Tag: Logan Thomas

49ers re-sign pass-catching specialist TE ahead of preseason finale

The veteran tight end was released early in training camp after being initially signed in June.

Before their preseason finale on Friday against the Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers added depth to their tight end room behind star George Kittle.

During the offseason, the 49ers signed former Washington Commander tight end Logan Thomas in June. Thomas was initially expected to provide some proven depth behind Kittle. Outside of veterans Kittle and Thomas, the 49ers tight end depth chart consists of sophomores Brayden Willis and Cam Latu along with journeyman Eric Saubert

However, after only a few weeks into training camp, the 49ers waived the veteran pass catcher. Thomas picked up a hamstring early in training camp. Now, with only one game remaining in the preseason, and the start of the regular season looming, the 49ers brought back Thomas on a one-year deal.

Via @49ers on Twitter:

After being drafted as a quarterback out of Virginia Tech in 2014 by the Arizona Cardinals, Thomas switched to the tight end position in 2017. Thomas broke out with the Commanders in 2020. In 2023, Thomas caught 55 balls for 496 yards receiving to go along with four touchdowns.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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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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49ers release proven veteran TE

After signing in early June, the 49ers released the veteran tight end before their first preseason game.

Before suiting up for their first preseason game on Saturday in Tennessee, the San Francisco 49ers made a surprise roster move. After signing tight end Logan Thomas in June, the 49ers released the proven veteran on Friday.

In corresponding moves, the 49ers signed edge rusher Jonathan Garvin and punter Pressley Harvin III to one-year deals. The 49ers also placed edge rusher Austin Bryant on the injured reserve list.

Via @TomPelissero on Twitter:

Thomas provided a proven option behind George Kittle on the 49ers’ tight end depth chart which is currently filled with young players and journeymen. During a four-year stint with the Washington Commanders, Thomas racked up 1685 yards receiving and 14 touchdown catches.

Sophomores Brayden Willis and Cam Latu along with veteran Eric Saubert currently fill out San Francisco’s tight end room. Willis and Latu have yet to register a reception in the NFL while Saubert has 36 receptions over six seasons in the NFL.

With Thomas released, Latu and Willis will have the remainder of training camp and the preseason to battle for the No. 2 tight end spot behind Kittle on the depth chart.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Two 49ers pass catchers working through injuries early in training camp

A pair of 49ers pass catchers are working through injuries during the early window of training camp.

Following practice on Friday, Kyle Shanahan provided multiple injury updates, including the status of two pass catchers for the San Francisco 49ers offense.

After working on the side of the field during Friday’s practice, Shanahan mentioned wide receiver Jauan Jennings has an ankle injury. Despite his injury, Shanahan said Jennings should be expected back soon.

Following three seasons with the 49ers, Jennings signed a two-year, $15 million contract in San Francisco during the offseason. Jennings is coming off a season with 19 receptions for 265 yards and a touchdown, In three seasons, the Tennessee product has seven total touchdowns.

With Jennings dealing with an injury and Brandon Aiyuk holding out of practice, rookie Ricky Pearsall and Danny Gray could see an increase in reps.

Via @nwagoner on Twitter:

Along with Jennings, new tight end Logan Thomas is also dealing with an injury. The veteran tight end and former quarterback has missed the last two practices due to a hamstring injury.

The 33-year-old pass catcher signed with the 49ers during the offseason after spending the last four seasons with the Washington Commanders.

With Thomas out, sophomores Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis have a chance to see more reps behind George Kittle. Veteran Eric Saubert could also see more reps at practice with Thomas out.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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49ers release DE to make room for TE Logan Thomas

Logan Thomas is officially signed and the 49ers waived a DE to make room on the roster for him.

The 49ers on Tuesday announced the signing of tight end Logan Thomas to a one-year contract. To make room on their 90-man roster they released defensive lineman Raymond Johnson III.

Thomas was originally a fourth-round pick of the Cardinals in the 2014 draft as a quarterback out of Virginia Tech. He converted to TE and returned to the league with Buffalo in 2017.

Since that point he’s played in 92 games with 57 starts and racked up 219 receptions for 2,002 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’ll provide a proven veteran depth option for San Francisco behind George Kittle while also giving them an opportunity to pass more out of multiple TE sets – something they’ve not been able to do during Kyle Shanahan’s tenure.

Johnson joined the club in February of this season after spending the last three years with the Giants, Bengals and Lions.

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49ers working to finalize deal with former Commanders TE Logan Thomas

Logan Thomas on the verge of signing with a contender.

Former Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas could soon be playing for one of the NFL’s best teams. According to Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network, the San Francisco 49ers are working to finalize a deal with Thomas.

Thomas, who turns 33 next month, was released by Washington on March 1 after four seasons with the team. Originally signed to a two-year contract in March 2020, the Commanders signed Thomas to a three-year extension in July 2021.

