Ross Dwelley held on to a deflected Trey Lance pass for the 49ers’ first touchdown of the 2023 preseason.
After a slow start to the preseason in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers are officially on the board in 2023. However, it didn’t come easy.
Following a solid drive down the field, Trey Lance dropped back on first and goal from the Las Vegas nine-yard line and appeared to be looking for veteran wide receiver Chris Conley over the middle of the endzone. Raiders corner Duke Shelley closed Lance’s window quickly on an arrant throw for a near interception.
However, the Raiders’ defensive back couldn’t hold on for the turnover as the ball was deflected right into the hands of tight end Ross Dwelley for a touchdown. Despite the late throw, Dwelley was able to get the 49ers’ on the board to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
The 49ers on Monday announced a pair of signings, including the re-signing of free agent tight end Ross Dwelley. They also officially announced the addition of defensive back Myles Hartsfield.
Dwelley joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 draft. He developed into the team’s second TE during the 2019 campaign where he also earned six starts while playing a full 16-game slate. He held that TE2 distinction until being overtaken by Charlie Woerner during the 2021 campaign.
Still, Dwelley’s versatility has made him a valuable cog in San Francisco’s offense and now he’s returning to battle for a roster spot in his sixth season.
Hartsfield’s signing was first reported last week. He spent the last three seasons with the Panthers after they signed him following the 2020 draft where he wasn’t selected.
In three seasons he played in 41 games with 19 starts. Hartsfield posted 118 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks and seven pass breakups.
The news regarding Irv Smith Jr. isn’t great, but there are options out there at tight end for the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings got dealt a rough blow at the end of the win over the Arizona Cardinals 34-26 on Sunday when Irv Smith Jr. injured his ankle on the final offensive possession of the game.
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With word that he likely has a high ankle sprain, that means he could be out for upwards of six weeks.
With that in mind, the Vikings will need to look outside the organization for depth at tight end because Ben Ellefson is on injured reserve. Here are seven tight ends the Vikings could target at the trade deadline and in free agency.
What we learned in the #49ers’ preseason finale. (via @nicholasmcgee24)
The 49ers’ preseason is over following a shutout loss to the Texans, which served as a compelling case for further trimming the exhibition season.
San Francisco produced a sloppy, error-strewn effort in which they were flagged for 11 accepted penalties for 104 yards.
Trey Lance played three series, finishing seven of 11 for 49 yards but rarely getting into a rhythm amid continually poor pass protection.
It was tough to take much from Lance’s display, but there were some things good and bad to be gleaned from a game that will have left everyone who watched clamoring for competitive regular-season football.
The wait is over: the #49ers re-signed Ross Dwelley.
The 49ers on Monday announced the re-signing of tight end Ross Dwelley to a one-year deal.
Dwelley joined San Francisco as an undrafted rookie in 2018 and by 2019 he’d carved out a substantial role as the team’s No. 2 tight end behind George Kittle.
While he’s typically used as a blocker, he’s also produced 40 catches for 401 yards and four touchdowns in his four seasons as a pro. His versatility allowed him to fill in for fullback Kyle Juszczyk when Juszczyk was unavailable due to injury. It was during that period head coach Kyle Shanahan called Dwelley one of the team’s best players.
Last season Dwelley was out-snapped by TE Charlier Woerner, which led to some question about whether he’d return in 2022. Now he’s back on the roster with a chance to climb back into the TE2 role. He’ll compete for roster spots with Woerner, Tanner Hudson and converted wide receiver Jordan Matthews.
Ross Dwelley and DJ Jones both missed Saturday’s practice with injuries.
The 49ers were without two of their five tight ends in Saturday’s practice. Ross Dwelley, last year’s No. 2 TE, missed the session with a foot injury. DJ Jones was also out, but he did receive good news about the shoulder injury that forced him to leave Friday’s practice early.
Dwelley was a key player for the 49ers last year because of his versatility as a blocker. When fullback Kyle Juszczyk went down, Dwelley took on fullback duties. He also slotted into the starting TE role for two games when George Kittle was out.
The 49ers are already pretty thin at tight end after releasing Daniel Helm and with Jordan Reed still doing individual work before entering full practices. Losing Dwelley for an extended period would be a tough blow for San Francisco’s offense.
