Tag: Richie James Jr

49ers waive/injured WR Richie James, re-sign WR River Cracraft

The #49ers waived/injured WR Richie James Jr. after learning he’d need knee surgery. WR River Cracraft is back to take his spot on the 80-man roster.

The 49ers on Saturday made a somewhat surprising announcement. Wide receiver Richie James Jr. was waived/injured to make room for WR River Cracraft who was released in the second round of roster cuts.

James is set to undergo knee surgery that’ll keep him out for around six weeks per head coach Kyle Shanahan. Waiving him with an injury designation gives the receiver a couple possible outcomes.

First, he could get claimed off waivers. That would put him on another club where he’d go through his recovery and then potentially play this season. This happened last year with defensive back DJ Reed, who the Seahawks claimed after the 49ers waived him with an injury designation for a pectoral tear.

Second, James could clear waivers. That would revert him back to the 49ers’ Injured Reserve list where his season would be over with San Francisco. He could reach an injury settlement to be released and become an unrestricted free agent.

The 2018 seventh-round pick carved out a role as a kick returner, but never broke through as an offensive weapon. In 40 games he posted 38 receptions for 689 yards and three touchdowns. The addition of Nsimba Webster to the 49ers’ roster made James’ path to the roster a little trickier than it was to start the offseason.

Cracraft will give the 49ers another body at receiver for the final preseason game, but it’s hard to imagine he finds his way onto the roster after getting cut following the second preseason game. He played in nine games for the 49ers last year and hauled in five balls for 40 yards.

49ers inactives: Richie James Jr, Jaquiski Tartt will play vs. Packers

The 49ers will have much-needed help at wide receiver with Richie James Jr. returning after an ankle injury vs. the Packers.

The 49ers’ two players listed as ‘questionable’ on the Week 9 status report will both suit up Thursday night vs. the Packers. In a rare bit of good injury news for the club, strong safety Jaquiski Tartt and wide receiver Richie James Jr. were both left off the team’s list of inactives.

Tartt has been dealing with a groin injury and missed the last two games. James missed Week 8 in Seattle with an ankle injury.

James’ return couldn’t have come at a better time with three receivers, Kendrick Bourne, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk all on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He was one of two available wide receivers on the active roster prior to the team’s pre-game roster moves that saw two additional receivers added from the practice squad.

Here’s the full, albeit small, list of inactives for San Francisco:

CB Ahkello Witherspoon
RB Tevin Coleman (knee)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring)

For the Packers, running back Aaron Jones is healthy and will play. Here are their inactives:

10 QB Jordan Love
20 CB Kevin King
25 S Will Redmond
36 S Vernon Scott
69 T David Bakhtiari
93 DL Billy Winn

 

 

49ers activate WR Richie James Jr. off IR, flex 2 from practice squad

The 49ers activated wide receiver Richie James off Injured Reserve as part of a trio of roster moves.

The 49ers on Saturday made a trio of roster moves ahead of their showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.

Wide receiver and kick returner Richie James Jr. was officially activated off the Injured Reserve list, and defensive lineman Darrion Daniels and wide receiver Kevin White were flexed off the practice squad.

James was placed on IR after Week 1 when he injured his hamstring. His practice window was opened last week, but he wasn’t healthy enough to play. He’ll likely resume kick and punt return duties which have been held by a combination of White, Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis and Jerick McKinnon since James went down.

With only 52 players on the roster there was no corresponding move to make room for James.

White will be flexed onto the active roster from the practice squad for the second week in a row. He handled kick return duties last week, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he brought White up because of his ability to play other special teams spots. He’ll likely fill those same roles again if he suits up while relinquishing return duties to James.

Daniels is an undrafted rookie who’ll make his first appearance on the active roster. He played his college ball at Oklahoma State and Nebraska, and will offer depth along the interior of the defensive line for San Francisco against a very good Rams offense.

49ers officially sign Mohamed Sanu, place Richie James on IR

The San Francisco 49ers officially signed Mohamed Sanu and placed Richie James Jr. on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury.

The 49ers on Friday officially announced the signing of wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to their 53-man roster. To make room for Sanu, they placed wide receiver Richie James Jr. on Injured Reserve.

Sanu officially signing indicates he passed his three required COVID-19 tests, which means he should be able to practice with the team Friday. His agent on Tuesday announced that the veteran receiver agreed to a one-year deal with San Francisco.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t rule out Sanu playing as early as Sunday, though it doesn’t sound like he’ll have a significant role unless there’s an injury or a player struggles. The 49ers will head to New York to face the Jets with Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor, Brandon Aiyuk and Sanu in their receiving corps.

