Transactions News & Rumors

Browns Designate S Juan Thornhill For Return

October 16th, 2024 at 7:28pm CST by Ben Levine

Juan Thornhill could soon provide a spark to the Browns defense. The team announced that they’ve designated the safety for return from injured reserve. The Browns now have 21 days to activate Thornhill to the active roster.

The defensive back started Cleveland’s Week 1 loss, collecting nine tackles while getting into 60 defensive snaps. However, he suffered a calf injury in that game that ultimately landed him on the shelf. Thornhill was first eligible to return from IR this past weekend.

Thornhill inked a three-year deal with the Browns during the 2023 offseason. A calf injury forced him to miss six games during his debut season in Cleveland, but he otherwise managed to start all 11 of his appearances while contributing 54 tackles. The former second-round pick started his career in Kansas City, where he hauled in eight interceptions in 65 games (52 starts). He appeared in nine additional postseason contests, winning two Super Bowl rings along the way (although he was inactive during the team’s 2019 run).

The Browns have been forced to deal with an inconsistent safeties corps in 2024. Rodney McLeod Jr. and Ronnie Hickman both stepped up alongside Grant Delpit during Thornhill’s absence. However, both Delpit and Hickman were inactive for Week 6, forcing the team to turn to D’Anthony Bell.

Chargers WR DJ Chark Returns To Practice

October 16th, 2024 at 6:39pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chargers could soon add some veteran talent to the WR depth chart. Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports that DJ Chark returned to practice today, meaning the team opened the wideout’s 21-day activation window.

Chark caught on with the Chargers this offseason and was expected to help soak up the snaps left by Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. However, the veteran suffered a hip injury prior to Week 1 that ultimately landed him on injured reserve. Chark required more than a minimum stay on IR, but it sounds like he’s now zeroing in on a return to the field.

The former second-round pick had a breakout sophomore campaign with the Jaguars, hauling in 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. Unfortunately, he was unable to stay completely healthy in his two follow-up seasons, including a 2021 campaign where he was limited to four games thanks to an ankle injury.

Chark has bounced around the NFL in recent seasons. He spent the 2022 season with the Lions, where he collected 502 receiving yards in 11 games. He managed to get into 15 games with the Panthers in 2023, but he was limited to only 35 receiving yards per game, his lowest average since his rookie year.

In Los Angeles, Chark was initially expected to start alongside Josh Palmer in Jim Harbaugh‘s new-look offense. With the veteran out of the lineup, rookie second-round pick Ladd McConkey and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston have stepped up, with the young duo leading the Chargers in targets. Chark may have an uphill battle to break the starting lineup, but he could slide in ahead of the likes of Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko, and rookie Brenden Rice.

Seahawks Place S Rayshawn Jenkins On IR

October 16th, 2024 at 5:24pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks have lost a key defender for at least the next four games. The team announced that they’ve placed safety Rayshawn Jenkins on injured reserve. In a corresponding move, the Seahawks signed practice-squad safety Ty Okada to the active roster.

As ESPN’s Brady Henderson notes, Jenkins was a mainstay on the injury report over the past two weeks with a hand injury. The safety also played the past two games with a cast over his left hand. The injury will now force him off the field for at least the next four games. Jenkins will be eligible to return in Week 12.

The Seahawks have been especially reliant on their offseason acquisition, as Jenkins hasn’t missed a defensive snap through the first six weeks. The veteran has collected 38 tackles, and he returned a fumble for a touchdown in Week 5. Pro Football Focus only ranks Jenkins 56th among 84 qualifying safeties, although the site is high on his coverage ability.

The former fourth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Chargers, evolving from a special teamer into a starting defender. He inked a four-year, $35MM deal with the Jaguars in 2021, but he was handed his walking papers back in March after starting all 48 of his appearances in three seasons with the organization.

Julian Love will continue to sit atop the depth chart, and K’Von Wallace will likely slide into the starting lineup during Jenkins’ absence. The team could also turn to versatile defensive back Coby Bryant, and they’ve now added Okada to the grouping. The former UDFA has appeared in six games for the Seahawks over the past two seasons.

