t really an option after the backlash the Bengals received earlier this year.
Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DB Robertson Daniel
- Released: DE Myles Humphrey
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Jerome Cunningham
- Released: RB Donnel Pumphrey
New England Patriots
- Signed: S David Jones
- Released: WR Jace Billingsley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
- Released: QB J.T. Barrett
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Amba Etta-Tawo
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Ryan Delaire
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Azeem Victor
NFL Workout Updates: 9/25/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit, all links going to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted.
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Ufomba Kamalu, DE Ryan Russell, CB Linden Stephens, CB Ronald Zamort (link)
Atlanta Falcons
- LB B.J. Bello, LB Richie Brown, S Sharrod Neasman, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DE Jeremiah Valoaga (link)
Baltimore Ravens
- CB De’Vante Bausby, G Jermaine Eluemunor (visit), WR Janorian Grant (visit), CB Prince Charles Iworah, CB Kalan Reed (link)
Chicago Bears
- WR Reggie Davis, WR Cyril Grayson, WR Carlos Henderson (Twitter link via Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan)
Cleveland Browns
- CB D.J. Killings, CB Peyton Thompson (Twitter link via Caplan)
Detroit Lions
- LB Zaire Anderson, TE Marcus Baugh, TE Jerome Cunningham, LS Ryan DiSalvo, K Kai Forbath, TE Temarrick Hemingway, P Jeff Locke, P Brad Nortman, LS Jeff Overbaugh, LS Taybor Pepper, K Cairo Santos, LB Brandon Spikes (link)
Houston Texans
- LB Kevin Minter, DT Chris Okoye, LB Hayes Pullard, LB John Timu (Twitter link via the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Chad Hansen, RB Jeremy Langford, QB Paxton Lynch (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Los Angeles Chargers
- TE Jerell Adams, TE Vince Mayle, TE Wes Saxton (link)
New England Patriots
- DT Michael Bennett, DE Ryan Delaire, DE John Simon, LB Azeem Victor (Twitter links via Balzer and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport)
San Francisco 49ers
- WR Deontex Alexander, S Kelcie McCray, S Eddie Pleasant (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- C Dillon Day, T Gerhard de Beer, T Christian DiLauro, DT David Parry (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- T Christian DiLauro (link)
Tennessee Titans
- TE Donnie Ernsberger, WR Shay Fields, TE Temarrick Hemingway, WR Roger Lewis, WR Kalif Raymond (link)
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Sirles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Caraun Reid
- Placed on IR: DL Datone Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Daeshon Hall (from 49ers’ practice squad)
- Promoted from practice squad: OT David Sharpe
- Placed on IR: LB Dylan Cole, WR Bruce Ellington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Justin Jackson
- Released from IR: CB Craig Mager
- Waived: RB Detrez Newsome
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Martrell Spaight
- Placed on IR: DE William Hayes
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Jonathan Woodard
- Waived: WR Tanner McEvoy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenjon Barner
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Garrett Dickerson
- Waived/Injured: WR/KR Kaelin Clay
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Branden Jackson
- Waived: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: OL Kevin Pamphile
49ers Not Planning QB Signing This Week
Seven workouts has not yet produced an addition to San Francisco’s quarterback room, and one may not be coming despite the new 49ers backup being a former UDFA only promoted to the active roster this week. The 49ers do not plan to sign a veteran quarterback this week, NFL.com’s Jim Trotter tweets. While he adds that remains a possibility in the near future, don’t expect an outside addition to come this week. E.J. Manuel, Tom Savage, Kellen Clemens, T.J. Yates, Landry Jones, Matt Simms and Kyle Allen all worked out for the 49ers. But the NFC’s Bay Area team is evidently set with a C.J. Beathard–Nick Mullens depth chart heading into its Week 4 clash with the Chargers. The 49ers’ chances of being a surprise playoff contender absorbed a massive blow last week when Jimmy Garoppolo went down, and Kyle Shanahan said any veteran added would not be a threat to usurp Beathard. The second-year Iowa product started five games last season, completing 54.9 percent of his passes and throwing four touchdown passes compared to six interceptions. The 49ers went 1-4 in those games.
Manuel, Allen Join 49ers’ QB Auditions
The 49ers are doing their homework in their search for a backup quarterback. More names continue to surface as Kyle Shanahan‘s coaching staff examines how they’ll go about organizing their post-Jimmy Garoppolo passer depth chart.
