49ers To Bring Tank Carradine Off IR
- 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine returned to practice this week, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports. The team planned to bring the injured defender back from IR, and it looks like that’s still the plan. Carradine can return as soon as Week 12 — a November 26 game against the Seahawks. Both Carradine and Arik Armstead are on IR, and it looks like the latter’s third NFL season will be over. “It’s a tough decision, but we feel Tank has got a good chance to at least be back for these last six games where we know Arik would have been only the last two,” Kyle Shanahan said. “We had to make a decision (Wednesday), so we’re going to go with Tank right now.” Fellow defensive lineman Ronald Blair took San Francisco’s first IR-return spot last week.
Staley On Track To Play This Sunday
- Another prominent offensive tackle looks likely to return from injury. 49ers veteran offensive lineman Joe Staley appears on track to play this Sunday after suffering an orbital fracture two weeks ago vs. the Eagles, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Gate. Branch notes that Staley was expected to miss at least two weeks with the injury, but is now ahead of schedule with his recovery. The veteran will have to wear a visor in order to protect his injured eye, but seeing the 33 year-old tough out the pain is the reason why he’s been one of the best lineman in football over the past decade. The 49ers will attempt to win their first game of the season when take on the Giants at home this weekend.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/9/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
New England Patriots
- LB Zach Vigil (link)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Zach Vigil (Friday) (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
San Francisco 49ers
- WRs Cyril Grayson, Chris Harper, Francis Owusu, Jordan Payton, Domonique Young; CBs Trovon Reed, Damian Swann; S John Boyett (Twitter links)
Washington Redskins
- RBs Kapri Bibbs, Dare Ogunbowale, Denard Robinson, Jahad Thomas; WRs Keyarris Garrett, Francis Owusu; DL Stefan Charles, Caraun Reid, Will Sutton (Twitter links)
49ers' Carradine Returns From IR
- 49ers defensive end Tank Carradine practiced on Wednesday, kickstarting his path to return from IR (Twitter link via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports). With Carradine and Ronald Blair back in action, the Niners have now used both of their IR-DTR spots for the year.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/7/17
Today’s workout updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- QBs Joel Stave, Alek Torgersen; WRs Harvey Binford, Dante Edwards (link via Balzer)
Atlanta Falcons
- CBs Jeremy Boykins, Robertson Daniel; S Marcus Cromartie (link via Balzer)
Buffalo Bills
- WR DeVon Edwards; CB Denzel Rice; DBs Dean Marlowe, Chris Prosinski, Tre Sullivan (link via Balzer)
Chicago Bears
- RBs Jahad Thomas, James Summers, Stanley Williams (link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Houston Texans
- CBs Sheldon Price, Will Redmond (link via Wilson)
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Lucky Whitehead; LBs Tyrell Adams, Brooks Ellis, Otha Peters; CBs Makinton Dorleant; S Will Blackmon (link via Balzer)
New York Jets
- WR Lucky Whitehead; CB Michael Hunter (Twitter links via Balzer)
San Francisco 49ers
- WR Dominique Young (link via Wilson)
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/17
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Seahawks‘ practice squad: LB Joseph Jones
- Waived: LB Kevin Snyder
Indianapolis Colts
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Josh Keyes, T Tyler Marz
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Browns‘ practice squad: T Zach Sterup
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived from injured reserve: WR R.J. Shelton
New Orleans Saints
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Corey Fuller, T Martin Wallace
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Ed Stinson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DB Antone Exum
- Placed on injured reserve: T Garry Gilliam
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted to active roster: LB Josh Forrest
- Placed on injured reserve: FB Tre Madden
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/6/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OT Storm Norton
- Released: OT Javarius Leamon
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: RB Marcus Murphy
- Released: OG Will Pericak
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Denzel Rice
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Andrew Lauderdale
49ers WR Trent Taylor Suffers Broken Rib
49ers rookie wideout Trent Taylor may not finish his first NFL season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed earlier today that the receiver broke a rib on a non-contact play, although the team is hoping he’ll see the field again this year (via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee on Twitter). Meanwhile, the team is preparing to place three players on the injured reserve (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle on Twitter), including safety Jaquiski Tartt, tight end Cole Hikutini and offensive tackle Garry Gilliam. We heard yesterday that Tartt was likely done for the season.
Taylor, who was selected in the fifth round of this past year’s draft, has gradually climbed the 49ers depth chart throughout the season. The rookie had appeared in all nine games, hauling in 24 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown. The Louisiana Tech product had also returned 17 punts for 167 yards. The team signed wideout Louis Murphy earlier today for some reinforcement at the position, as they were previously rostering only four healthy wideouts in Marquise Goodwin, Aldrick Robinson, Kendrick Bourne, and Victor Bolden.
While Hikutini and Gilliam are headed to the IR, there is some optimism, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets that the players injured their MCLs instead of their ACLs. Gilliam joined the 49ers this past summer following three seasons with the Seahawks, and he proceeded to appear in eight games (one start) for his new team. The team could theoretically be in the hunt for another tackle, as their reserve options (which include Zane Beadles, Erik Magnuson, and Darrell Williams Jr.) mostly have experience at offensive guard. Hikutini, an undrafted rookie out of Louisville, saw the field for four games this season, hauling in a pair of passes for 15 yards. The team will presumably look for some depth behind George Kittle and Garrett Celek.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/17
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on injured reserve: DT Brian Price
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers: CB D.J. White
Los Angeles Rams
- Released from IR: WR Bradley Marquez
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed off waivers: OT Bryce Harris
- Released: DT John Hughes
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Logan Paulsen
49ers Sign WR Louis Murphy
The 49ers have signed veteran wide receiver Louis Murphy, according to his reps at Universal Sports Management (Twitter link). Murphy was with the Niners over the summer but missed the pre-Week 1 cut when he was released in early September. 
Murphy has spent time with four clubs during his pro tenure, with his last stop coming in Tampa Bay. The 30-year-old’s best season came in 2010, when he posted 41 receptions and 609 yards for the Raiders. Unfortunately, he’s been held back by injuries and off-field issues ever since. In 2015, he tore his ACL and suffered a setback while trying to rehab the injury. He also was arrested on gun charges earlier this year.
The veteran will help to provide depth for San Francisco following Pierre Garcon‘s season-ending injury.