Thomas was outstanding in 2020, catching 72 passes for 670 yards and six touchdowns — all career highs.

Unfortunately, in 2021, Thomas battled injuries. A hamstring injury cost him several weeks early in the season. When he returned, a dirty hit from Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue ended Thomas’ season in early December with a torn ACL. He played in only six games that season.

Thomas played in 30 games over the past two seasons, finishing with 94 receptions for 819 yards and five touchdowns. Four of those touchdowns came in 2023.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Thomas entered the NFL as a quarterback. After a record-setting career at Virginia Tech, Thomas was a fourth-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2014 NFL draft. Arizona released him after one season and the Miami Dolphins claimed him.

He spent one year with Miami and didn’t play in a game. The Giants claimed him and moved him back and forth between the roster and practice squad before releasing him. He’d sign with the Detroit Lions’ practice squad in November and transitioned to tight end. However, the Buffalo Bills signed him to their active roster where he’d remain for the next seasons.

He signed a one-year deal with the Lions in 2019. Thomas finally received his chance to be a full-time starter at tight end for the Commanders and immediately thrived.

Thomas would be George Kittle’s backup with the 49ers.

The Commanders signed Zach Ertz and drafted Ben Sinnott in the second round of April’s NFL draft.

 

Logan Thomas a perfect fit in 49ers TE depth chart

The 49ers are finally closing in on a pass-catching TE to play alongside George Kittle.

The 49ers might have hit a home run with their latest free agent addition. They’re finalizing terms on a contract with tight end Logan Thomas, giving them a legitimate receiving threat to backup and play alongside George Kittle.

San Francisco has long searched for a pass catching TE to give the club more optionality with their multiple TE sets, but outside of Jordan Reed who only played in 10 games, they’ve not been able to find that real receiving threat. Players like Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner were fine blocking options, but neither instilled any kind of fear in a defense that forced them to honor a potential pass out of a multiple TE formation.

Now the 49ers might have that player. Thomas, a 32-year-old converted quarterback, has carved out a long career as a TE that includes two seasons in Buffalo, one in Detroit and four in Washington after the Cardinals picked him as a QB in the 2014 draft. He was out of the league for two seasons before catching on with Buffalo in 2017 as a TE.

Since then he’s accumulated 219 catches for 2,002 yards and 16 touchdowns. Last year in Washington he posted 55 catches for 496 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. By comparison, Dwelley and Woerner have a combined 55 catches for 638 yards and five touchdowns in their careers.

Thomas isn’t the blocker either of that duo are which may limit his playing time in certain instances, but he’s not such a disaster that he’s unplayable.

Instead of going into the 2024 season with a couple of massive question marks behind Kittle on the depth chart the 49ers will instead have a proven veteran with bonafide pass-catching chops. Not only will that give them insurance behind Kittle, but it also opens up a slew of new doors for how the 49ers can operate with more than one TE on the field.

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Report: 49ers finalizing deal with veteran TE Logan Thomas

Heading into training camp, the 49ers will have a new veteran piece in the tight end room.

Heading into training camp, the tight end position is one of the few areas where the San Francisco 49ers have some question marks about its depth. However, with the addition of a veteran on Monday, the 49ers answered those questions.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the 49ers are working to finalize a contract with veteran tight end Logan Thomas.

Via @MikeGarafolo on Twitter:

According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Thomas is signing a one-year deal.

Via @mattbarrows on Twitter:

Thomas, a 10-year NFL veteran who came into the league a quarterback out of Virginia Tech, has played the last four season with the Washington Commanders. In 2020, he posted career-best numbers with 670 yards receiving with six touchdowns.

Last season, the 32-year-old tight end registered 55 receptions to go along with four touchdowns and 496 yards receiving.

Thomas will now join a tight-end room that features George Kittle, Cam Latu, Eric Saubert and Brayden Willis.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Commanders to host TCU tight end Jared Wiley on top 30 visit

Wiley caught 12 touchdown passes over the past two seasons.

The Washington Commanders released starting tight end Logan Thomas this offseason and signed veteran Zach Ertz to replace him. Ertz joins John Bates, Cole Turner and Armani Rogers as tight ends on Washington’s roster.

Ertz was signed to a one-year deal, meaning the Commanders likely still view tight end as a need heading into the 2024 NFL draft.

Washington brought in Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders on a top-30 visit. Saunders is widely viewed as the second-best tight end in the draft behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers. We can now add another tight end to the Commanders’ visit list.

According to Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report, TCU tight end Jared Wiley will visit Washington.

Wiley is a 6-foot-6, 249-pound prospect from Temple, Texas, and began his career at the University of Texas. After three seasons in Austin, Wiley transferred to TCU, where he played his final two seasons. In three years at Texas, Wiley had 19 receptions. Over the past two seasons, Wiley caught 71 passes for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Wiley would be a good day-three pick for the Commanders.