Tag: 49ers roster

49ers combat injuries with roster moves ahead of Week 16

The 49ers made a bunch of roster moves before Week 16.

The San Francisco 49ers on Saturday made a slew of roster moves leading up to their Week 16 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.

They promoted two practice squad players to the active roster with offensive lineman Austen Pleasants and linebacker Jalen Graham both getting called up.

Graham will fill out LB depth with De’Vondre Campbell’s suspension, while Pleasants gives them more bodies on the offensive line after injuries to Trent Williams and Ben Bartch.

Pleasants was added to the practice squad early in Week 16 and quickly got promoted. The 27-year-old offensive tackle has played in two games during his NFL career.

To clear the necessary roster spot, the 49ers waived OL Sebastian Gutierrez.

They also elevated two players from the practice squad who will revert to the practice roster after Sunday’s game. Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn will help fill out the backfield. Vaughn has worked in as the backup behind Patrick Taylor who is in line to start with RB Isaac Guerendo listed as out for Sunday.

Defensive lineman Alex Barrett will help out a banged up defensive front that has both DEs Nick Bosa and Robert Beal listed as questionable.

The 49ers and Dolphins are slated to kick off at 1:25pm Pacific Time from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

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Will Isaac Guerendo play this week? Injury updates for 49ers RB

49ers running back Isaac Guerendo is dealing with a hamstring injury. Here are the latest updates.

The San Francisco 49ers can’t catch a break in their offensive backfield.

It started in training camp when running back Christian McCaffrey was shut down with what turned out to be Achilles tendinitis. RB Elijah Mitchell was also placed on season-ending IR in August with a hamstring issue.

RB Jordan Mason filled in admirably to start the year, but he was hit with a shoulder injury in Week 6 that he battled until McCaffrey’s return in Week 10. McCaffrey and Mason were both hurt in a Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, which pushed rookie fourth-round pick RB Isaac Guerendo into the starting role.

Guerendo hurt his foot in Week 14, but played in Week 15 where he sustained a hamstring injury.

Isaac Guerendo injury update

Guerendo has been ruled out for Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins. He dealt with a hamstring injury in training camp that cost him most of camp and the first two preseason games. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated early in the week that Guerendo was a longshot to play. After not practicing all week he was listed as ‘out’ on the official injury report.

How long will Isaac Guerendo be out?

It’s unclear how long Guerendo’s absence will be. He showed promise in the reps he get as the 49ers’ primary RB, but the coaching staff will likely want to see more in-game opportunities for him in his rookie season. That doesn’t mean they’ll rush him into action, though. With three games left and nothing on the line there’s no real reason to risk a longer-term injury that may impact him into 2025.

49ers RB depth chart

Shanahan on Friday said veteran RB Patrick Taylor would ‘most likely’ get the starting role in Miami. Behind him on the active roster is Israel Abanikanda. Ke’Shawn Vaughn is on the practice squad and could be either elevated or promoted Saturday. If Vaughn is promoted to the active roster it would come with a corresponding move to clear a roster spot.

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What to expect from ‘likely’ new 49ers starting RB

It’ll be a 4th different starting RB for the 49ers on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers will roll out a fourth different starting running back Sunday when they visit the Miami Dolphins.

Rookie fourth-round pick Isaac Guerendo had been pushed into the starting role when RBs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason both suffered injuries in a Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Now Guerendo is dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him out of the 49ers’ Week 16 game in Miami.

With the rookie also on the sideline, the 49ers are ‘most likely’ turning to fourth-year veteran Patrick Taylor according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan on Friday told reporters Taylor’s experience with the club and his performance as a special teams contributor earned him the starting job.

“Yeah. He’s been here since training camp,” Shanahan said. “He’s done a real good job for us, played in this league before, has experience there at Green Bay and when he’s gotten his opportunities with us he’s ran the ball well. And when he hasn’t run the ball, he’s really helped us on special teams. So, big opportunity for him and glad we’ve got him.”

Taylor was on the active roster to begin the year while McCaffrey worked through an Achilles injury. He became expendable once McCaffrey returned and the 49ers released him before re-signing him to their practice squad.

This season Taylor has played in 10 games and notched 50 rushing yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. He might eclipse those season totals Sunday with unreliable depth behind him.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn will likely be up from the practice squad, but he’s primarily been a special teams contributor and has two separate practice squad stints after spending part of the preseason with San Francisco.

Israel Abanikanda is also on the roster after the 49ers claimed him off waivers from the Jets. He’s only been with the team three weeks and hasn’t been able to get on the field.

While the 49ers may rotate in other RBs more than they would have with a player higher on the depth chart starting, chances are Taylor will see a lion’s share of the rushing and receiving workload with a chance to eclipse his season totals in one game.

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Recently-waived former 49ers 3rd-round pick claimed by Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are a popular place for former San Francisco 49ers CBs to land.

The San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday as part of a slew of roster moves waived former third-round pick Ambry Thomas.

Thomas, a cornerback from the University of Michigan, was claimed Wednesday by the Indianapolis Colts according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

San Francisco kept Thomas on their initial 53-man roster despite a rough preseason that was further derailed by an injury. Thomas was quickly placed on IR because of a broken forearm he sustained in the team’s preseason opener. He was never activated before being placed on waivers.

Thomas is due to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after an up-and-down tenure in the Bay Area.

He stepped into a starting role as a rookie and wound up sealing a postseason berth by intercepting Matt Stafford in overtime of a Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He wound up missing out on a starting job in Year 2 and started none of the 15 games he appeared in. Last season he was in-and-out of the starting lineup as a third CB while the team struggled to find consistency in the secondary.

His training camp and preseason left him without a role heading into 2024. Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir locked down two of the starting jobs, while Isaac Yiadom and rookie Renardo Green were the clear third and fourth CBs in some order. Thomas stayed around as an internal depth piece San Francisco never needed.

Thomas played in 42 games with 11 starts for the 49ers and posted 79 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He’ll now get a fresh start with a Colts club that also claimed former 49ers CB Samuel Womack after he was let go at final cuts.

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Falcons QB change may alter 49ers QB plans in offseason

Hear us out…

The Atlanta Falcons are making a change under center that could have a ripple effect that reaches the West Coast.

According to Falcons team reporter Tori McElhaney, Atlanta is benching starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and moving rookie signal caller Michael Penix Jr. into the starting lineup.

Benching Cousins with three weeks to go in the 2024 season could be a sign that Atlanta plans to hand the keys to Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, long-term. If Penix acquits himself well as the team’s starter, the Falcons could part ways with Cousins in the offseason, making the 36-year-old a free agent for the second consecutive year.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers kicked the tires on Cousins as a backup in that scenario.

Cousins isn’t the same player he was when head coach Kyle Shanahan had him lined up to be a high-priced free agent signing in 2018. The four-time Pro Bowler is in the midst of his worst season as a pro after signing a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in the offseason. He may still get a starter-level contract in free agency, but his numbers and play this season have shown his best years are likely behind him.

If his season is over he’ll have thrown 18 touchdowns with 16 interceptions, and averaged 7.7 yards per attempt with an 88.6 QB rating – his worst mark since becoming a full-time starter. While those numbers aren’t good, it’s not likely we see Cousins out of the league in 2025 even if the Falcons do let him go.

San Francisco appears to be all-in on Brock Purdy as a franchise QB which is why Cousins wouldn’t likely be on the table as a starter even if he was a free agent coming off a good year. However, both 49ers backup QBs, Brandon Allen and Josh Dobbs, are set to hit free agency after the season and San Francisco will need to find a No. 2 behind Purdy.

If head coach Kyle Shanahan believes Cousins is still capable of operating an NFL offense, it would make sense to see if Cousins is available for backup QB money. Having a viable veteran backup who can step in and potentially win a game if Purdy is unavailable would be a valuable piece for a team that should be looking to revamp its depth in the offseason.

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Brock Purdy is still 49ers franchise QB per report from NFL insider

Brock Purdy’s contract extension still appears to be coming this offseason.