Panthers Open RB Jonathon Brooks’ Practice Window

October 16th, 2024 at 9:45am CST by Nikhil Mehta

OCTOBER 16: This is now official. Brooks will begin practicing with the Panthers, who have 21 days to activate him. This week will mark the second-round rookie’s first practices since his November 2023 ACL tear.

OCTOBER 14: Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks is one step closer to making his NFL debut. The Panthers are set to open his 21-day practice window, setting up a prepared activation from the non-football injury list, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Carolina did not officially make the move on Monday, but head coach Dave Canales told reporters a practice debut is imminent. This will be a welcome development for a Panthers team still in the early stages of a rebuild, and Brooks is expected to play a key role in that plan.

The 46th overall pick back in April, Brooks tore his ACL in late 2023, which damaged but did not plummet his draft stock. The Panthers still took him in the second round as the potential future of their backfield, a decision that drew criticism considering Carolina’s other needs and lack of future draft capital after the Bryce Young trade. No other team chose a running back in the first or second round this year, illustrating Carolina’s confidence in Brooks’ talents.

Brooks began the season on the NFI list, with the Panthers prioritizing his long-term health over a speedy return. Chuba Hubbard has excelled as Carolina’s lead back in the meantime, ranking third in rushing yards (485), second in success rate (64.0%), and fifth in yards per attempt (5.6). Hubbard’s early success should allow Brooks to slowly build up his workload as he adjusts to the NFL and acclimates to Canales’ offense.

At 1-5, the Panthers need all the help they can get, but Brooks’ return will do little to kickstart an anemic offense that has struggled with poor quarterback play and offensive line injuries this year. The Texas product should be a bigger pass-catching threat out of the backfield, as both Hubbard and Miles Sanders have yet to crack 100 receiving yards on the year.

Once he is designated for return, Brooks will have 21 days to be added to the Panthers’ 53-man roster. Otherwise, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve, though that would only happen with a significant health setback.

Jets Acquire Davante Adams From Raiders

October 15th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Davante Adams is indeed set to be traded, and he is headed to his preferred destination. The Jets are finalizing a deal to acquire Adams from the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The swap will see Vegas receive a conditional 2025 third-round pick from New York, Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds. That pick can become a second-rounder based on Adams’ performance with his new team. Crucially. Pelissero also notes the Jets will take on the remainder of Adams’ 2024 salary. Depending on how he fares with his new team, then, the Raiders could wind up meeting their goal of landing a second-rounder in addition to not retaining any of his salary to facilitate a trade.

Providing specifics on the conditional pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the selection will upgrade to a second-rounder if either of two circumstances are met. Adams must earn a first- or second-team All-Pro selection, or he must be on the Jets’ active roster for the AFC title game or Super Bowl. Those thresholds certainly make it likely the pick will wind up as a third-rounder, something SI’s Albert Breer recently speculated represented a cost the Raiders would ultimately be willing to accept.

Once it became known the Raiders were gauging the market on an Adams trade (something the 31-year-old preferred to staying put), the Jets emerged as the likeliest destination. After Adams openly remarked about the potential of reuniting with Aaron Rodgers – something the four-time MVP reciprocated – it came as no surprise to learn the Jets were his top target. Now, the two will in fact resume playing with each other after their successful eight-year run in Green Bay.

A number suitors were in the mix with respect to showing interest, but Vegas remained insistent on landing a second-round pick in any Adams deal. Many contenders saw that price as being too steep, and the Jets and Saints held an advantage in terms of providing Adams with a familiar quarterback (Rodgers or Derek Carr, in the case of New Orleans). Recently, those two teams appeared to be the strongest suitors with the Jets in particular acting aggressively to get a deal done. The team sits at 2-4 with a new head coach and offensive play-caller in place, but Adams could spark a midseason turnaround.

The Jets entered Tuesday with just over $17MM in cap space, a larger figure than many of the other teams interested in acquiring the three-time All-Pro. Since Vegas will not retain any salary, New York will be on the hook for $11.59MM this season (the prorated remainder of Adams’ 2024 salary). Two more years remain on his pact, but no guarantees are in place. Working out a new agreement will be key in this situation, and having Adams as more than a short-term rental would help justify the trade cost to add him. Adams has reportedly expressed concern about Rodgers’ post-2024 future with the Jets, however.

