Tag: Jordan Mason

49ers should bring back both of their 2025 restricted free agents

Jordan Mason and Curtis Robinson should both be back in San Francisco next season.

The San Francisco 49ers will go into the offseason with only two players slated for restricted free agency.

Restricted free agents are players who are due to hit free agency after accruing a third NFL season. Linebacker Curtis Robinson and running back Jordan Mason both fit this bill for the 49ers.

RFAs can either be tendered or non-tendered. If they’re non-tendered, they become unrestricted free agents.

If they are tendered, they can be tendered at one of three levels: First-round, second-round and right of first refusal. Each tender is a fully guaranteed one-year deal.

A first-round tender is the most expensive at $7,279,000 according to Over the Cap. The second-round tender is worth $5,217,000. The right of first refusal tender is worth $3,185,000.

If the 49ers tender Robinson and/or Mason, that player can then explore the open market and the 49ers would be able to match any offer they get. Players who get a first or second-round tender would also require the team signing them to send the 49ers a draft pick in that round. A player with a right of first refusal tender doesn’t come with any compensation from a signing team.

Chances are the 49ers want Robinson back in 2025 since he’s spent so much time on their practice squad and contributing on special teams since first joining the club in 2021. However, even a right of first refusal tender would be a substantial raise from his $1,055,000 base salary in 2024.

San Francisco will most likely non-tender Robinson and then re-sign him as an unrestricted free agent to a less-expensive deal than the lowest tender.

Mason is a much trickier option. We’ve run through the various difficulties the 49ers face with this decision. However, a second-round tender seems like the best course of action to ensure Mason is with San Francisco for at least the 2025 season. It would be a substantial raise for him at $5.2 million, but he’s too valuable to let walk in free agency. And if some team wants to sign him to an expensive multi-year deal, then the 49ers can snag a second-round pick in the process of his exit. They can also just match the deal if they want to.

Keeping Mason in 2025 also opens the door to an extension a la Jauan Jennings last offseason.

Restricted free agents have until April 18 to sign offer sheets with other teams, and the 49ers would have until April 23 to match the offer.

The 2025 NFL league year and free agency officially open at 1:00pm Pacific Time on March 12.

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No guarantee breakout offensive star returns to 49ers in 2025

The 49ers have a tough choice at RB.

San Francisco 49ers running backs Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo had good news on their late-season injuries, and both appear to be on track to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. That doesn’t make the pending decision on Jordan Mason any easier this offseason.

Mason, a 2022 undrafted rookie for San Francisco, is due to hit restricted free agency when the new league year opens.

That means the 49ers can either give him one of three restricted free agent tenders, or choose to not tender him which would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.

The latter of those two options is likely off the table. San Francisco isn’t going to let Mason walk for nothing after his breakout 2024 campaign when he racked up a career-high 789 yards in 12 games. Which tender they give him will be a more difficult decision.

McCaffrey will be back as the No. 1 RB next season. Guerendo acquitted himself well late in the year when McCaffrey and Mason were both out, but he also dealt with a slew of injury issues when he did finally get regular touches. It stands to reason the 49ers would want to keep Mason since they know he can be highly productive in their offense.

A first-round tender would cost the 49ers an estimated $7,279,000 for the 2025 season according to Over the Cap. The second-round tender is estimated at $5,217,000 for 2025. The right of first refusal tender is estimated at $3,185,000.

Those are all fully-guaranteed one-year deals.

Mason would have the option to find a deal on the open market after receiving a tender, but the 49ers would be able to match any offer he got. If they do a first or second-round tender, the acquiring team would also owe the 49ers a pick in that round of the 2025 draft.

Chances are a second-round tender would be enough to keep other teams from aiming for Mason in free agency. He’s a good player, but unloading a second-round pick to give a long-term contract to a former undrafted rookie RB who dealt with a couple different injuries the prior year isn’t something modern NFL front offices would likely be eager to do.

A second-round tender would make Mason the 18th highest paid RB in the NFL on an average annual value basis. A first-round tender would make him the 14th highest paid RB in the sport. Both of those marks are significant for a player who could enter the season as San Francisco’s No. 3 RB.

The question for the 49ers is whether keeping Mason at $5.217 million or more fits their current financial situation. They could go the route of the right of first refusal tender to make his salary more palatable (27th in AAV among RBs), but it would also make it easier for another team to jump in with a multi-year deal.

Given their need for quality RB depth during Shanahan’s tenure it would seem like retaining Mason should be a priority. The right of first refusal tender appears to make the most sense financially. That also makes it easiest for an RB-needy team to pounce with a long-term contract that puts the 49ers in a bind.

San Francisco could use a first or second-round tender to try and keep teams away, but that also comes with steeper financial ramifications.

The 49ers may have higher priorities than their offensive backfield this offseason, but how they handle Mason could be one of their trickier maneuvers.