2024 hasn’t been the best year of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s career.

His regression has aligned with some injuries to the team’s cache of offensive weapons, leading to questions about Purdy’s viability as a franchise signal caller outside of a perfectly crafted ecosystem.

Those external questions don’t linger insider the organization according to the Athletic’s Dianna Russini. She reported the team still believes Purdy is their franchise QB.

Via the Athletic:

The dark cloud hanging over the San Francisco 49ers just won’t seem to lift. It’s been a difficult season, one that’s felt “off” since the summer, but the team is sticking to its plan. They’re firmly committed to Brock Purdy as their long-term quarterback. I’ve been told the 49ers are still planning to negotiate a multi-year contract extension with Purdy this offseason, backing up the message they’ve consistently sent: “Purdy is our quarterback.”

Purdy this season has seen dramatic dips in virtually every statistical category, and his play as a quick, accurate decision maker has given way to a less decisive, more risky downfield passer.

However, there has been enough adversity to believe there’s a bounce back coming for Purdy. He also appears to be coming into his own as the team’s offensive leader.

The 49ers have Purdy under contract through 2025. He’s extension-eligible after this season, though. The team could conceivably wait until after 2025 to work out an extension, but putting the most important position on the field in limbo isn’t necessarily conducive to the long-term health of the roster.

Purdy bailed the 49ers out when the Trey Lance situation went sideways. Now head coach Kyle Shanahan appears poised to hitch his wagon to Purdy after this season despite an imperfect year.

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Why 49ers shouldn’t cut De’Vondre Campbell after quitting on team

The San Francisco 49ers shouldn’t cut De’Vondre Campbell because that lets him off too easy.

The San Francisco 49ers appear poised to cut ties with linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.

If they’re looking for a maximum punishment for the linebacker after he refused to play in Thursday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, granting him his outright release may not be the move.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones suggested on Twitter (currently X) that by releasing Campbell it would afford him an opportunity to sign with another club (although another team’s willingness to sign a player who got released for quitting on his previous team is a question mark). Instead, the 49ers could suspend and fine him for conduct detrimental to the team.

Joel Corry, Jones’ colleague at CBS, pointed out on Twitter (currently X) that a fine and suspension would maximize the punishment for the veteran LB.

The 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan may just want to release Campbell. However, given some of the clear anger from inside the locker room, a fine and suspension may be a better move to signal that the organization’s overall feelings match the players’ feelings. A fine and suspension that ends Campbell’s 2024 season would certainly do that.

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49ers RB depth chart is a mess after another injury

So …. what’s the 49ers backfield look like if Isaac Guerendo can’t play Thursday?

The San Francisco 49ers didn’t anticipate getting down to a fourth-string running back, but they may find themselves in that situation entering a Week 15 showdown with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium.

With running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on IR, the 49ers turned to rookie RB Isaac Guerendo to start their Week 14 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Guerendo acquitted himself well in the starting role, but he sprained his foot and may wind up missing Thursday’s game.

If Guerendo can’t play, it would appear RB Patrick Taylor would be in line to start. He was RB2 behind Guerendo on Sunday and churned out 25 yards with a touchdown on seven carries. Behind Taylor was Ke’Shawn Vaughn, a practice squad call up who re-signed with the 49ers after Mason and McCaffrey went down.

The unknown commodity is second-year RB Israel Abanikanda, who the 49ers claimed off waivers the Tuesday after their top two RBs went down.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday in a conference call with reporters indicated Taylor would likely be the No. 1 back when the 49ers host the Rams on Thursday.

“We look for guys who have the ability to make your team,” Shanahan said. “And in order to have the ability to make your team you’ve got to have the running skills that we like, to where we feel if your opportunity ever comes that you’re going to be a tough runner who hits the right holes and fights for yards. And also, if you can’t make one of those top two positions, how well you can help on special teams. He had done both of those things in his career at Green Bay and he’s been doing them for us since he got here. And if Isaac can’t go, it’ll be his opportunity. And I think as you guys saw him run yesterday or as we did earlier in the year versus Seattle, he’s a solid, good back.”

