Official Practice Squad Updates: Candidates and Waiver Claims -

Talented waiver wire but the 49ers likely don't use it.

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Sep 06, 2020

San Francisco 49ers/YouTube

COVID-19 has ravaged the world, especially the U.S., and while in the grand scheme of things the NFL is about the last priority, with 1 week left to the season, it feels like the NFL has actually… done OK so far. I hope their in-season protocols are stronger including daily testing, but regardless, the season looks like it actually will happen. With that being said, one of the biggest changes the NFL made was increasing the 12-man practice squad to 16, and allowing veterans to be signed to it as well. What does this mean? For a contender like, say, the 49ers, having 16 guys they can call up who know the playbook and are young or experience is invaluable, especially to a team that gets hit by injuries.

First off, if you haven't, read our roster article, with the full 53-man roster, all transactions, and analysis.

Note: OL Ross Reynolds went unclaimed and now reverts to the 49ers IR list with a terrible bone bruise. Hopefully he's back and better next season.

Live Practice Squad Updates:

Dontae Johnson, CB
Tim Harris, CB
JaMycal Hasty, RB
Jauan Jennings, WR
Josh Hokit, FB
Dakoda Shepley, OL
Kevin White, WR
River Cracaft, WR
Jonathan Cyprien, S
Dion Jordan, DE
Darrion Daniels, DL
Chase Harrell, TE
Joe Walker, LB
William Sweet, OL
Jared Mayden, S
Hroniss Grasu, OL

So far, Jauan Jennings, Josh Hokit, Dakoda Shepley, JaMycal Hasty, and Kevin White are the likeliest to land a spot. Shepley has said even with other offers, he will stay with the 49ers.

Update: All of the above are joining the 49ers practice squad

Official practice squad list

Analysis

Dontae Johnson, CB - Not a fan especially with other talented, younger corners on the market but I get wanting someone who knows the scheme. Good for him.

Tim Harris Jr, CB - This was almost guaranteed, the former Virginia standout Harris is talented but still learning in the NFL after being on IR last season. Harris is talented and gifted, and a developmental player.

JaMycal Hasty, RB - He made a serious push for a roster spot but 5 RBs is just too much, and the 49ers weren't going to let Wilson get away. It's a minor miracle Hasty slipped by waivers - elusive, fast, hands, he's got it all and if an injury happens, he will help the 49ers.

Josh Hokit, FB - Love, love, love it. With Juszczyk hitting FA and the cap situation grim, Hokit would be a great player to step in, learning from Juszczyk - if Juice (this would be a disaster) does not come back.

Dakoda Shepley, OL - Daniel Brunskill written all over it - Shepley is young and has played a very high level in the CFL, the NFL is just the next step. Look out for this guy in a few years if he sticks around.

Kevin White, WR - A talented player who got hit hard by the injury bug and never really developed. I’m not expecting much from White, but the 49ers have already suffered injuries at the position, increasing the chance that White plays this season. But I’ll take any receiver on the practice squad at this point, and White still has some potential.

River Carcraft, WR - He’s Trent Taylor insurance in the slot. His numbers in Denver are odd (9 games and one reception for 44 yards in two seasons). He can also handle returns if needed.

Jonathan Cyprien, S - This is the news we were waiting for. Cyprien initially stated that he wouldn’t join the practice squad before the roster was trimmed down, while Shanahan told the media that he was trying to convince veterans it was a good opportunity. Cyprien will be a very valuable backup to Jaquiski Tartt.

Dion Jordan, DE - The 49ers have decided to keep Kerry Hyder on the 53 man roster while Ronald Blair remains on the PUP list. If the 49ers see injuries at DE, especially before Blair can return in week 6, Jordan will be important to the pass rush rotation. I’m relieved to see that Jordan has returned

Darrion Daniels, DL - The nose tackle has a good camp and is being paid a lot for a UDFA. I love DJ Jones, but Daniels could sneak in Levi’s on Sunday soon. Very glad he joined the practice squad.

Chase Harrell, TE - It’ll be difficult for Harrell to make the active roster this season behind 4 really good tight ends. But he is a former receiver, giving him a different skillset from a guy like Woerner. The practice squad is perfect for him to adjust to the position change.

Joe Walker, LB - Walker has played well on special teams, which may be Walker’s key to joining the active roster. The Niners choosing to stick with DFF hurts his chances to play, and Walker has been mediocre as a linebacker, but special teams is important. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got poached off the practice squad at some point.