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49ers sustain latest RB injury vs. Chicago Bears

The San Francisco 49ers sustained another injury at running back during their Sunday contest against the Chicago Bears.

The San Francisco 49ers have been dealing with all sorts of injury concerns in their offensive backfield.

Star running back Christian McCaffrey and fellow running back Jordan Mason were each placed on the IR this week. McCaffrey is dealing with a PCL injury while Mason is nursing an ankle injury.

That meant that the 49ers needed to turn to rookie running back Isaac Guerendo on Sunday against the Chicago Bears and for the remainder of the regular season.

Making his first career against the Bears, Guerendo was performing admirably on Sunday. Guerendo tallied 15 carries for 78 rushing yards and rushing scores of 1 and 4 yards. The Louisville product also caught a pair of passes for 50 yards.

With his 128 scrimmage yards against the Bears, Guerendo joined a select list of 49ers with 100-plus scrimmage yards and at least two touchdowns in their first career start.

But, Guerendo exited the 49ers’ game against Chicago with a reported foot injury. Guerendo was listed as questionable to return.

Fourth-year pro Patrick Taylor is operating as the 49ers’ backup running back. Following Guerendo’s injury exit, Taylor promptly reached the end zone on a 3-yard rushing score to extend the 49ers’ commanding lead over the Bears to 38-13.

After the 49ers’ win over the Bears, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on Guerendo’s status.

“We’re not sure. Possible foot sprain. X-rays didn’t for sure show anything, so we’ll have to look into it more tomorrow,” Shanahan said.

Given the 49ers’ running back health situation, Guerendo’s status will be a key storyline heading into Thursday’s date against the Los Angeles Rams.

49ers place breakout star RB on IR ahead of Week 14

Jordan Mason is officially on IR.

The San Francisco 49ers on Saturday officially placed running back Jordan Mason on IR as part of a slew of roster moves leading up to a Week 14 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

Mason suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 13 vs. the Buffalo Bills. He’ll be out at least four of the final five weeks now that he’s been placed on the injured list.

Safety George Odum was also sent to IR after sustaining a knee injury in practice leading up to the Bears game. He wasn’t on the report Wednesday, then was listed as a non-participant Thursday and Friday before getting ruled out on Friday’s injury report. The extent of his knee injury is unclear.

In a corresponding move the 49ers activated safety Talanoa Hufanga off IR. He suffered a wrist injury in Week 5 and figures to make his return Sunday against the Bears. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Hufanga will play with a contraption to protect his injured wrist.

Offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez was also promoted to the active roster to fill the spot vacated by Mason. He spent the offseason with the 49ers and was recently re-signed to their practice squad. He’ll provide depth on a banged up offensive line.

Practice squad elevations for Week 14 include linebacker Jalen Graham and running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Both will revert to the practice squad after Sunday’s game.

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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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Some good news for 49ers on 1st Week 14 practice report

49ers practice report for Wednesday is here:

The San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday began their week of practice as they gear up for what amounts to a season-ending stretch of must-win games if they hope to sneak into the postseason.

Their first practice report of the week had a handful of good news with linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga both appearing as limited participants. Greenlaw is returning from a torn Achilles he suffered in the Super Bowl. He had his 21-day practice window opened last week in hopes he’ll be able to return from the PUP list in time to play in 2024.

Hufanga hurt his wrist in Week 5 and went on IR. He had his 21-day practice window opened and also appeared as a limited participant.

Both players are due to hit free agency in the offseason, so getting on the field to end the year may be a priority for them even if the 49ers don’t have anything to play for down the stretch.

Quarterback Brock Purdy was also a full participant after returning last week from a shoulder injury. He didn’t suffer any setbacks during the game and figures to be on track to suit up against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Here’s the full practice report:

Did not participate

LG Aaron Banks (concussion)
DE Nick Bosa (hip, oblique)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee)
RB Jordan Mason (ankle)
LT Trent Williams (ankle)

Mason figures to go on IR with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 13. Bosa and Williams have missed the last two weeks, and both will be evaluated throughout the week to determine whether they’ll be able to return in Week 14.

Limited participation

LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles)
S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist)
CB Deommodore Lenoir (knee)

Lenoir missed Week 13 after hurting his knee the previous week. It looks like he’s trending toward a Week 14 return.

Full participation

DT Jordan Elliott (concussion)
DE Sam Okuayinonu (wrist)
RG Dominick Puni (shoulder)
QB Brock Purdy (shoulder)

Good signs all around here. Barring a setback this quartet will play against Chicago.

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Former Badger elevated to San Francisco 49ers’ starting running back

Former Badger elevated to San Francisco 49ers’ starting running back

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Isaac Guerendo is in line to serve as the San Francisco 49ers starting running back for at least four weeks.

The news arrives on the heels of injury updates to all-world running back Christian McCaffrey and backup Jordan Mason.

