Inman: 49ers Will Jettison All Three QBs
- Carlos Hyde described the MCL sprain he sustained as being worse than the one that sidelined him at Ohio State in 2012, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News reports. The 49ers‘ backfield starter will enter a contract year in 2017. He’s expected to return, injury problems notwithstanding, but Inman projects Trent Baalke and DC Jim O’Neil to be fired at season’s end. However, the reporter expects Chip Kelly and OC Curtis Modkins to stay, citing some sense of continuity is needed to avoid having four head coaches in four years. Inman also anticipates none of the 49ers’ three quarterbacks to be back but points to both Torrey Smith and Jeremy Kerley staying in what should be a turbulent offseason.
Anthony Davis Blasts 49ers' Brass
- Former 49ers offensive lineman Anthony Davis, who retired for the second time in September, took to Twitter on Christmas to blast some of the team’s brass, per Katie Dowd of the San Francisco Chronicle. Regarding CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke, the outspoken Davis commented in a now-deleted tweet, “I don’t want to play for Jed, Trent or [offensive line coach Pat Flaherty] though. They’re all full of [expletive].” Davis shared a more positive assessment of head coach Chip Kelly, calling him a “smart, very calculated, interesting guy,” though he’s unsure if Kelly’s offense can work in the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/16
A rundown of Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: S Christian Bryant (signed from Giants practice squad)
- Placed on injured reserve: S Tony Jefferson, G Taylor Boggs
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Travell Dixon, DE Larry Webster
- Placed on IR: S Tre Boston, DE Ryan Delaire
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jake Kumerow, LB Trevor Roach
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Joe Banyard
- Placed on IR: LB Sean Porter
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: RB Ryan Matthews
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed off waivers: DL Zach Moore
- Placed on IR: RB Carlos Hyde
San Diego Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Andre Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kasen Williams
- Placed on IR: WR Tyler Lockett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: CB Jude Adjei-Barimah
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Alex Tanney
- Placed on IR: QB Marcus Mariota
Washington Redskins
- Placed on waivers: RB Silas Redd (Twitter link via Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com)
Kelly Has Not Discussed Status With 49ers Owners
- Chip Kelly says he hasn’t had discussions with 49ers ownership about his status for 2017, but the first-year San Francisco coach figures to do so once season ends Sunday, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reports (on Twitter). Both Kelly and GM Trent Baalke are on thin ice after this 49ers season included a 13-game losing streak, the longest in franchise history.
2017 NFL Draft Order Through Week 16
This weekend, the Browns got the best of both worlds when they won their first game of the 2016 season while the 49ers also found their way to victory. Now, the 1-14 Browns remain in the top spot as we head into the final week of the NFL season.
Here’s where we stand through Week 16. (Note: Ties are broken by strength of schedule):
- Browns 1-14
- 49ers 2-13
- Bears 3-12
- Jaguars 3-12
- Rams (pick belongs to Titans) 4-11
- Jets 4-11
- Chargers 5-10
- Bengals 5-9-1
- Panthers 6-9
- Eagles (pick belongs to Browns) 6-9
- Cardinals 6-8-1
- Bills 7-8
- Colts 7-8
- Vikings (pick belongs to Eagles) 7-8
- Saints 7-8
- Titans 8-7
- Ravens 8-7
- Buccaneers 8-7
- Broncos 8-7
- Redskins 8-6-1
49ers RB Carlos Hyde Has MCL Sprain
49ers running back Carlos Hyde sprained his MCL on Saturday against the Rams and will miss San Francisco’s game of the season, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Niners are set to close out the season on New Year’s Day against the Seahawks. Coach Chip Kelly has since confirmed the news.
[RELATED: 49ers Place Torrey Smith On IR]
Hyde will finish his age-25 campaign having played in 13 games and posted career highs in nearly every offensive category. On 217 rush attempts, Hyde managed 988 yards (4.6 yards per attempt) and scored six touchdowns, while adding another three scores through the passing game. Hyde is signed through 2017, and now that he’s finished three NFL seasons, the 49ers are now allowed to extend him this offseason.
With Hyde sidelined for San Francisco’s season finale, the club could conceivably add another running back to its roster in the next week. Raheem Mostert, currently on the 49ers’ practice squad, is one obvious candidate to join Shaun Draughn, DuJuan Harris, and Mike Davis on the active roster.
Volin: 49ers Likely To Fire Baalke, Kelly
Earlier this month, a report emerged that Snead was expected to survive, with another indicating the GM was not long for employment in L.A. With the Rams having lost to the 49ers and dropping to 4-11 — in line for their worst record since 2011, the final year of the pre-Snead/Fisher regime — it’s obvious the more fan-friendly move would be to start fresh.
- Neither Trent Baalke nor Chip Kelly is expected to survive Black Monday, per Volin, with a new 49ers GM expected to be able to select his own coach. Kelly’s team won its first game since Week 1 in beating the Rams in L.A., but the formerly sought-after coach steered the team to its worst losing streak in the franchise’s 70-year history. Baalke could land in Denver due to his solid relationship with Broncos GM John Elway, but the sixth-year decision-maker has overseen a 49ers freefall over the past two years after that run of three consecutive conference championship games.
49ers Place Torrey Smith On IR
The 49ers have lost another starter to injury for the season, placing Torrey Smith on IR, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports. This increases the team’s total on the injured list to 17, with nine of those having been starters.
Linebacker Wynton McManis will take Smith’s roster spot, per Wagoner.
Going into mid-December, Smith had never missed a game in his six years as an NFLer. The former Ravens second-round pick had played in 92 consecutive regular-season games to start his career, with that total climbing to an even 100 when counting his appearances during Baltimore’s playoff runs in 2011, 2012 and 2014. But a concussion suffered during Week 14 will shelve the 49ers’ highest-paid receiver for this season’s remainder.
He will finish with his worst statistical season as a pro, having hauled in 20 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns in 12 starts. Smith’s previous low (663 yards) came with the 2015 49ers after he signed a five-year deal last March. The 49ers’ quarterback situation helped render Smith ineffective, and the 27-year-old target was the subject of trade discussion before the November deadline. The 49ers discussed a Smith trade to the Eagles but ended up retaining him.
Three years remain on Smith’s contract, with the cap-rich team saving $4.8MM by cutting him in the offseason but also incurring $4.8MM in dead money by doing so at that juncture. He stands to count $9.6MM against San Francisco’s cap the next three seasons.
49ers Sign Andrew Gardner, Waive Josh Allen
- The 49ers signed offensive lineman Andrew Gardner and waived center Josh Allen. Gardner, whom the Dolphins selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft, most recently took the field with the Eagles from 2014-15. During that two-year span, he started in 11 of 19 appearances.
49ers To Sign Nick Rose In Offseason
- The 49ers plan to sign former Texas kicker Nick Rose to a reserve-future deal in the the offseason, tweets Wilson.