49ers Waive RB Tyrion Davis-Price
To clear a roster spot for Logan Ryan, the 49ers waived one of their backup running backs. Tyrion Davis-Price is now available on the wire, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Chosen in the 2022 third round, Davis-Price has never been able to catch on in San Francisco. This continues a trend of sorts for the 49ers, who cut bait on 2021 third-round running back draftee Trey Sermon after one season. Like Sermon, Davis-Price has seen lower draft choices and/or UDFAs play in front of him.
Christian McCaffrey‘s October 2022 arrival changed the 49ers’ fortunes at running back. The team had kept costs low at the position between the Jerick McKinnon signing and the McCaffrey trade, and CMC has proven durable despite the run of injuries that marred his later years with Carolina. With McCaffrey atop the depth chart, Elijah Mitchell has played behind him. But Jordan Mason, a 2022 UDFA, has worked ahead of Davis-Price as well.
Mason logged 43 carries last season and has taken 23 handoff this year. Davis-Price has taken 40 handoffs over his two NFL seasons but has barely factored into San Francisco’s 2023 equation. The LSU product has only played in one game this year. Davis-Price averaged just 2.9 yards per carry last season. He came to the 49ers after a 1,003-yard season at LSU.
It was rumored the 49ers chose Davis-Price as an olive branch of sorts to Deebo Samuel, who had requested a trade before the 2022 draft. Running back usage came up as a sticking point during that standoff, and depth contributed to that during the 2021 season. But Samuel signed an extension last summer, minimizing this narrative; Davis-Price never factored into the team’s plans much once the season started.
It is possible the 49ers circle back to Davis-Price via a practice squad stash, though veteran Jeremy McNichols resides on the team’s P-squad. The 49ers saw the Eagles claim Sermon last year but did not bring him back when the 2021 third-rounder became available this year.
Lions Place DL Alim McNeill On IR
The Lions will be without a key defensive piece moving forward. After Alim McNeill left the team’s Week 13 win on multiple occasions, the Lions moved the ascending starter to IR.
Dan Campbell said McNeill was facing a potential absence; Tuesday’s transaction confirms a lengthy stay off the roster will commence. The third-year defensive lineman will not be eligible to be activated until Week 18. Given McNeill’s performance thus far this season, this represents a considerable blow to Detroit’s defense.
Chosen in the third round during Campbell and GM Brad Holmes‘ first draft with the team, McNeill has been a regular Lions starter throughout his career. This season, however, has brought a breakthrough. Pro Football Focus ranks McNeill as the NFL’s sixth-best interior D-lineman. The young defender has five sacks and has matched his full-season tackle-for-loss showing by notching six in the Lions’ first 12 games. Among Lions, only Aidan Hutchinson exited Week 13 with more sacks (5.5) than McNeill.
The good news for the Lions: they might have McNeill back for the playoffs. The North Carolina State product sustained a knee sprain, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who adds a return this season is in play. This represents a positive development for a Lions team that also may be targeting late-season returns from C.J. Gardner-Johnson and James Houston. Still, the number of unavailable defenders in Detroit is piling up.
Detroit has lost Gardner-Johnson, Houston and Emmanuel Moseley to severe injuries this season. Moseley’s second ACL tear in two years will sideline him into the 2024 offseason. At defensive tackle, the Lions are reasonably well situated. The team has veteran Isaiah Buggs, former second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike and rookie third-rounder Brodric Martin. The latter has not seen much time this season, with the Lions making him a healthy scratch for most of the year. Martin has only played in one game this season. McNeill’s injury could force the Lions into bumping the second-day draft investment into part-time duty.
The Lions rank 23rd defensively, though the unit ranks 10th in DVOA and fifth against the run. McNeill has been a central part in the success against ground attacks. To help fill the void, the Lions signed 13-year veteran interior D-lineman Tyson Alualu to their practice squad. In addition to the McNeill and Alualu transactions, Detroit signed cornerback Kindle Vildor from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
49ers To Sign DB Logan Ryan
Tuesday now features multiple late-season signings involving 30-something defenders. After the Lions added Tyson Alualu, Logan Ryan will be on track to make his debut soon. The 49ers are signing the veteran defensive back, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Last with the Buccaneers, Ryan had not previously caught on anywhere this year. His Tampa Bay contract expired in March. Ryan, 32, started six games for the Bucs last season and has 121 career starts. As the 49ers push for home-field advantage in the NFC, Ryan will be a part of their secondary. This is an active-roster deal, with the 49ers waiving running back Tyrion Davis-Price to make room on their 53-man roster.
