NFL Teams Showing Interest In Rugby Stars
Last year, rugby star Jarryd Hayne signed with the 49ers and tried his hand at the NFL. His stay in the league was short, but there are now a pair of rugby standouts that are hoping to follow his footsteps. Australian Rugby League players Valentine Holmes and Jason Taumalolo tried out for teams on Saturday, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
The Bills, Bears, Browns, Packers, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Rams, Jets, Eagles, Chargers, Seahawks, Cardinals, and the 49ers were all in attendance for the workout (Twitter link). Taumalolo, 23, and Holmes, 21, ran passing routes, underwent speed and agility tests, and ran the 40-yard dash, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Taumalolo hears that he could project to fullback, tight end, or linebacker while Holmes was pegged as a wide receiver or safety.
At least four NFL teams expressed interest in taking a second look at the duo, the Australian Associated Press reports. Scouts from the Packers, Eagles, Jets, Chiefs and Cardinals appeared to be the most interested. The AAP writes that both players intend on fulfilling their NRL contracts for 2017, but one has to imagine that they could change their minds if presented with an NFL offer.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves.
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Justin Perillo (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Brandon Dunn
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Dreamius Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Raheem Mostert
- Cut: RB Kelvin Taylor
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Colin Kaepernick To Start Elsewhere In 2017?
With 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick likely to opt out of his contract at season’s end, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com will be surprised if he doesn’t get a “$7M chance to start somewhere” next year (Twitter link). The 29-year-old has been solid this season, throwing for 1,144 yards, seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions. He’s also collected 260 yards on the ground. Kaepernick accounted for 409 total yards (296 passing, 113 rushing) and three scores in the 49ers’ 31-24 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
What's Next For Colin Kaepernick?
- What is Colin Kaepernick‘s future after the 2016 NFL season? In his most recent mailbag, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes that there are a lot of moving parts with regards to the controversial 49ers quarterback. With his play this year, Kaepernick has made it clear that he deserves a spot in the league based on his ability. However, a team must consider whether the additional media attention is worthwhile, particularly if they see Kaepernick as a backup. The quarterback has personally left the door open for a return, but it seems unlikely that SF will pursue anything with him beyond this season.
49ers Wanted Adam Gase As OC In 2015
With Miami set to face San Francisco on Sunday, first-year Dolphins head coach Adam Gase revisited the 49ers’ past pursuit of him on Wednesday (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). After the 49ers and head coach Jim Harbaugh parted ways at the conclusion of the 2014 season, the club replaced him with Jim Tomsula. But it also interviewed a slew of other candidates – Gase included. It turns out Tomsula tried to hire Gase as his offensive coordinator, the latter revealed Wednesday. Gase instead took the same role with the Bears, with whom he fared well, and is now atop a 6-4 Dolphins team. Since passing on Gase, the 49ers have gone 6-20 under the since-fired Tomsula and his replacement, Chip Kelly.
Although they went in a different direction in 2015, Gase harbors no ill will toward the 49ers. “Spending all the time with (general manager) Trent (Baalke) was a really valuable experience for me and it was extremely helpful for me when I went through that next round of interviews,” Gase said. “The dos and don’ts of what to do. Just kind of the expectations. I owe those guys a lot just for the fact that they did give me that second interview … Nobody else gave me that second interview.”
49ers Promote Vinnie Sunseri
- The 49ers have promoted safety Vinnie Sunseri from the practice squad, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter). The former Alabama star last played in the NFL with the Saints in 2014. The 25-year-old will be taking the roster spot previously held by Eric Reid, who was placed on the injured reserve today.
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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/22/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tyler Patmon
- Cut: DT Bruce Gaston
Chicago Bears
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby, WR Dres Anderson
- Cut: Darius Jennings
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Derrick Mathews
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Randell Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Marcus Ball
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Mike Liedtke, CB Cody Riggs, WR Myles White
- Cut: RB Russell Hansbrough
Eric Reid Out For Season With Biceps Tear
TUESDAY, 6:40pm: The 49ers have placed Reid on the injured reserve, according to Maiocco (via Twitter).
MONDAY, 4:49pm: The 49ers confirmed Reid is out for the year after an MRI revealed the fourth-year safety sustained a torn biceps, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). He will require surgery, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets.
MONDAY, 4:29pm: Reid announced (on Twitter) he won’t be taking the field with the 49ers the rest of the season. While the team hasn’t placed him on IR yet, that move is probably coming soon.
SUNDAY, 8:15pm: Barreling toward one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the 49ers may well be without Eric Reid the rest of the way. Initial tests conducted on the fourth-year safety revealed a torn biceps, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The former first-round pick left Sunday’s Patriots-49ers game during the second half, and looks set to miss what would be the first extensive action of his career. Despite the 49ers being closer to preparing for the 2017 draft than competing for a playoff spot, this uncertainty comes at a tough time for Reid, who is set to play on the fifth-year option in ’17.
San Francisco GM Trent Baalke said he’d be interested in signing Reid to an extension in April, but nothing transpired on that front and the fifth-year option became Reid’s immediate future. How long Baalke remains part of that is up for debate, with the franchise having lost eight straight games.
The former No. 18 overall pick and fourth-year starter is set to make $5.676MM in 2017 as a result of the Niners picking up his option season, and having a significant injury now could delay any such talks for a long-term deal. Reid’s option season is guaranteed for injury only, so the safety not being able to pass a physical by the time the new league year begins would ensure the attached salary goes to him.
Reid’s made 62 tackles this season, including a team-high seven against the Patriots, and intercepted the eighth pass of his career during this campaign as well. The soon-to-be 25-year-old back-line player also has forced a fumble to go along with six pass deflections. Reid’s played and started in at least 15 games in each of the past three seasons, with his fourth looking likely to end that run.
Reid would likely join starters NaVorro Bowman and Arik Armstead on IR, should the diagnosis confirm the team’s fears.
49ers' Kelly: Haven't Talked Future With Team
After losing 30-17 to New England, the Niners are now 1-9 and their nine-game losing streak ties a 38-year-old franchise worst. Still, Kelly is in his first year with the team and he did not inherit a great roster. It would be a bit surprising if Kelly was jettisoned so soon, but then again, coaches are often on a short leash in the NFL.
In the midst of a dreadful season, 49ers coach Chip Kelly says he hasn’t discussed his future with team brass.
“No,” Kelly said, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “We haven’t had any conversations about that at all. About anybody’s job security.”
Torrey Smith's Consecutive Games Streak Likely To End
- 49ers wideout Torrey Smith is unlikely to play today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). If Smith does not suit up, his streak of 89 consecutive regular season games played, which dates back to the first game of his rookie year in Baltimore, would come to an end.