Tag: Jake Tonges

49ers to bring back veteran TE to 53-man roster

The veteran tight end is reportedly expected to be the No. 2 tight end behind George Kittle.

After the NFL’s deadline to make roster cuts passed on Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers only had two tight ends listed on their final 53-man roster. Star pass catcher George Kittle was listed alongside former practice squad tight end Jake Tonges.

Heading into camp, the 49ers tight end room consisted of former 2023 draft picks Cam Latu and Brayden Willis along with veterans Logan Thomas and Eric Saubert.

Despite only carrying two tight ends through the wave of final cuts, the 49ers are reportedly bringing back one veteran tight end before the regular season gets underway. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers are signing Saubert back to the 53-man roster. Maiocco reported Saubert is expected to be the No. 2 tight end behind Kittle.

Via @MaioccoNBCS on Twitter:

With offensive lineman Jon Feliciano and Ambry Thomas likely headed to the injured reserve, Saubert could slide into one of their spots on the 49ers’ 53-man roster.

Saubert has played seven seasons in the NFL, spending last year with the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. During his NFL career, Saubert has recorded 36 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns.

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Surprise contender could shake up 49ers roster at tight end

A shakeup in the 49ers TE room? Don’t sleep on it.

Going into training camp it looked like the San Francisco 49ers had a mostly set tight end group.

George Kittle would spearhead that unit with veteran Logan Thomas offering the pass-catching backup TE the 49ers have been on the hunt for. Brayden Willis figured to be a factor heading into his second season, and then camp would be for deciding whether the club would keep a fourth TE.

That all got shaken up when Thomas was let go before the preseason opener. Suddenly the plan behind Kittle had less certainty. Willis and Eric Saubert both got a ton of run in practice with the first team, and then played plenty early in the first preseason game.

They appear to be the frontrunners to snag roster spots, but veteran Jake Tonges is making a strong case for himself with good showings in camp and the preseason. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he’s not surprised that Tonges, who spent virtually all of last season on the 49ers practice squad, has shown up in an uncertain TE room.

“Not really. We got him on our practice squad last year, so we got to see a lot of him, just on scout team and stuff,” Shanahan told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “And he’s always done a real good job here and he’s taken advantage of his opportunities. He’s mixing around at a couple positions and he’s going to make this decision tough for us.”

Tonges spent some time at fullback in camp when Kyle Juszczyk wasn’t lining up during practice. He’s also hauled in all six of his targets in the preseason for 49 yards.

There’s nothing particularly flashy about how Tonges operates, but he’s a willing and capable blocker with a knack for finding space as a pass catcher. Those are all qualities San Francisco would love to have in a reserve TE.

Unfortunately for Tonges, blocking is going to be one of the primary skills the 49ers look for at that position. That’s something Saubert thrives at. If we’re penciling Willis in for a roster spot and the 49ers only keep three TEs, chances are Tonges winds up being the odd man out.

However, he’s certainly in the mix as the preseason winds down. There’s now a path to him making the club out of camp, and that’s impressive for a player who was largely an afterthought at the position when camp opened.

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49ers roster: TE suddenly a question mark after release of proven veteran

Now what do the 49ers do with the depth chart behind George Kittle?

The San Francisco 49ers have been on a years-long journey to find a quality backup tight end behind George Kittle.

They’ve had good blocking options, but they’ve tended to lack in the pass-catching department. It looked this offseason like that would change when the 49ers signed veteran Logan Thomas.

Last season Thomas posted 55 catches for 496 yards and four touchdowns for the Washington Commanders. Those numbers aren’t far off the combined career totals of the 49ers backup TEs last year combined.

Thomas could have been the reliable pass catcher San Francisco has been searching for. Then he got hurt early in training camp, and the 49ers released him Friday before their preseason opener against the Titans.

His release leaves a pretty big question mark on the depth chart behind Kittle.

Veteran Eric Saubert has been a frequent contributor in camp. He’s a six-year veteran with 36 career receptions for 292 yards. If there’s a frontrunner for the TE2 job, he’s probably it.

Second-year TE Brayden Willis is an interesting athlete, but his ability to produce in the NFL is still a huge question mark after he spent most of his rookie season contributing on special teams.

Jake Tonges has played in just four NFL games since joining the league in 2022 as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears. He spent time on the 49ers practice squad last season and offers some versatility at fullback. He’s still an unknown as an NFL player, though.

Cameron Latu, another second-year TE, is still aiming to find his footing as a pro. Mason Pline is an undrafted rookie who’s in the same boat.

Maybe some combination of Saubert and Willis will provide more playmaking than previous backup TEs, but Thomas’ release tells us the 49ers will still prioritize blocking above all else at that position. Their search for another pass-catching TE will likely move into next offseason.

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Browns workout five others in addition to Erik Harris during Steelers week

The Browns had six in for workouts on Friday.