He’s not much of a factor as a pass catcher, but he’s valuable as a blocker. He’s also the most experienced player at the position behind Kittle. Sixth-round pick Charlie Woerner and undrafted rookie Chase Harrell are their only other options with Dwelley and Reed out of practice.
Jones’ MRI on his shoulder came back clean, which is good news for the 49ers’ starting nose tackle. He was driven to the ground on a goal line play late in Friday’s practice and left with a shoulder injury. While his shoulder is healthy, he was put into concussion protocol and will have to clear that before returning to practice.
Dante Pettis headlines a group of players that may have a bigger impact on the 49ers roster next season.
The 49ers in 2020 will return largely the same group of players they took to the Super Bowl last season. It stands to reason that most of last year’s key players will again emerge as essential pieces for San Francisco on both sides of the ball.
There are a handful of players from last year’s roster though that could wind up making a bigger impact in 2020 than they did in 2019. Despite the fact they’ll return most of their stars, the 49ers will need some additional players to step into larger roles next season to repeat a deep playoff run. Here are five players that could wind up securing bigger roles:
WR Dante Pettis
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This seems inconceivable given how Pettis’ second NFL season went. He caught just 11 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a year where he was supposed to emerge as a No. 1 receiver. In fact, he fell so far out of the rotation that he wasn’t even active for the Super Bowl.
It’s easy to just give up on the former second-round pick, but he flashed enough toward the end of his rookie year to provide some optimism that he can be a contributor in a good receiving corps. It’s a make-or-break third season for Pettis, who’ll go into the year battling for a roster spot. If he responds well to that challenge, he could emerge as a reliable target in a receiving corps that desperately needs a playmaker or two to step up.
Tight end Ross Dwelley received high praise from his head coach after his two-touchdown game and ever-changing role.
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Ross Dwelley has worn a ton of hats for the 49ers this season. Most recently he took on the role of the No. 1 tight end with George Kittle out. He turned his new job into a pair of touchdown catches and a crucial third-down grab to extend the game-winning drive in the 49ers’ 36-26 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Prior to that, he served as the fullback while Kyle Juszczyk was hurt, and before that he was primarily a blocking tight end who was playing fewer than half the snaps each game.
His wide-ranging skill set and ever-changing job description earned him high praise from 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan during his Monday press conference.
“I mean, we respect the heck out of him, I said he was the best football player on our team yesterday, so I don’t mind messing with his average,” Shanahan told reporters when asked about Dwelley’s 3.5 yards per catch vs. Arizona. “He also had a 14-yarder called back, so that’s where he got messed up, or it was 10 yards, I’m not sure, but it’s better to keep his average down just so we keep him humbled. We don’t want him to get carried away.”
Shanahan was speaking in jest about the second-year tight end, but what Dwelley’s been able to do this season as a former undrafted free agent from the University of San Diego is very impressive. He played a combined 194 snaps the first eight games combined.
With Kittle nursing ankle and knee injuries and out for Weeks 10 and 11, Dwelley saw his snap count increase to 145 in those games. He’s been a different kind of Swiss Army knife for the 49ers’ offense, and having players like him is invaluable in a scheme that thrives on deception.
It’s hard to quantify the ‘best football player’ on the 49ers, but Dwelley’s ability to adapt to different roles on the fly certainly earns him a spot in the conversation.
It’s almost the most important time of the fantasy football season. And for those of you who are on the outside of the playoff bubble, it is the most important time. It’s when teams get eliminated and relegated to the much-dreaded consolation bracket. I, for one, cannot be consoled if I land there.
So if you’re in need of a push over the finish line, then prepare for the playoffs with a key waiver wire addition. An injury to Colts running back Marlon Mack could create significant value. And we may have witnessed a breakout game for a Lions running back not named Kerryon Johnson.
Here are eight players you should consider claiming off waivers this week.
8. Tim Patrick, WR, Broncos
ESPN: 1%. Yahoo! 0%.
Patrick is probably only worth owning in keeper and dynasty formats. But he’s been an intriguing player, consistently jumping past DaeSean Hamilton on the depth chart for targets since 2018. Patrick returned from IR, and appears to be the No. 2 receiver in Denver.