Ryan brings extensive experience at safety and cornerback. While Ryan has spent the bulk of the 2020s at safety, the former Patriots third-round pick began his career with several seasons at corner. The 49ers pursued several corners at the trade deadline but did not add anyone. They also sustained a major loss in the secondary last month, losing All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga for the season due to an ACL tear.
In addition to Hufanga, the 49ers are without veteran backup and special-teamer George Odum. The latter suffered a biceps injury in Week 12. Both players are on IR, depleting the NFC West leaders’ depth at the position. While this has not affected San Francisco’s post-bye surge, the team has reeled off its most recent win streak with a thin safety corps.
Entering Tuesday morning, the 49ers had only two safeties — starters Tashaun Gipson and Ji’Ayir Brown, a third-round rookie — on their 53-man roster. The 49ers added ex-Raiders and Falcons starter Erik Harris to their practice squad last week and used him in Week 13, calling him up as a gameday elevation against the Eagles. Harris is back on San Francisco’s practice squad.
Ryan played in nine games with the Bucs last season, spending part of the campaign on IR. A foot injury sidelined Ryan for an extended period last year, but he returned in December to help the Bucs hang on for the NFC South title. Prior to Ryan’s Tampa stay, he spent two seasons with the Giants. Ryan signed with the Giants late during the 2020 offseason and secured an extension later that year. After being part of a safety corps that also housed Jabrill Peppers and Xavier McKinney, Ryan received his walking papers — as the Giants changed regimes — during the 2022 offseason.
The Titans gave Ryan a three-year, $30MM deal in 2017; he played out the deal. Ryan was a starter for a Titans team that made a surprise run to the AFC championship game in 2019. This journey was old hat to Ryan by that point, as he worked as a regular for Super Bowl-winning Patriots teams in 2014 and ’16. Even at corner, Ryan has proven a prolific tackler. He has four 90-plus-tackle seasons. Two of those came during his corner years. On the strength of his run defense, Pro Football Focus graded Ryan as an above-average safety in 2022. Ryan has three four-plus-INT season on his resume as well, though each of those came during his years at corner. Ryan has not played cornerback regularly since 2019.
At corner, the 49ers have seen improved play from Ambry Thomas, whom they have used as a regular corner over this four-game win streak. The team, which let Jimmie Ward defect to Houston this offseason, now has two additional veteran safeties in the fold. Despite DeMeco Ryans‘ departure, the 49ers rank second in scoring defense and fifth in yards allowed entering Week 14.
Texans, S Adrian Amos Agree To Deal
Adrian Amos cleared waivers Monday but did not last long in free agency. Shortly after the Jets’ decision to cut the veteran safety, which was described over the weekend as a mutual separation, he will land with a fourth NFL team.
The Texans and Amos agreed to terms Tuesday, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The 10th-year veteran will check in as a depth piece in Houston, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds. Amos spent the first nine seasons of his career as a full-time starter, working in that capacity in Chicago and Green Bay. The Jets cut Amos loose after using him as a backup this year.
During his age-30 season, Amos has played 265 defensive snaps. Although the Jets added him as mid-offseason insurance after Chuck Clark‘s season-ending injury, Tony Adams ended up playing as the team’s full-timer alongside Jordan Whitehead. Amos started three games this season, but his run of 900-snap campaigns came to a stop this year. Prior to 2023, Amos had logged more than 970 snaps in five consecutive seasons.
After grading Amos as one of the NFL’s worst safety regulars last season, Pro Football Focus slots the 2023 part-timer 20th overall at the position. Against the run, Amos ranks fourth overall. The advanced metrics site has long been high on the former Bears fifth-rounder, 2022 notwithstanding; he drew a top-30 mark at the position from 2015-21. Amos also made a career-high 102 tackles in 2022, registering a career-most seven tackles for loss as well.
Houston has Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward in place at safety, though the latter has once again toggled between safety and the slot due to injuries. Ward has also missed extensive time this season, suiting up for only seven games during his first slate in Houston. The former first-round pick came through with a game-ending end zone interception to stave off a Broncos rally. Ward’s shoulder injury checked out OK after the game, according to Wilson. The 10th-year veteran sustained only a bruise.
Amos joins Pitre, Ward and veteran special-teamer DeAndre Houston-Carson among the Texans’ safety corps. The team placed Eric Murray on IR earlier this season. Between Ward and Amos, Houston now has a combined 250 games of experience.
