49ers’ Ray-Ray Armstrong Done For Season
The 49ers announced that inside linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong will be placed on IR with a pectoral injury, as Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. Armstrong suffered the injury during the Niners’ Week 2 loss to the Panthers. 
San Francisco claimed Armstrong off waivers from the Raiders in 2015. The linebacker and special-teamer made headlines last year for illegally taunting a police dog before a game against the Steelers. Police alleged that Armstrong lifted his shirt, pounded his chest, and barked at a police dog before telling its handler to let it off the leash. He theoretically could have faced third-degree felony charges for his actions but, ultimately, the Alleghany County sheriff and prosecutor did not pursue the case.
On the field, the Niners were happy with what they saw out of Armstrong in five games last season and he was retained this spring prior to the free agent perior. In the season opener against the Rams, Armstrong notched his first career interception as San Francisco rolled to a 28-0 victory. Now, the Niners will have to replace him on the depth chart.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers Sticking With Blaine Gabbert – For Now
49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert completed just 17 of 36 attempts and threw two interceptions in the team’s 46-27 loss to the Panthers on Sunday. Niners receivers dropped five of Gabbert’s passes, but head coach Chip Kelly still fielded questions about the signal-caller’s job status Monday.
Kelly backed Gabbert, saying, “He’s our starter, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in Blaine. We’re not thinking or talking about not having Blaine in there. It’s about everybody on offense playing better right now.”
Kelly also left himself room to make an eventual change, per Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle, as he said Gabbert had a “week-to-week” hold on the job. Gabbert, whom the Jaguars chose 10th overall in the 2011 draft, has experienced a disappointing NFL career and his play this year has been unremarkable. Before losing to Carolina, the 49ers easily disposed of the Rams, 28-0, in Week 1, but Gabbert’s performance then wasn’t great. Although the 26-year-old completed 22 of 35 attempts against the Rams, didn’t throw a pick, and rushed for 43 yards, he only averaged 4.86 yards per pass.
In total, Gabbert has hit on 39 of 71 tries, put up a meager 5.82 YPA, and amassed three touchdowns against two picks. Gabbert ranks in the league’s bottom five in completion percentage (54.9), YPA and passer rating (74.4). From at least a statistical standpoint, then, Gabbert hasn’t looked like part of the solution in San Francisco. But even if the 49ers do want to replace Gabbert sooner than later, the quarterback he beat out over the summer for the starting job, Colin Kaepernick, doesn’t seem physically ready to take over, as Kroichick notes. Surgeries Kaepernick underwent on his left shoulder, right thumb and left knee limited him in the offseason, and Kelly revealed Monday that the 28-year-old is still working his way up to his ideal playing weight of 225 pounds.
“Usually if you have a knee you can lift with your upper body, and if you have a shoulder you can lift with your lower body. But Kap was really out of the weight room for six-to-eight months,” Kelly stated.
As of last week, Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke were divided on whether the team should retain Kaepernick, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report. Kelly would reportedly like to keep Kaepernick and help him turn into a formidable option again, while Baalke wants to cut ties.
Of course, for multiple reasons, Kaepernick isn’t a run-of-the-mill backup. Before his play began trending downward in 2014, the dual threat helped lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl berth and a place in the NFC title game in his first year and a half as a starter. More recently, Kaepernick has become a polarizing figure on account of his decision not to stand for the pregame national anthem. In doing so, Kaepernick is protesting racial injustice in America, and his choice has spurred other NFLers to make similar pregame statements. The latest example: Several Eagles raised their right fists during the national anthem prior to their game against the Bears on Monday.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Anthony Davis Unlikely To Play Week 2
After playing in his first game since 2014, 49ers offensive tackle Anthony Davis will likely miss this weekend’s contest against the Panthers. According to Matt Barrows of SacBee.com, Davis suffered a concussion during practice this week and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game.
It’s been a hectic start of the season for the 26-year-old. The lineman ended his brief retirement this offseason, but he reportedly missed a crucial practice prior to his team’s season-opener. Davis’ concerns apparently stemmed from his displeasure at playing offensive guard, although the lineman and coach Chip Kelly described the absence as a “miscommunication.” Davis ultimately served as the team’s reserve offensive tackle during their first game.
Davis, a first-round pick in 2010, had started all 71 of his NFL appearances prior to last weekend’s game. The lineman had originally announced his retirement during the summer of 2015, citing injury concerns.
With Davis out of the picture for this weekend’s game, the 49ers will likely rely on Trenton Brown and rookie John Theus to cover the offensive tackle spots.
PFR’s Impact Rookies Series
All summer long, longtime scouting consultant Dave-Te Thomas of The NFL Draft Report has been breaking down the draft class of every team in the league and identifying the players that can immediately make a difference. The Impact Rookies series, which wrapped up today with a look at the Seahawks, provides unique insight to this year’s NFL freshman class from a veteran guru who worked closely with several teams around the league leading up to the draft.
Here is the full rundown of the Impact Rookies series:
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
Impact Rookies: San Francisco 49ers
The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?
To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.
Out of eleven selections, we here at The NFL Draft Report only see one 49ers draft pick making a significant mark in 2016.
First Round – DeForest Buckner, DL (Oregon, No. 7 overall)
A “tall drink of water” at a shade over 6:07, Buckner entered the 2015 bowl season having produced 225 tackles (104 solos) that included seventeen sacks (eleventh on the school career-record chart) for -118 yards. His 34.5 stops-for-loss ranked ninth in Oregon history, good for losses of 154 yards. Additionally, he registered thirty quarterback pressures, with six of those hurries causing interceptions, as Oregon converted those turnovers into touchdown drives. He also caused three fumbles and recovered two others that led to Ducks scores. 
Buckner has outstanding size and a developing frame, adding fifteen pounds of solid muscle mass to it during the 2015 off-season. He has a solid upper body frame, with a wide back, long arms, good lower body strength and room on his frame for additional growth. He has broad shoulders, good bubble, thick thighs and a tight waist. He has a very long torso, arms and legs. A well-proportioned athlete with good upper body muscle development, he has good shoulder size and width, large hands, good bubble, thick thighs, and calves.
The Oregon standout has incredible moves off the edge and can change direction immediately. Buckner shows very good hip strike on contact and is a normal strider who plays with leverage and above average body quickness. He has the burst to penetrate and balance much like a linebacker. Buckner can be an “elephant” (hybrid rush end/linebacker) or just a tenacious defensive end with a high motor and excellent intensity.
From a sheer strength point, Buckner has more natural power than you would expect. He generates a good jolt in his hips and hands to rock the offensive tackle back on his heels during the bull rush. He has more than enough speed and explosion to get an edge. Despite his size, he is stronger than he looks, as he plays with leverage and keeps his pads down, making it tough to block him head-on. He rarely ever gets washed by some down blocks, as he can simply overpower his opponent when heading up the gut (see 2015 Washington, California, Arizona State, and Stanford games). He is best coming off the edge, but he has that long reach and strong hand punch to play off the offensive tackle and quickly locate the ball in backside pursuit. In 33 games of film view, he has never been widened or steered away from the play in any phase.
Last season, Buckner honed his wrap-up tackling technique and became more explosive in that area. The 6’7″, 287 pound athlete is fun to watch as he stalks, chases, wraps, and drags down the ball carrier, as he looks like a spider engulfing the ball carrier to get a piece of the opponent’s body. When he is closing on the quarterback, he shows even more explosion. He is best in open quarters, but he has more than enough power to battle in-line.
As a rookie, Buckner is being slotted in as a starting defensive end in the Niners’ 3-4 alignment. With 2015 first-round pick Arik Armstead at the other bookend and 26-year-old Quinton Dial in the middle, this is a young defensive line that will grow together. Expect Buckner to impress right out of the gate and show the world why he was a Top 10 pick in this year’s draft.
Dave-Te Thomas owns and operates The NFL Draft Report, a service providing insight to league scouting departments for over 40 years. All year round, you can read Thomas’ in-depth reviews of both blue chip prospects and diamonds in the rough by visiting the NFL Draft Report blog.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Anthony Davis On Weekend Absence
49ers offensive lineman Anthony Davis wasn’t willing to speak at length Wednesday about last weekend’s retirement rumors, offering that his absence came down to “miscommunication” (via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com). “Just leave it and let it fester,” said Davis, who was a backup for the 49ers’ 28-0 win over the Rams on Monday. That was Davis’ first game since 2014, as the 26-year-old took a hiatus from football last season. It was also the only appearanced he hasn’t started in since the 49ers chose him in the first round of the 2010 draft. Davis had logged 71 consecutive starts entering Week 1.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/14/16
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Jimmy Staten (Twitter link via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Josh Boyce (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal)
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR DeAndrew White (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Jimmy Bean (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
- Cut: LB Curtis Grant
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Chris Harper (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Rodney Coe (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA)
Washington Redskins
- Signed: C Austin Reiter (Twitter link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post)
49ers’ Brass Divided On Colin Kaepernick
There’s discord between 49ers general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly regarding the future of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Baalke wants to get rid of Kaepernick, while Kelly would like to keep the 28-year-old and help him develop into a quality option again.
Kelly drew career-best performances from signal-callers Nick Foles, Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez during his tenure as Philadelphia’s head coach from 2013-15. Along the way, however, Kelly was unable to coexist with the Eagles’ top executive, Howie Roseman, so his disagreement with Baalke over the 49ers’ most famous player is particularly notable.
Kaepernick, who’s making a guaranteed $11.9MM this year as part of a deal that runs through 2020, nearly exited San Francisco during the offseason. However, the Baalke-led 49ers and the team most interested in Kaepernick – the Broncos – weren’t able to agree to a trade. That left Kaepernick to compete with Blaine Gabbert for the 49ers’ starting job, but the latter won the role over the summer.
The majority of recent Kaepernick-related headlines haven’t focused on his status as the 49ers’ backup, though; instead, the decision he made during the preseason to no longer stand for the pregame national anthem has generated plenty of discussion, both in support of and in opposition to Kaepernick, and has led other NFLers to follow his lead. Kaepernick, who’s protesting against racial inequality in America, has drawn ire from other teams’ front office executives because of his choice, which could affect his value.
“I don’t want him anywhere near my team,” one front office executive told Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report last month. “He’s a traitor.”
That was a common sentiment among execs Freeman spoke to, as one estimated that upward of 90 percent of colleagues feel similarly.
On the field, Kaepernick has struggled over the past couple seasons after bursting on the scene as a second-year player in 2012. That season, the 2011 second-round pick from Nevada took over the 49ers’ starting QB job from Alex Smith late in the campaign and helped lead the club to a Super Bowl berth. In 2013, his first full year as a starter, the dual threat impressed again en route to a 12-win season that ended with a 23-20 defeat to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks in the NFC title game.
Kaepernick has fallen off since since his halycon days, but given Gabbert’s own lack of NFL success – not to mention his propensity to run, which could lead to injuries – it’s possible the former could once again take the reins as the 49ers’ starter this season. Kaepernick got into the 49ers’ 28-0 win over the Rams on Monday, misfiring on one fourth-quarter pass.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers Work Out Aaron Dobson
Aaron Dobson has been a busy man since being released by the Patriots in early September. After having worked out for the Jets and Eagles, the 25-year-old’s most recent stop was San Francisco. According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, the 49ers brought Dobson in for a workout on Tuesday. The reporter notes that a signing is not believed to be “imminent.”
The former second-rounder disappointed during his three seasons in New England. The Marshall product showed some flashes during his rookie campaign, compiling 37 receptions for 519 yards and four touchdowns. Since then, Dobson has only hauled in 16 catches for 179 yards in 12 games (over two seasons). The 25-year-old has battled a number of injuries throughout his career, including a hamstring and a high ankle sprain.
The 49ers offense looked good during their season-opening win over the Rams, but the team still lacks depth at receiver. The team waived wideout Chris Harper today, leaving only five receivers on the roster: Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Jeremy Kerley, Rod Streater and Aaron Burbridge.
49ers Re-Sign DuJuan Harris, Cut Chris Harper
In something of a reversal of Sunday’s transaction, the 49ers are cutting wide receiver Chris Harper and re-signing running back DuJuan Harris, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. Harris was dropped on Monday to make room for Harper’s promotion from the practice squad.
Harris has been yo-yo’d on and off the 49ers’ roster throughout the last couple of weeks. The running back was cut prior to the 53-man deadline only to be re-signed days later. Then, prior to the Niners’ Monday night contest against the Rams, he was dropped again. He’s back on the roster – for now. Harris, 28, split the 2015 season between the 49ers and the Seahawks.
Harper, 22, bounced on-and-off the Patriots’ 53-man roster during his rookie campaign in 2015, and ultimately appeared in five games with the club. Harper could revert to SF’s practice squad if he clears waivers. He did not see a pass thrown his way last night.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.