E.J. Manuel and Kyle Allen worked out for the 49ers on Tuesday, NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets. This brings the total of San Francisco signal-caller auditions to seven. Tom Savage, T.J. Yates, Matt Simms, Landry Jones, Kellen Clemens, Manuel and Allen comprise the list so far.
San Francisco already promoted quarterback Nick Mullens from its practice squad, and Shanahan said C.J. Beathard will be his starter following Garoppolo’s season-ending ACL tear. But the team appears focused on adding a veteran passer. Shanahan also said Colin Kaepernick will not be considered, due to the longtime 49ers starter not being a good fit for his offense.
Manuel could not make the Raiders’ 53-man roster and has not come close to justifying his former No. 16 overall draft status. However, he was on an NFL roster from 2013-17 and has made 18 career starts. He’s only 58 percent career passer (with just 5.8 yards per attempt) and has a 20-to-16 career TD pass-to-INT ratio.
Allen worked out for the Patriots, Raiders and Redskins this month. The Houston product was a Panthers practice squad cog before the team released him from its 10-man unit earlier in September.
49ers To Work Out QB Landry Jones
The 49ers’ list of prospective quarterbacks continues to grow. On Tuesday, Landry Jones will join the group of roster hopefuls looking to join San Francisco, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic (on Twitter).
Jones, a fourth-round pick of the Steelers in 2013, has already spent time on the workout circuit this season. He’s auditioned for the Patriots, Jaguars and Cowboys over the past eight days.
The longtime Steelers backup will join Tom Savage, Kellen Clemens, Matt Simms and T.J. Yates among those vying to presumably serve as the No. 2 man behind new starter C.J. Beathard. Jones doesn’t have as much service-time experience as Clemens or Yates, nor has he opened a season as a starter like Savage has, but he did spend five seasons in Pittsburgh and started five games from 2015-17.
A prolific college quarterback while at Oklahoma, Jones has a career 63.9 completion percentage (7.8 yards per attempt) and has thrown eight touchdown passes compared to seven interceptions. He played in three games for an injured Ben Roethlisberger and started the Steelers’ past two Week 17 games — both against the Browns — while the Steelers rested Big Ben. Joshua Dobbs, however, beat out Jones for Pittsburgh’s backup job this offseason.
49ers Haven’t Discussed Colin Kaepernick
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan says the team has not discussed bringing back Colin Kaepernick (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com). Shanahan added that the team discussed signing Kaepernick last year, but determined that he was not the right fit for their offense. 
After Jimmy Garoppolo‘s season-ending ACL tear, the 49ers are looking into backup quarterback options. Kaepernick represents a viable starter in a sea of clipboard holders, but he is not in consideration for San Francisco. Kaepernick may not be an ideal fit for the offense, but the national controversy surrounding him may also be playing a role here.
Kaepernick, 31 in November, has spent his entire NFL career to date with the 49ers. From 2011-2016, he went 28-30 in his starts, though he did take the team to the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and the NFC championship game following the 2013 campaign. Kaepernick’s last start came in January of 2017 as the 49ers closed out a trying season with a loss to the Seahawks.
49ers To Work Out QB Matt Simms
The 49ers’ quarterback tryouts on Tuesday will include Matt Simms, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Simms will join Tom Savage, Kellen Clemens, and T.J. Yates in the audition, and there could be more QBs to come. 
Simms, who turns 30 on Thursday, is the son of Phil Simms. He appeared in four games for the Jets between 2013 and 2014, but has not seen the field since then. In recent years, he has spent time on the Falcons’ practice squad.
The workout will not include former Dolphins QB Matt Moore, although the 49ers did speak to his representatives. The 34-year-old is still weighing his options regarding an NFL return, his agent tells Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
49ers Promote Nick Mullens From P-Squad
The 49ers will promote quarterback Nick Mullens from the practice squad, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. Mullens will serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind C.J. Beathard, who has been promoted to the top job after Jimmy Garoppolo‘s ACL tear. 
The Niners’ QB search isn’t necessarily done there. On Tuesday, they’ll work out a group of veteran QBs including Tom Savage, T.J. Yates, and Kellen Clemens. Former Dolphins backup Matt Moore may also take part in the audition. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already said that the team won’t bring in any competition for Beathard, so any quarterback signed would be added as a backup.
Mullens, a Southern Mississippi product, threw for 87 touchdowns against 46 interceptions across his four-year collegiate career. He spent time in camp with the club last offseason and was re-signed on a futures deal this past January.
The 1-2 49ers will have their work cut out for them without Garoppolo and their first test comes on Sunday against the Chargers.