Lions Sign DL Tyson Alualu
Tyson Alualu is set to continue his NFL career for a 14th season. The veteran defensive lineman has agreed to a deal with the Lions, his agency announced on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old had spent the past six seasons in Pittsburgh, and he expressed a desire to continue his time with the Steelers this offseason. Instead, he will now head to the Motor City in a bid to carve out a rotational role on the Lions’ defensive front. Justin Rogers of the Detroit News notes Alualu will start on the team’s practice squad, as has become standard practice around the league for midseason additions.
This marks another late-season addition to Detroit’s defense, with Alualu following Bruce Irvin — who is also in his age-36 season — in signing with the NFC North leaders’ practice squad. Irvin made his debut with the Lions in Week 13. While Irvin had made a habit of in-season signings during the 2020s, this is new territory for Alualu. The veteran interior D-lineman played 17 games as a rotational player in Pittsburgh last season.
Over the course of his career, Alualu has played in 191 games and started 111. Although Alualu spent six seasons working alongside Cameron Heyward up front with the Steelers, he was a regular starter with the Jaguars from 2010-16. Pro Football Focus graded Alualu poorly last season but viewed him as one of the NFL’s top D-linemen as recently as 2020. Alualu suffered a season-ending injury during Week 2 of the 2021 season. The Lions will see what the former first-round pick has left in the tank.
Detroit’s latest addition comes after starter Alim McNeill left Sunday’s game due to injury. Dan Campbell said the third-year starter might not be ready in time for Detroit’s Week 14 game against Chicago. McNeill left the Lions-Saints matchup multiple times due to injury, though his practice designation Wednesday will begin to determine how likely a Week 14 absence will be.
Jets To Sign QB Brett Rypien Off Seahawks’ Practice Squad, Waive Tim Boyle
Set to make another change to their quarterback depth chart, the Jets are making a shake-up to their roster as well. New York is adding Brett Rypien off the Seahawks’ practice squad and waiving Tim Boyle, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. 
The latter passer received a pair of starts after the decision was made to bench Zach Wilson. Boyle did not impress in either outing, however, and he was lifted in favor of Trevor Siemian in the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 13 loss. Now, a new face will enter the situation in the form of Rypien, who had been in Seattle for roughly one month following the end of his Rams tenure.
The 27-year-old filled in for an injured Matthew Stafford for one contest, but he struggled and was let go as a result. No teams put in a claim for him, leaving him free to sign anywhere. He elected to join the Seahawks, a decision which recently saw him elevated in the wake of Geno Smith facing availability concerns. Smith was able to play, however, and the presence of backup Drew Lock limited Rypien’s prospects of seeing playing time in the Emerald City.
Now, the the former Bronco will have the chance to earn practice reps and/or playing time with the Jets as they continue to search for a short-term answer under center. Wilson had an extended run in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear, but he was later demoted to third-stringer for the second season in a row to clear a starting spot for Boyle. With the latter now out of the picture, Wilson is believed to be the Jets’ preference for Week 14. A report from Monday indicated, however, the former second overall pick has expressed hesitancy over returning to game action.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh had not yet named a starter for Week 14 or beyond, something which especially makes sense given today’s news. The addition of Rypien will give New York a new option to consider as the team looks to find some level of consistency on offense. Boyle, meanwhile, will hit the waiver wire, making him available to any interested teams. If he clears, he will become a free agent and be able to join the Jets’ practice squad or head elsewhere in search of playing time.
Eagles, Shaquille Leonard Agree To Deal
The Shaquille Leonard sweepstakes have come to an end. The All-Pro free agent has come to terms on a one-year deal with the Eagles, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. The team has since announced the agreement.
Leonard’s choice was widely understood to be down to the Eagles or the divisional-rival Cowboys. Both teams hosted the veteran linebacker on a visit last week, expressing an interest in a deal provided the terms were reasonable. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed a wait-and-see attitude earlier today while awaiting Leonard’s decision, but as Rapoport notes, Philadelphia was always his “preferred destination.” 
After both Dallas and Philadelphia hosted Leonard, it became clear he would wait until after the Week 13 slate of Sunday games to decide on his next home. Today’s news means he will join a team other than the Colts for the first time in his career, but his addition could prove to be crucial in the race for the NFC East crown. The Cowboys and Eagles play each other in Week 14, which could very well mark Leonard’s debut for his new employer.