Nevertheless, an organization which just fired head coach Robert Saleh and demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is now making another aggressive move aimed at success this season. The 2024 Jets are the first team led by Rodgers to have a losing record through six weeks. A postseason berth remains the goal, though, and Adams could aid an offense which sits 22nd in scoring. Of course, this move also marks the latest the Jets have undertaken which involves bringing in familiar faces to Rodgers on the field and the sidelines while trying to maximize the remainder of his career.

Adams will now join Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard at the receiver spot with New York. Speculation has increased in the wake of today’s deal that Mike Williams – signed to a one-year deal in free agency – could now be on the move to avoid a logjam at the top of the depth chart and move some money out to compensate for Adams’ arrival. In any case, expectations will increase for better efficiency through the air moving forward.

For the 2-4 Raiders, this move brings an end to a situation between Adams and head coach Antonio Pierce which was marked by a recent increase in tension. As veteran insider Josina Anderson notes, Pierce feels this move is best for all involved. Vegas – a team which is now increasingly short on playmakers and turned to Aidan O’Connell at quarterback for Week 6 – will take on $13.67MM in dead money this year and $15.7MM in 2025 (h/t Spotrac).

With five 1,100-yard campaigns to his name (including both of his full Raiders seasons), Adams will be expected to provide a major boost to the Jets’ offense upon reuniting with Rodgers. If that proves to be the case, the team – which may soon offload edge rusher Haason Reddick and end his holdout in the process – could become a contender for at least an AFC postseason spot. Ending the Jets’ 13-year playoff drought would mark a key success for the team, and it would no doubt quell doubts about general manager Joe Douglas’ job security.

A hamstring injury has kept Adams out of action for the past three weeks, but multiple reports note he is currently at the Jets’ facility undergoing a physical. Once that takes place, this trade can be made official and bring a notable but expected end to the Adams situation. How it affects other receiver deals ahead of the deadline will be interesting to monitor.

Browns Trade Amari Cooper To Bills

October 15th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The receiver market is heating up. Hours after the Jets finalized their deal to acquire Davante Adams, the team that won Monday night’s game will also strike for a pass-catching weapon.

Amari Cooper is headed to Buffalo, with Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reporting the Bills and Browns have a deal in place. A recent report indicated Cleveland was not expected to unload Cooper, but after the Browns did not reach an extension with the accomplished wideout this offseason, he remains in a contract year. It appears that campaign with finish in New York. The teams have since announced the trade.

This deal includes the Browns receiving a third-round pick, though NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport classifies it as a pick-swap agreement. That will send a lower pick back to the Bills. Here is how the trade breaks down, via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero:

Bills receive:

Cooper
A 2025 sixth-round pick

Browns receive:

A 2025 third-round pick
2026 seventh-rounder

This is the second time Cooper has been traded in-season, with the 2018 campaign including the Raiders sending him to the Cowboys for a first-round pick. After re-signing the former top-five pick in 2020, the Cowboys dealt him to the Browns during the 2022 offseason. Cooper, 30, has produced in Cleveland, but with Deshaun Watson well off his Texans pace, he has not fared especially well this season. Given the QB upgrade he is set to see, Cooper is likely to see a production uptick soon.

Sean McDermott said last week Buffalo’s receiver situation had become a concern. The Bills’ plan of moving on from Stefon Diggs and not replacing him with a comparable wideout was passable early, but teams had limited the team’s receivers in recent weeks — a period that bottomed out with a woeful Josh Allen stat line in Houston. Even after the Bills prevailed over the Jets on Monday, they are loading up with one of the best wideouts on the market.

“Andrew Berry called me and told me what was going on,” Cooper said (via veteran insider Josina Anderson) of the trade. “As far as playing with Josh, I’ve always been fan of his game. I’m sure to see it up close and personal and play alongside him, I’m sure it’s going to be great.”