William Sweet, OL - A backup swing tackle. He’s young and was injured his first year, so being on the practice squad should be a good opportunity for him.

Jared Mayden, S - I really like Mayden and am happy to see him return. And this is coming from someone who’s rarely a fan of late-round or un-drafted Alabama players. Mayden is versatile which can really help a backup’s chances

Hronnis Grasu, OL - Grasu is someone many were hoping would make the main roster. Centers are feeling the injury bug in Santa Clara, with Richburg on PUP and Garland banged up. Grasu might be the first PS member to make the active roster

The waiver wire especially is very talented with young players, some good but injured, others bad but healthy, and some complete unknowns. Let's take a look at five players the 49ers should look into claiming:

Sidney Jones, CB

Jones is a former 2nd round pick of the Eagles, out of UW. Jones when healthy has acrually been good, but he just cannot stay on the field regardless of how talented he is. Long and fluid, Jones fits our scheme and would wasily be a better player off the bench than someone like Tim Harris or Dontae Johnson (Harris could be good, we just don't know yet). This regime has not hesitated on players with injury history, so I'd like to see them take a shot on a young guy like this.

Myles Bryant, CB

Ironically another product of UW, the rookie Bryant is a feisty, undersized slot corner who is quick twitch, fast, and will fight in the run game - built in the mold of K'Waun Williams. He had a good camp with the Patriots but with their CB group just could not make it, but Bryant would be a great fit to sit behind Williams for a year and learn the tricks of the position. Bryant, if he was taller, likely would have been picked much earlier in the draft.

Josh Rosen, QB

Rosen isn't being signed to be the future, or even the 1st backup. He would be signed to be the 2nd backup and take CJ Beathard's spot. Why? Beathard has been terrible for most of his career, and outside of his toughness, what quality does he have that one desires in a QB? Shanahan hopes that Beathard will improve but its been 4 seasons with minimal, if none improvement. He's largely the same player that he was coming out of college, and he wasn't even that good to begin with. Rosen hasn't played better than CJ, but Rosen at least has shown signs of improvement/high level play. He has one of the highest completion percentage differentials for anyone in the past 2 seasons, meaning his expected completion percentage is way higher than his actual - means his WR/TE core sucks. He's had the worst OL in the NFL for most of his career and never had the same OC. CJ Beathard has had the same OC, better OL, and better WRs and has simply not taken advantage, regardless of what Shanahan says. How would you know? If Jimmy is injured, is there any question as to who is coming off the bench first at the moment? It's Mullens, and rightfully so. It's a bit like the Witherspoon-Moseley argument. Yeah, Witherspoon physcially is more gifted and has higher potential, but Moseley has outplayed him.

Update: Rosen is on the Tampa Bay Practice Squad

Prince Tega Wanogho, OT

Another Eagle, Wanogho is a rookie 6th round pick out of Auburn. Originally from Nigeria, he is still very new to the game and thus very raw as a player, but pre-draft analysis agrees: he's meant for a zone concept. He's got good athleticism and foot speed, length, and is still learning - a classic developmental guy on the PS.

Jalen Jelks, DE

Rookie DE out of Oregon, Jelks was picked in the 7th this year. He's massive, has a good first step, and can bend - but that’s it. Not much technique and strength on him. But on a waiver wire, that's what you'll get. Still, Jelks is talented enough that if you give Kocurek a season with him, there's definitely some potential as a stand-up EDGE.

Around The NFL

Clowney Watch IS OVER! REJOICE! Jadeveon Clowney has officially signed with the Titans on a 1 year, $12 million deal with incentives that can increase the deal to $15 million.
Keenan Allen, DeShaun Watson, and Tre'Davious White all received lucrative extensions yesterday.
Adrian Peterson has signed with the Lions.
Mario Edwards Jr has signed with the Bears.
Not very noteworthy - but Aldon Smith has made the Cowboys roster. Incredible turnaround for the former 49ers demon pass rusher, not playing for 5 years and being able to come back and play at a high level - nearly enough to start? That's amazing. Great for him.

Everything in this article will be updated as information comes out, so the email alert won’t be the updated version. Open the article in a browser instead to get the latest news. Read our Fact and Fiction this morning, with Pat Holloway (yes that one), me, Shanafandom, and The Bourne Identity.

Leave a like and comment to support us if you like the article and our content, or if you have criticism, or simply for discussion. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of an in-depth look into Jimmy Garoppolo, where we look at what his issues were last season. Take a look at our latest roster projection, and a in-depth look into the Kittle vs. Kelce argument.

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