McCaffrey, who suffered a PCL injury during ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Buffalo Bills, will be out for at least six weeks. Mason, meanwhile, suffered an ankle injury and will also head to the injury reserve for at least four weeks.

The unfortunate sequence of events for the 49ers running back room opens an opportunity for Guerendo to serve as the starter.

Against the Bills, Guerendo showcased what he’s capable of with a 19-yard rushing touchdown in the snowy conditions. He finished with five touches for 16 yards and the score. He’s up to 42 carries, 246 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie NFL season in a relatively limited role.

In five years in Madison, Guerendo registered 99 carries, 582 yards and six touchdowns in 27 games. Several injuries and the presence of future NFL draftee Braelon Allen prevented the Clayton, Indiana native from taking off as a Badger.

He did, however, display his potential in his 2023 season with the Louisville Cardinals. The 6-foot-1 playmaker tallied 810 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns before making the jump to the NFL.

Barring an outside signing, Guerendo will lace up as San Francisco’s starter on Dec. 8 vs. the Chicago Bears. At 5-7 and last in the NFC West, Kyle Shanahan’s group is in desperate need of a win.

49ers sign Christian McCaffrey’s replacement, add WR to practice squad

The 49ers have a new running back.

The San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday announced how they’d replace running back Christian McCaffrey.

In a slew of roster moves the 49ers placed McCaffrey on IR, claimed RB Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets and signed wide receiver Ronnie Bell to the practice squad.

McCaffrey suffered a season-ending PCL injury in his knee during the 49ers’ Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated on Monday McCaffrey would go on IR with only five games to go and McCaffrey expected to miss at least six weeks.

While Abanikanda will replace him on the roster, the expectation is that rookie RB Isaac Guerendo will carry a lion’s share of the workload in the backfield. Abanikanda may work his way into the backup RB role depending on how the team feels about RB Patrick Taylor who is on the practice squad and spent the first nine weeks on the active roster before McCaffrey returned.

Abanikanda was a fifth-round pick of the Jets in the 2023 draft. He played in six games as a rookie and churned out 70 yards on 22 carries.

Bell was waived by the 49ers on Friday before Week 13. The 2023 seventh-round pick gives San Francisco a reliable internal option if they need depth at WR or on special teams.

We may see additional roster moves in the backfield with RB Jordan Mason also potentially hitting IR after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 13.

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Fantasy Football: 12 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Christian McCaffrey is hurt again, making Isaac Guerendo a must-add on the fantasy football waiver wire. These are the top RBs to target.

Here we go again.

Christian McCaffrey suffered a knee injury on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 and the San Francisco 49ers announced Monday that he has a PCL injury. McCaffrey will now go on injured reserve and he’s expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

That would have left Jordan Mason as the next man up in San Francisco, but he has a high ankle sprain that will also land him on injured reserve. Mason will now miss at least the next four games.

Following the injuries to both McCaffrey and Mason, Isaac Guerendo is a top priority must-add on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Elsewhere on the fantasy front, Russell Wilson (43.1%) is gaining steam at quarterback, Adam Thielen (27.3%) is relevant at wide receiver again, and Will Dissly (32.9%) has a good tight end matchup against KC this week.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 14.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Isaac Guerendo (1.3%): With McCaffrey and Mason both sidelined, it should be the Guerendo show down the stretch in San Francisco.

2. RB Chris Rodriguez (0.2%): The Commanders placed Austin Ekeler on injured reserve with a concussion, leaving Brian Robinson as their top RB. Robinson is not alone in the backfield, however, as Rodriguez had a big day on Sunday with 94 rushing yards and a touchdown. If Washington continues splitting RB touches, Rodriguez could be a gem off the waiver wire.

3. RB Kimani Vidal (10.7%): J.K. Dobbins (knee) was ruled out and then placed on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the next four games. Gus Edwards seems to be the new RB1 for the Chargers, but Vidal was right behind him in carries on Sunday (six to four). He’s a sleeper.

4. RB Alexander Mattison (47.0%): Mattison and Zamir White were both sidelined on Sunday, leaving Ameer Abdullah and Sincere McCormick (0.1%) as the Raiders’ top RBs in Week 13. Mattison is worth picking up for once he returns. If Mattison and White remain sidelined, McCormick will be worth a look in deep leagues.

5. RB Tank Bigsby (32.5%): Coming out of the bye week, Travis Etienne led the Jaguars’ backfield with 13 carries for 46 yards, but Bigsby also got seven carries plus one target. Up next is a Titans defense that allows 120.1 rushing yards per game.

6-12. Handcuff running backs: Jonathon Brooks (47.6%), Tyler Allgeier (41.5%), Zach Charbonnet (50.9%), Blake Corum (14.2%), Ray Davis (11.4%), Trey Benson (24.1%) and Braelon Allen (22.0%).

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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