This is standard procedure for the Cleveland Browns to bring in multiple players per week for a workout. They have done it every year under the era of general manager Andrew Berry. Yesterday it was reported that veteran safety Erik Harris was in town for a workout, but it turns out five others were as well as they prepare for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Last year, players like safety Mike Brown and Chester Rodgers were signed by the Browns after successful workouts in Cleveland. Brown is now on the 53-man roster of the Tennessee Titans as he was a gameday elevation three times for the Browns in 2022 as a special teamer. The team could be looking for more surprises like Brown this year to stash on their practice squad this season.

Here is the full list of players the Browns had in the building for a workout on Friday as they could be looking to churn their practice squad a bit.

5 players tried out for Broncos on Tuesday, including 2 tight ends

The Broncos brought in five players for tryouts on Tuesday, including a pair of tight ends.

The Denver Broncos brought in five players for tryouts on Tuesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Denver hosted three wide receivers — Kevin Austin, Jalen Camp and Thyrick Pitts — and two tight ends — Noah Togiai and Jake Tonges.

The Broncos are expected to place safety Caden Sterns on season-ending injured reserve with a torn patellar tendon. Once Sterns goes on IR, Denver will have an open spot on the 53-man roster.

One candidate to be called up to the active roster is practice squad wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey. If Humphrey is about to be called up to the 53-man roster, Denver might be looking at options to add another WR to the practice squad.

Meanwhile, Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich is expected to miss “multiple weeks” with a hamstring injury. That likely explains why Denver is looking for more depth options at tight end.

See a list of the team’s tryout players below.

Bears 2023 training camp preview: Tight ends

Our next Bears position preview going into training camp is tight end, headlined by Cole Kmet and newcomer Robert Tonyan.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than a month away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

We’re unveiling our Bears 2023 training camp position previews, where we’re breaking down every player by position and examining the biggest question facing the group.

Up next is the tight end position, led by Cole Kmet who is coming off the best season of his young career. But he’s not the only tight end on the team who can be a dynamic receiving threat.

The Bears added veteran Robert Tonyan in free agency, giving Chicago another weapon for quarterback Justin Fields. Veteran Stephen Carlson and second-year players Jake Tonges and Chase Allen round out the group.

Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ tight ends heading into training camp.

Bears 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Chicago stand at TE?

Next up in our Bears NFL draft preview series is tight end, which already looks improved with Robert Tonyan joining Cole Kmet.

The Chicago Bears have had a busy offseason, working to improve the team following their historic 3-14 run during the 2022 season during general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus’ first year with the team. Now going into Year 2, Poles and Eberflus are working to get the Bears back to relevancy and build a foundation that will eventually lead to postseason success.

Following their free agency frenzy, the Bears are setting their sights towards the 2023 NFL draft, which is quickly approaching. After initially winding up with the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears moved down to No. 9 following a lucrative trade with the Carolina Panthers. They will look to shore up certain positions such as offensive tackle and defensive line that still have glaring holes.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the NFL draft. Up next is tight end, which has a pair of capable pass catchers at the top of the depth chart.

Bears 2022 TE review: Cole Kmet has breakout season

Our next Bears position review of 2022 looks at the tight ends, with Cole Kmet breaking out in a big way during his third season.

The Chicago Bears wrapped the 2022 season with a 3-14 record, which culminated in a 10-game losing streak. But there’s still reasons to be optimistic about the future, including a boatload of salary cap space, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and the emergence of quarterback Justin Fields.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2022 Bears and grading every player. Rounding out the skill positions on offense is tight end, where Cole Kmet stood out in a big way.

10 Bears on the roster bubble who need strong performances vs. Browns

There are a number of Bears players on the roster bubble who need to impress in the preseason finale against the Browns.

The Chicago Bears will wrap the preseason against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, and there are a number of players vying for roster spots and starting jobs.

While the starters will play the first half, there are a number of players on the roster bubble who will get their opportunities to show why they’re deserving of a roster spot — whether it’s with Chicago or another team.

Ahead of Chicago’s preseason finale, we’re taking a look at some roster bubble players to keep an eye on against Cleveland:

WATCH: Bears offense opens first half with Darrynton Evans touchdown

Darrynton Evans scored a touchdown early in the second half to build the Bears lead over the Seahawks.

The Chicago Bears dominated the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of their preseason matchup and the second half is proving to be more of the same. The Bears, led by third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman, scored on their opening series of the half thanks to a one-yard dive by running back Darrynton Evans.

Evans had an easy go of it after an impressive few plays led the Bears down to the goal line. Peterman found receivers Dazz Newsome and Isaiah Coulter for big gains with an already short field. A pass to Jake Tonges set the Bears up at the one-yard line and Evans did the rest.

With rookie running back Trestan Ebner questionable to return with an ankle injury, Evans will see the bulk of the carries the rest of the way. The Bears lead Seattle 24-0 midway through the third quarter.