This Cooper swap comes after the Bills had monitored the Adams market. In on Adams from the beginning, Buffalo never appeared in pole position — or even in the front row — for the Raiders trade chip. It does not appear to be a coincidence that the Jets’ Adams trade went down shortly before this one. The Bills snaring Cooper gives them a weapon in an effort to hold off the Jets in the AFC East while taking away a potential Chiefs solution in the wake of Rashee Rice‘s season-ending injury.

Although Cooper is in his age-30 season and is averaging only 10.4 yards per catch this year (24/250), the Bills needed to include a third-round pick likely due to both his past production and the Browns having slashed his 2024 base salary to the veteran minimum. Cooper’s offseason restructure included an incentive package and his 2024 base dropping to $1.21MM.

That works out to just $783K to be transferred to the Bills’ payroll. The Browns, conversely, will take on $7.9MM in dead money this year and $22.6MM in dead cap in 2025. The total sum nearly matches Diggs’ receiver-record figure the Bills ate earlier this year.

Cooper’s route-running chops are on Diggs’ level, making it interesting Buffalo targeted the former No. 5 overall pick. Cooper has seven 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, with the most recent — 2023’s 1,250-yard showing with an aid from Joe Flacco — doubling as a career-high number. Cooper has never quite settled in as a top-tier receiver, but his credentials easily place him on the second rung. The refined pass catcher is a five-time Pro Bowler who has surpassed 1,100 yards in a season five times. Cooper totaled nine touchdowns in his first Browns season, doing so despite the team using Jacoby Brissett for 11 games and Watson (who re-emerged in concerning form) for the final six.

Turning 30 earlier this year, Cooper is several months younger than Diggs. The Bills had tired of Diggs’ antics, but they were beginning to miss his production. Drafted four rounds before Diggs in 2015, Cooper has not proven to be a locker room issue, as he has seamlessly transitioned to new teams via trade before.

The Alabama alum’s 2018 Dallas assimilation made a key difference in turning a sub.-500 Cowboys team into the NFC East champions. Cooper will now try to replace Diggs and help the Bills book a fifth straight division title. Set to anchor a receiving corps previously fronted by Khalil Shakir and second-round pick Keon Coleman, Cooper strengthens the Bills’ hopes of threatening the Chiefs’ AFC vice grip as well.

No stranger to splashy WR trades as the 2020 Diggs swap and the near-deal for Antonio Brown in 2019 shows, Bills GM Brandon Beane will attempt to equip his superstar quarterback with a weapon that will help him better maximize his age-28 season. Diggs moved the needle significantly in Allen’s development. With Allen much closer to a finished product now, the Bills are adding a similar playmaker. Buffalo received a 2025 second-round pick from Houston for Diggs, helping make parting with a Day 2 asset easier.

This deal comes barely two months after the Browns offered Cooper to the 49ers in a swap that would have sent Brandon Aiyuk to Cleveland. Aiyuk did not want to be traded to the Browns, who have struggled in the passing game for most of the decade despite obtaining Watson in 2022. Cooper, however, wanted to be traded to the 49ers, TheLandOnDemand.com’s Tony Grossi offers. That San Francisco proposal, which included second- and fifth-round picks as well, always made Cooper a trade chip to watch. With the Browns now 1-5 and Watson in terrible form, cashing out now with a Day 2 asset — which is more than the Browns initially gave up to acquire him from the Cowboys — can be viewed as a savvy move.

Cleveland sent just fifth- and sixth-round picks to Dallas to acquire Cooper in March 2022. The Cowboys have missed the midrange weapon’s presence, even as CeeDee Lamb has ascended to the All-Pro level. The Browns traded for Jerry Jeudy this offseason and gave the ex-Broncos first-rounder a three-year extension that brought more in guarantees ($41MM) than Cooper’s Cowboys-constructed pact (five years, $100MM, $40MM guaranteed at signing) did. The Browns also have Elijah Moore on their roster, but the ex-Jets second-rounder joins Cooper in being in a contract year.

Jeudy suddenly represents the Browns’ receiver centerpiece, as he is tied to the team through the 2027 season. Jeudy, however, is 0-for-4 in 1,000-yard seasons; Cooper is 7-for-9. A Bills team gunning for its first Super Bowl berth since 1993 will soon deploy Cooper as part of its championship effort, while the Browns — thanks to their historic Watson guarantee tying them to the embattled QB through 2026 — will pick up an asset as they reassess their passing game.