7. Jay Ajayi, RB, Eagles
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ESPN: 1%. Yahoo! 23%.
The excitement about the Ajayi signing may have gone a bit too far. Miles Sanders was the lead back against the Patriots in Week 11, and was OK without a complement in Jordan Howard. If Howard, Sanders and Ajayi are all active in a three-man committee, that will make for unhappy fantasy owners. Still, if you have a spot on your roster, Ajayi could be worth stashing.
6. Ryan Griffin, TE, Jets
ESPN: 1%. Yahoo! 3%.
It seems Chris Herndon has failed his backers. Griffin is the Jets’ top tight end, with five receptions, 109 yards and a touchdown against the Redskins in Week 11. If you’re in need of an option, Griffin is probably as good as any on the waiver wire.
5. Devante Parker, WR, Dolphins
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ESPN: 58%. Yahoo! 45%.
He’s a well-owned player, so it’s likely he’s not available in your league. But he should be owned in all leagues. Miami is going to trail their opponents for most of the season, which means they’re going to favor the passing game for most of the season. That means that even though Parker is in a bad offense, he may get easy, garbage-time production.
4. Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers
ESPN: 25%. Yahoo! 54%.
The 49ers have very few reliable fantasy football players in their lineup. Kyle Shanahan features a different running back or receiver in seemingly every game. But Deebo Samuel has been on a nice two-game run, with 16 receptions for 146 yards. He’s worth owning — and maybe even playing in a pinch.
3. Ross Dwelley, TE, 49ers
ESPN: 7%. Yahoo! 14%.
In the absence of George Kittle, Dwelley served as a touchdown magnet. He had four catches for 14 yards and two TDs. Fantasy football owners who have Kittle (or even play against Kittle) should also own Dwelley, in the event Kittle misses another week.
2. Bo Scarbrough, RB, Lions
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ESPN: 0%. Yahoo! 1%.
Detroit wasn’t getting production from their who’s-who cast of running backs in recent weeks. Ty Johnson wasn’t cutting it between the tackles. But perhaps the Lions have found their running back who will serve as a holdover while Kerryon Johnson is on IR. Scarbrough, an Alabama alumnus, had 14 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown this week.
1. Jonathan Williams, RB, Colts
ESPN: 0%. Yahoo! 1%.
Marlon Mack said he would be OK, but it seems the doctors are saying otherwise. He appears to have suffered a fractured hand, according to NFL Network. Jonathan Williams took over after Marlon Mack left the game on Sunday. Williams was outstanding with 13 carries for 116 yards.
The 49ers started the half with a scoring drive but wasn’t able to get on the board again despite another long series.
The 49ers started the half with a scoring drive, but they weren’t able to get on the board again despite a long series that ended in an interception. Arizona was able to take the lead with a Zane Gonzalez field goal late in the quarter.
It’s 19-17 heading into the final quarter in Santa Clara. Here’s what stood out in the third quarter:
The Ross Dwelley game
The 49ers offense looked out of sorts against Seattle without George Kittle, but Ross Dwelley has helped the group pull it together on Sunday. Dwelley has stepped into the security blanket role and has two touchdowns including one that gave the 49ers the lead in the third quarter. His production has been a pleasant surprise for an offense that has been up-and-down on Sunday.
Buckner came up with a big individual defensive effort following the Dwelley touchdown. The drive started with a first-down sack from Buckner to give Arizona a second-and-13 when he was able to tip a screen pass from Kyler Murray to Kenyan Drake and get enough of it that while Drake caught it, the ball floated long enough for the defense to swarm for a loss. Buckner creating plays was a welcome sight for a defensive line that hasn’t been able to create much pressure on Murray.
The dreaded “what did he see there” Garoppolo interception
It hasn’t happened in a while but Jimmy Garoppolo threw an interception that makes you wonder what he saw on the play. It was a third-and-5 at the Arizona 12-yard-line when Garoppolo threw a pass allegedly intended for Emmanuel Sanders but right to Jordan Hicks who returned it 48 yards to set the Arizona offense off with good field position. It was a terrible time for the turnover as the offense was knocking on the door to extend their lead to two scores.
