NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/18
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
49ers Release QB Tom Savage
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.
49ers To Activate S Marcell Harris
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.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OG Colby Gossett (off Vikings practice squad), TE John Phillips
- Released: OL Blaine Clausell, TE Gabe Holmes
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Michael Bennett
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DE Albert McClellan
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Dontae Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: MLB Hayes Pullard
- Waived: K Mike Badgley
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: OG Jamon Brown
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Mike Jordan
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE/OLB James Cowser
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DT Bruce Hector
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, CB Greg Mabin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Javien Elliott
- Released: LB Kevin Minter
Washington Redskins
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
49ers Getting Interest In WR Pierre Garcon
The 49ers have received inquiries from at least three teams regarding the availability of wide receiver Pierre Garcon, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com first mentioned the possibility that Garcon could be on the trade block.
Per Schefter, many clubs are interested in Garcon thanks to his veteran presence, and he’s always been valued as a tough, hard-nosed player. He’s also relatively affordable, as any club that acquired Garcon would only be responsible for 9/17 of his base salary, which works out to just under $3MM for the rest of the season.
For the 49ers, the financials wouldn’t be quite as simple in the event of a Garcon trade. San Francisco gave Garcon a $12MM signing bonus when it landed him prior to the 2017 campaign, and that money will all find its way to the 49ers’ salary cap. However, because we’ve passed June 1, San Francisco wouldn’t see any additional money hit its cap this season. Instead, the rest of Garcon’s guarantees ($7.2MM) would accelerate onto the Niners’ cap in 2019. That shouldn’t present much of a problem for the 49ers, who have nearly $70MM in available funds next season.
Garcon, 32, joined San Francisco last season after spending the first nine years of his NFL career with the Colts and Redskins. He played in only eight games in 2017, posting 40 catches and 500 yards before a neck injury ended his year. This season, Garcon has started seven games and managed 21 receptions and 230 yards.
49ers Could Trade Pierre Garcon, Jimmie Ward
- Breer names a number of other players whose names we have not heard in recent rumblings but who could nonetheless be on the move: the Packers‘ Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the 49ers‘ Pierre Garcon and Jimmie Ward, the Cardinals‘ Chandler Jones, and the Broncos‘ Shane Ray and Brandon Marshall. Breers adds that San Francisco would need to get something “significant” to deal Ward. He also says that, while teams are certainly interested in Denver corners Bradley Roby and Chris Harris, he thinks it would be difficult for the team to trade either.
Sherman Could Miss Week 9
- Richard Sherman appears on track to return for the 49ers tomorrow against the Cardinals after a two game absence, but might have to miss Week 9 because of it. Sherman told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle that he’s going to attempt to play through the injury, but might be too sore to play on short-rest in Week 9. The 49ers play on Thursday Night Football, and it doesn’t sound like Sherman thinks he’ll be able to play two games in four days.
49ers LB Dekoda Watson To Return From IR
The 49ers have designated linebacker Dekoda Watson to return from injured reserve, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Watson was placed on injured reserve in September after initially being carried through to the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster. NFL rules stipulate that any player who returns from IR must have been on his club’s original 53-man roster, and also mandates a minimum eight-week absence. Watson returned to practice today, opening a three-week window during which San Francisco must decide whether to activate the veteran ‘backer or leave him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Watson, 30, has bounced around the league since being selected in the seventh round of the 2010 draft, spending time with the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Cowboys, Patriots, and Broncos before joining the 49ers on a three-year, $10MM contract prior to the 2017 campaign. Last season, Watson played only 88 snaps on defense but was a key asset on special teams, where he saw 72% playtime and managed four tackles.
If he does return this year, it’s difficult to see Watson getting much action on defense, where Reuben Foster and Fred Warner play the majority of snaps for San Francisco. But he could join Malcolm Smith, Mark Nzeocha, and Elijah Lee as reserves while contributing on special teams, where the 49ers currently rank as a bottom-three unit in DVOA.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Deatrick Nichols
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OG Sean Harlow
- Cut: C J.C. Hassenauer
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Brandon Bell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Devante Mays
Denver Broncos
- Cut: OG Avery Gennesy
Houston Texans
- Signed: OLB Daeshon Hall
- Cut: RB Josh Ferguson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Rolan Milligan
- Cut: QB Phillip Walker
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Raymond Davison, T Pace Murphy
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Austin Proehl
- Cut: WR Steven Mitchell
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Jalen Myrick, OT Adam Bisnowaty
- Cut: DT Curtis Cothran
- Placed on injured list: DE Jonathan Wynn
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: RB Donnel Pumphrey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Aaron Burbridge
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Justin Currie, OG J.J. Dielman
- Cut: RB Lavon Coleman, LB Azeem Victor
49ers Place S Adrian Colbert On IR
49ers free safety Adrian Colbert will go on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. It’s a 6-to-8 week injury, but coach Kyle Shanahan says he is “probably not” a candidate to return this season.
[RELATED: 49ers To Re-Sign QB Tom Savage]
Colbert, 25, was forced out of Sunday’s game against the Rams with a right ankle injury. Colbert was hoping to return, but it sounds like his season is over after compiling 20 tackles and one pass deflection in seven games (six starts).
The 2017 seventh-round pick was surprisingly effective last year after taking over the starting job in Week 10, but he wasn’t playing at the same level this year. Colbert had a slow start out of the gate and briefly lost the top job in Week 4 to D.J. Reed. He was re-inserted into the starting lineup in Week 5, but surrendered a 75-yard touchdown due to a costly mental error.
Now that Colbert is out of the equation, Reed figures to take over as the Niners’ starting free safety. The club may also explore options i traden free agency and the trade market.