Issues related to playing time led the Colts to move on from the 28-year-old last month. All teams were eligible to add him via waivers, but putting in a claim would have tied them to the remainder of his contract. To no surprise, he cleared and became a free agent. A short list of teams emerged, with the Eagles and Cowboys immediately at the forefront. The Broncos and Vikings were briefly mentioned as potential suitors, but neither squad hosted him on a free agent visit. Now, attention will turn to the Eagles’ general linebacker situation and where Leonard will fit into it.
Zach Cunningham has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and his absence was a major factor in Philadelphia’s pursuit of Leonard. The former was missed during the Eagles’ blowout loss to the 49ers yesterday, a game in which the team’s defense endured a sustained inability to slow down San Francisco’s offense. Leonard could play a part in helping a unit which ranks 23rd and 24th in total and scoring defense, respectively. Especially after Cunningham returns, though, a rotational role will likely await the three-time Pro Bowler.
Leonard has been limited to 12 games across the past two seasons as back issues have led to surgery and signficant missed time. Questions abound regarding his ability to regain his previous form after he logged a snap share of 70% in Indianapolis this season, by far his lowest in a full campaign. The Colts have moved on with younger, less expensive options at the second level, but the Eagles will take a flier on Leonard still being able to make an impact. Philadelphia entered the day with $3.39MM in cap space, meaning today’s deal will not be a lucrative one.
Still atop the division despite yesterday’s loss, the Eagles remain in the driver’s seat for the NFC’s top seed. Leonard will look to give their postseason push a boost and in doing so help his free agent prospects. How he fits into Philadelphia’s defense and the impact he can make will be a key storyline to follow down the stretch.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/23
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: WR Dan Chisena
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated to return from IR: LB Malik Hamm
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Brett Toth
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: QB A.J. McCarron
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): DB David Long
Indianapolis Colts
- Reinstated from suspended list: DT Grover Stewart
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: TE Josh Pederson
New York Giants
- Waived: QB Matt Barkley
While the Giants haven’t activated Tyrod Taylor, the veteran QB is expected to be back on the active roster next Monday. In preparation, the team has moved on from Matt Barkley, who has been serving as the backup to Tommy DeVito since Daniel Jones went down with an injury. Barkley hasn’t seen the field for a regular season game since 2020, when he got into five games with the Bills.
Jets To Place TE C.J. Uzomah On IR
C.J. Uzomah exited Sunday’s loss with a knee injury, and the Jets tight end will now miss at least the next four games. Coach Robert Saleh told reporters that Uzomah will be placed on injured reserve as he recovers from an MCL injury (via the team’s website).
Uzomah suffered the injury early in the first quarter against the Falcons. While blocking on a Breece Hall run, the tight end got his legs caught in the ensuing pile and had to exit the contest. Saleh described the injury as “extensive,” and there’s a chance Uzomah may not return to the field in 2023.
After spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Bengals, Uzomah joined the Jets prior to the 2022 campaign on a three-year, $24MM contract. Uzomah’s numbers took a step back during his first season in New York. After finishing with career-highs in 2021, the tight end hauled in only 21 catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns during his debut season with the Jets.
Uzomah saw an even lesser role on offense this season, catching just eight passes for 58 yards and one touchdown. The 30-year-old was appearing in about a third of his team’s offensive snaps while mostly serving as a blocker.
The injury shouldn’t do a whole lot to impact the team’s depth chart. Tyler Conklin still soaks up most of the snaps at the position, and Uzomah recently started ceding snaps to Jeremy Ruckert.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/4/23
Monday’s taxi squad moves:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR N’Keal Harry
New York Giants
- Released: QB Jacob Eason
New York Jets
- Signed: DT Bruce Hector
- Placed on IR: DT Perrion Winfrey
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: QB Trace McSorley
- Released: WR Jacob Copeland
With Tyrod Taylor set to return to the Giants’ lineup in the coming days, New York has cleared out a spot on the practice squad for a third passer. Eason was added last month in the wake of Taylor’s rib injury, one which – coupled with Daniel Jones being out for the year – left the Giants short on healthy bodies at the QB position. Now that Taylor is healthy, Eason will look to find a new home. He has made one brief appearance with each of the Colts (2021) and Panthers (2022) during his career.
McSorley has bounced around the league since the end of his Ravens stint. He will now return to the AFC North in the wake of Pittsburgh losing starter Kenny Pickett for at least one game. The former has made nine career appearances and one start in the regular season.