James’ hamstring injury happened during the season opener, and now he’ll be out at least three weeks by going on IR. His placement there opened a roster spot for Sanu. James is the second wide receiver to go on IR this season, joining Deebo Samuel who was placed there before Week 1. The earliest James would be able to return is Week 5 vs. the Dolphins.

Without James last week the 49ers relied on running back Jerick McKinnon to return kicks. Pettis and Taylor traded off punt return duties.

San Francisco leaves with their new-look receiving corps for New Jersey after Friday’s practice. They’ll kickoff against the Jets from MetLife Stadium at 10:00 am Pacific Time.

Report: Richie James Jr. should be cleared for season opener

Mike Garafolo reported 49ers WR Richie James Jr. could be back for the season opener.

The 49ers got a series of positive injury updates from head coach Kyle Shanahan following Wednesday’s practice. Wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk were among the players Shanahan expects to be back in action for the lead up to the season opener on Sept. 13, but now it sounds like they could get another receiver back for Week 1. NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported Richie James Jr. “should be cleared in advance of Week 1.”

This is a stark contrast to the last update Shanahan gave about James, in which the head coach said he expected James to begin the season on the Non-Football Injury list after James broke his hand during an offseason workout.

Initial reports on the injury indicated James would be back by mid-August. Starting the season on NFI would’ve put the receiver out of action for at least the first six weeks. Now Garafolo has the receiver and return man slotted to suit up for the season opener.

James hasn’t been much of a factor on offense since the 49ers made him a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. He has just 15 catches for 295 yards and two touchdowns in his career, but he’s carved out a role as a return man. James has been the 49ers’ primary returner on kickoffs for two years, then last season took over punt return duties.

Having him back in the fold could push a player like Tavon Austin out of the running for a roster spot, so James’ status will be well worth keeping an eye on in the lead up to the opener.

[vertical-gallery id=660432]

49ers place WR Richie James Jr on reserve/COVID-19 list

WR Richie James Jr. became the first member of the 49ers to go on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The first member of the 49ers has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Wide receiver Richie James Jr. was put on the list Monday, although it doesn’t guarantee he tested positive for the virus.

Matt Barrows of the Athletic noted on Twitter that James could’ve tested negative, but simply had exposure to a person known to have COVID-19.

James was tested as part of the 49ers’ initial wave of testing. He broke his wrist during the offseason so he reported Thursday with the injured players, quarterbacks and rookies. He is one of 24 players across the NFL to land on the COVID-19 list. Most of the league’s veterans are set to report for testing Tuesday, July 28.

The league will test daily for two weeks, and then adjust testing protocols based on the percentage of positive tests. Players who go on the COVID-19 list will go into quarantine stay there until they’re healthy and no longer at risk of spreading the virus.

James was already set to miss a portion of training camp with a broken wrist he suffered while working out over the offseason.

The 2018 seventh-round pick has carved out a role as kick returner for the club. James is averaging 7.5 yards per punt return and 23.4 yards per kick return. He also has 15 catches for 295 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Report: 49ers WR Richie James out 2 months with broken wrist

The 49ers injuries are stacking up with Richie James Jr out two months with a broken wrist.

The injury news keeps coming for the 49ers. A day after reports surfaced that wide receiver Deebo Samuel broke his foot, NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported wide receiver Richie James Jr. broke his wrist while training and is set to miss at least two months.

James was a seventh-round pick in the 2018 draft and found a consistent role on the 49ers as a kick and punt returner. His production as a receiver has been less consistent. He has only 15 catches in 29 games, but he’s turned those receptions into 295 yards and two touchdowns.

Part of the reason James slid so far in the draft after a productive career at Middle Tennessee State was his slight build at 5-9, 185 pounds. He’s been relatively injury-free to this point though, and a wrist injury shouldn’t wind up affecting him much once he’s back on the field.

James is one of the 49ers’ most explosive athletes, and his role as a pass catcher could expand this year while the team tries to find more consistently productive members of their receiving corps. That’s especially true if Samuel winds up missing any regular season games.

The good news is a two-month timeframe puts James back in action by mid-August, which gives him almost a month to work back in before the start of the regular season. The bad news for James is the battle for roster spots at receiver is going to be very competitive, so any missed time is going to make it more difficult for him to retain his spot.