Shanahan also said the team expects Abanikanda to be ready after getting a couple weeks of practice.

“He was meeting with (RB coach Robert) Bobby (Turner) and everybody extra,” Shanahan said. “He’s getting his reps on the field. We script it all so it comes along out there, but that’s more in the meeting room and everything, just being able to line up and do everything we ask. His opportunity is getting closer, especially Isaac getting banged up. So, you’ve always got to have three guys in the building in case situations like this happen. And hopefully it doesn’t have to come to that, but if it does, we expect him to be ready.”

It appears Taylor is in line for the start, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers lean back toward the more committee-based approach they used prior to landing McCaffrey midway through the 2022 season. In that event, Vaughn may get the first opportunities after Taylor, but Abanikanda figures to be in the mix barring a breakout game from one of the other two backs.

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Will Jordan Mason play this week? Injury updates for 49ers RB

49ers RB Jordan Mason is dealing with a high ankle sprain. Here are the latest updates.

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a pair of huge blows to their offensive backfield in their Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Running back Christian McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury in his knee that will likely end his season. He was placed on IR and will miss at least four weeks.

RB Jordan Mason also suffered an injury in that game. His high ankle sprain kept him out of practice all week, and the team listed him as ‘out’ on the Friday injury report.

Here’s the latest on him:

Jordan Mason injury update

Mason has a high ankle sprain and head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated the 2024 breakout star may be headed for IR. The team placed McCaffrey and defensive tackle Kevin Givens on IR this week when they announced roster moves, but didn’t place Mason there. They may have been waiting until Saturday to see how the week of practice went before promoting someone to the active roster spot Mason will vacate.

How long will Jordan Mason be out?

The nature of a high ankle sprain means Mason will likely be out at least a month. If he goes on IR he’ll be required to miss a minimum of four weeks. With only five games to go it looks like Mason’s season is over regardless of whether he goes on IR.

49ers RB depth chart

It’s the Isaac Guerendo show as long as Mason and McCaffrey are both on the sideline. Guerendo is backed up by Patrick Taylor who was recently promoted from the practice squad, and Israel Abanikanda who was recently acquired off waivers from the New York Jets. Taylor has played in eight games with the 49ers this year and he had an entire offseason to get familiar with their offense. He figures to be the RB2 for now, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Abanikanda sneaks ahead of him as he gets more integrated into the offense.

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Who will 49ers backup RB be against the Bears in Week 14?

So, what’s the 49ers RB depth chart look like for Sunday?

The San Francisco 49ers’ exceedingly deep backfield thinned out rapidly when running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason both went down with injuries during the team’s Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

McCaffrey is already on Injured Reserve because of a PCL injury in his knee, and Mason is expected to land there with a high ankle sprain. That leaves rookie running back Isaac Guerendo atop the depth chart with only unproven players behind him.

It stands to reason Guerendo will play a lion’s share of the snaps. If he does, expect RB Patrick Taylor to work in as the backup for now. He was with the team throughout the offseason and played in the team’s first eight games of the regular season. In those contests he primarily contributed on special teams, but he also had seven carries for 25 yards and one reception for 12 yards.

His familiarity with the offense should make him head coach Kyle Shanahan’s trusted No. 2 RB in Sunday’s showdown with the Chicago Bears.

Recently-acquired RB Israel Abanikanda figures to work in as the No. 3 RB behind Taylor. Shanahan on Wednesday said he’s familiar with Abanikanda after scouting him in the 2023 draft.

“I liked him coming out of college,” Shanahan said. “I haven’t studied him a ton in the NFL, but he was a guy that I had good notes on from college and liked. And I know our scouting department thought he was the best guy out there being available and stuff. So in our situation, especially glad to get him here.”

While Shanahan liked him in the draft, that doesn’t mean he’ll automatically step into a huge role. The 49ers on Tuesday claimed him off waivers which means he’s had only three practices with the team. His lack of familiarity with the offense may limit him early and relegate him to a backup role even if Taylor steps into a larger workload.

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