Currently thin on the open receiver, the San Francisco 49ers would climb reinforcements as they continue to fight their camp through education.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, San Francisco is hiring Tavon Austin and J.J. Nelson, pending the effects of a physique for any of the players.
The signings come after ESPN’s Field Yates announced Thursday that the 49ers had brought Austin, Nelson and Donte Moncrief to train.
San Francisco’s catcher body was particularly affected by unwillingness and injury during the off-season. Emmanuel Sanders, who finished third on the team with 36 receptions and 502 yards in 10 games last season, left to sign a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints in March.
Deebo Samuel underwent surgery on his left foot in June to repair a fracture Jones suffered in off-season training. He posted on Instagram his goal of returning in 10 weeks from the date he underwent the surgery, but the 49ers have not set an official calendar on his return.
Returns specialist Richie James Jr. fractured his wrist in June and is expected to miss at least two months, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. This schedule can bring you back to the box before the start of the normal season.
Austin can be used as safe for open receivers and special equipment. He returned 185 shots and 25 clearing shots in his seven-year career. The 30-year-old hit thirteen passes for 177 yards and one landing last season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Nelson played two games with the Oakland Raiders last season before being released in October. His year came in 2016 with 568 yards and six touchdowns in 34 receptions for the Arizona Cardinals.
Mayfield said last year’s difficulties had weighed him: “I couldn’t be who [I should be] for those guys on the team.”
SI’s Ross Dellenger joins the exhibit to talk about why meetings are ending now, why transfers aren’t realistic, and how it all affects the NFL.