Lions Extend DT Alim McNeill

October 15th, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions experienced a huge loss when star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson went down for the year with a broken tibia this weekend. That might make Detroit a little more appreciative of who they do have on the defensive line. Perhaps that’s why the team decided to sign defensive tackle Alim McNeill to a four-year extension, per his agent Mike McCartney, keeping the 24-year-old in Detroit through the 2028 NFL season.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported some numbers for us, detailing that the extension will be worth $97MM over its four-year lifespan. McNeill will receive $55MM guaranteed on the new deal. The extension sets McNeill as the fourth-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL in both total contract value and average annual value. He trails Chris Jones, Christian Wilkins, and Nnamdi Madubuike and just outpaces Quinnen Williams and Derrick Brown.

McNeill came to Detroit as a third-round pick out of NC State in the 2021 NFL Draft. He immediately found himself in the rotation as a rookie, starting six games for the Lions. By his sophomore campaign, McNeill was a full-time starter, and by his third year, McNeill was establishing himself as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL.

Despite missing four games last year, McNeill had a breakout season, recording career highs in sacks (5.0) and quarterback hits (10) while matching a career high in tackles for loss (6). As a result of his breakout season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked McNeill as the seventh-best interior defensive lineman out of 130 NFL players graded at the position.

This year, McNeill has continued his elite level of play. With 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits, McNeill is on track to set new career highs in several statistical categories. PFF has reflected those efforts in their rankings this season, as well, slotting McNeill in as the sixth-best interior defender out of 121 graded players in the league.

McNeill was a part of Brad Holmes‘ first draft class as the team’s new general manager in 2021. Holmes made a splash almost immediately, with his first official act as GM being to trade longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, two first-round picks, and a third-rounder. He followed that up with an impressive draft class.

From that seven-player draft class, McNeill becomes the third player to already have an extended contract, joining offensive cornerstones offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The class also contained second-round defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, who missed his entire second season with a back injury but has become a reliable part of the rotation this year. Fellow third-rounder, defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu, contributed all over the field last season with two picks, eight passes defensed, and three sacks, but he’s been stuck on injured reserve so far this year. Fourth-round linebacker Derrick Barnes has also become a consistent starter on the defense and is having the best season of his career so far this year.

The Lions are certainly getting the most out of their ample salary cap space and seem to have an unlimited source of funds. Since April, Holmes and Detroit have extended St. Brown, Sewell, Goff, Taylor Decker, David Montgomery, and now, McNeill. Players like Onwuzurike, Barnes, Hutchinson, and Kerby Joseph remain as players eligible for extensions on the horizon. For now, though, Holmes and the Lions have done an incredible job of identifying key contributors and signing them to big deals.

Chiefs Activate RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire From NFI List

October 15th, 2024 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 15: The Chiefs’ running backs room is starting to show life. After the recent signing of the veteran Hunt to make up for Pacheco’s injury, Kansas City is now also able to add Edwards-Helaire to the roster again at long last. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 announced that the team has officially activated Edwards-Helaire from the reserve/non-football illness list today.

The former first-round pick is far-removed from his impressive rookie season, but in a year where the Chiefs’ rushers have been continuously banged up, they’ll take whatever Edwards-Helaire has to offer.

OCTOBER 2: Presently associated more with skill-position players who are not available, the Chiefs will have one of their pieces back. Clyde Edwards-Helaire returned to practice Wednesday, joining many around the league coming back from an injured/illness list.

With Edwards-Helaire hitting the Chiefs’ reserve/non-football illness list after roster cutdown day, an activation will count toward the defending champions’ in-season limit. Though, the Chiefs are among the few teams that did not take advantage of the NFL’s new IR-stashing tweak this summer, keeping their activation total at eight for the time being. Given the way Kansas City’s skill corps has deteriorated, the team will undoubtedly be fine using an activation on CEH.

The Chiefs have seen Isiah Pacheco go down with a fibula fracture, leading to a committee of unwanted veterans and rookie UDFA Carson Steele. