NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Kevin Graf
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Asa Jackson
- Cut: LB James Burgess
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Jake Rodgers, T Tyrus Thompson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Tony McRae
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Kennard Backman, RB D.J. Foster
New York Jets
- Cut: OL Zach Sterup
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Wynton McManis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Kevin Smith
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks, RB Malcolm Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB D’Joun Smith
49ers Place LB Shayne Skov On IR
The 49ers have placed linebacker Shayne Skov on injured reserve with a knee injury. To take his place on the roster, defensive back Marcus Ball has been bumped up from the practice squad.
Skov was injured on Sunday as the Niners lost to the Dolphins. The good news is that the linebacker did not tear his ACL and he will not require surgery. Skov suited up for 15 of the 49ers’ 16 regular-season games last year. This year, he appeared in nine of eleven possible games for SF. Playing mostly on special teams, he did not record an official statistic this year.
Ball, 29, spent 12 games with the Saints in 2014, which makes up most of his NFL experience. This year, he briefly hooked on with the Panthers and appeared in one contest. He signed on with San Francisco’s practice squad one week ago and today he gets a crack at the main roster.
The 1-10 Niners travel to Chicago on Sunday to face the Bears.
Opinion: 49ers Should Retain Kaepernick
The 49ers have a way forward with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback, Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle argues. In Miami, Kaepernick ran for 113 yards and threw for 296 more with three touchdowns against one interception. While he can’t provide that kind of production every week, Lynch sees that as a glimpse of what Kaepernick is capable of doing in Chip Kelly‘s offense. It has been widely speculated that the Niners will move on from the controversial Kaepernick in the offseason, but it’s always difficult to find a capable QB and they might not find a ton of attractive options in the spring.
- 49ers general manager Trent Baalke recently praised pending free agent tight end Vance McDonald, as Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee writes. “He’s gotten much more consistent, he’s doing a good job blocking,” Baalke said. “He’s a good all-around football player, and he has a chance in this scheme to do some things, as you say, because the matchups are favorable.” Barrows notes that among NFL tight ends with at least 20 receptions, McDonald is No. 2 behind New England’s Rob Gronkowski in averaging 17.4 yards per grab. There should be a lot of changes for the 1-10 Niners in the offseason, but McDonald could be playing his way on to the 2017 team.
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.
[SOURCE LINK]
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