Jaguars Sign LB Marcus Rush Off 49ers’ PS
The Jaguars have signed linebacker Marcus Rush off the 49ers’ practice squad and placed offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi on injured reserve, the club announced today.
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Rush, 25, went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2015 and had spent the past two years on San Francisco’s taxi squad. He starred during the 2016 preseason, leading the NFL with six sacks during exhibition season. But that performance wasn’t enough for Rush to land a spot on the 49ers’ active roster, and (somewhat surprisingly), Rush didn’t earn a promotion this week even after San Francisco cleared roster space by placing several players on IR.
Poutasi, meanwhile, was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2015 draft, but the new Tennessee regime waived him after only a single season. The 22-year-old spent the majority of the 2016 campaign on Jacksonville’s practice squad, but did end up starting one game after being promoted in mid-November.
49ers Place DB Jimmie Ward On IR
The 49ers announced today that they’ve placed defensive back Jimmie Ward on injured reserve and promoted rookie cornerback Prince Charles Iworah from the practice squad to the active roster. Additionally, San Francisco will promote wide receiver DeAndre Smelter to the 53-man roster, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
[RELATED: 49ers Audition J’Marcus Webb]
Although he played safety in college, Ward, a first-round pick in 2014, was the 49ers’ nickel corner, and had started a career-high 10 games in 2016. The 25-year-old had posted two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery while grading as the league’s No. 53 cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. Ward is signed through the 2017 campaign, and San Francisco can add an extra year to his deal by exercising his 2018 fifth-year option.
Iworah, meanwhile, was selected in the sixth round out of Western Kentucky earlier this year. After being waived at final cutdowns, Iworah was quickly signed to the Niners’ taxi squad, and has spent the entire season on the PS. San Francisco will take a look at him over the final two games of the year, as he’ll play behind Tramaine Brock, Rashard Robinson, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser, and JaCorey Shepherd in the secondary.
Smelter, 25, was expected to contribute to the 49ers’ offense after being drafted in the fourth round in 2015, but he’s yet to appear in an NFL game thus far in his career. Smelter spent his entire rookie campaign on NFI, and after being waived earlier this year, re-signed to San Francisco’s practice squad in October.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Ronald Zamort
Cleveland Browns
- Signed LB James Burgess, TE J.P. Holtz
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Austin Traylor
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Andrew Turzilli
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Max McCaffrey
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Cory Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: C Kyle Friend, TE Jason Vander Laan
Philadelphia Eagles
- Cut: TE Marcel Jensen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Al-Hajj Shabazz
- Cut: CB Brandon Dixon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DiAndre Campbell, CB Duke Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Malcolm Johnson
- Placed on practice squad IR: OL Robert Myers
2017 NFL Draft Order Through Week 15
With just two weeks to go, the NFL playoff picture is starting to get clearer. The Cowboys, Seahawks, Patriots, and Raiders have already punched their playoff tickets while the Chiefs, Steelers, Falcons, and Giants are considered near locks by the forecasts at Five Thirty Eight.
Here’s a look at where the draft order stands for the teams not currently slated to make the cut (Note: Ties are broken by strength of schedule):
1. Browns 0-14
2. 49ers 1-13
3. Jaguars 2-12
4. Bears 3-11
5. Jets 4-10
6. Rams (pick belongs to Titans) 4-10
7. Eagles (pick belongs to Browns) 5-9
8. Chargers 5-9
9. Cardinals 5-8-1
10. Bengals 5-8-1
11. Panthers 6-8
12. Saints 6-8
13. Bills 7-7
14. Colts 7-7
15. Vikings (pick belongs to Eagles) 7-7
16. Redskins 7-6-1
17. Titans 8-6
17. Ravens 8-6 (Note: The Titans and Ravens are currently knotted up in terms of both record and strength of schedule. In all statistical likelihood, the SOS logjam will be broken by the end of the season.)
19. Texans 8-6
20. Buccaneers 8-6
49ers Audition J’Marcus Webb
Things didn’t work out between J’Marcus Webb and the Seahawks. Could the offensive tackle try and redeem himself with an NFC West rival? The 49ers worked out Webb on Monday, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. 
[RELATED: 49ers Extend LB Ray-Ray Armstrong]
Webb joined the Seahawks this past offseason on a two-year, $6.25MM ($2.5MM guaranteed) deal. The former seventh-round pick was expected to compete for a starting gig, and the 28-year-old did end up starting three games for Seattle. However, the veteran’s role diminished over time and he was released in November.
In his 223 snaps for Seattle, Webb was given a dreadful 38.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Still, Webb offers plenty of starting experience, as the veteran has had three seasons with 16 starts. In six-plus seasons, Webb has played 80 games between the Seahawks, Raiders, Vikings, and Bears. He also has some experience playing on the interior line.
The 49ers could use some O-Line help considering that left tackle Joe Staley (hamstring) has missed the past couple of games, center Daniel Kilgore was placed on IR, and Kilgore’s replacement Marcus Martin suffered an ankle injury on Sunday.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed WR B.J. Daniels
- Cut: WR J.D. McKissic
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed LB Lavar Edwards
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Jerome Couplin, LB Cassanova McKinz, LB Reggie Northrup, DB Kevin Short (link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
49ers Extend LB Ray-Ray Armstrong
The 49ers announced that they’ve signed linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong to a two-year extension, locking him up through the 2018 campaign. Armstrong hasn’t played since late September after suffering a pectoral injury.
[RELATED: 49ers Place Nick Bellore On IR]
“Ray-Ray had a strong offseason and was off to a good start in 2016 prior to being sidelined for the season due to injury,” said general manager Trent Baalke. “He has continued to work hard in his rehab and is a young player with a bright future in front of him. We look forward to his continued development and contributions, both on and off the field.”
San Francisco claimed Armstrong off waivers from the Raiders in 2015, and the 25-year-old went on to play five games with the Niners last year. He was re-signed in March 2016, and had posted seven tackles, two passes defense, and one interception through two games this season before succumbing to injury. Originally a Rams undrafted free agent in 2013, Armstrong figures to return as a key special teamer and depth option in 2017.
49ers Claim Carl Bradford, Sign Jim Dray
- The 49ers announced that they’ve claimed linebacker Carl Bradford off waivers from the Packers. San Francisco placed LB Nick Bellore on injured reserve earlier today, so Bradford, who’s appeared in four games for Green Bay this season, will add depth in the Bay Area as the Niners close out the 2016 campaign. San Francisco also announced that it has signed veteran tight end Jim Dray, who began the season with Buffalo.
49ers Place Three Players On IR
As the 49ers seek their second win of the year, they’ll have to do it without the services of three of their players. Wide receiver Quinton Patton, linebacker Nick Bellore, and tight end Blake Bell will all be shut down for the year, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. 
Patton (foot) and Bellore (elbow) both went down early on in Sunday’s embarrassing 41-13 loss to the Falcons. Bell, meanwhile, suffered a shoulder injury after being tackled on a 45-yard pass play in the second quarter. In addition to those three, Maiocco notes that cornerback Jimmie Ward (shoulder), center Marcus Martin (ankle), and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey (undisclosed) also sustained injuries yesterday and their status for Weeks 16 and 17 are not yet known.
The 49ers could fill some of these roster spots from within, if they choose. Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter and linebacker Wynton McManis could be candidates for promotion from the practice squad, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee tweets.
49ers Put In Waiver Claim For Darius Jackson
- The 49ers put in a waiver claim on running back Darius Jackson, a league source tells Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter). Unfortunately for the Niners, the Browns had top priority on the waiver wire and nabbed him instead.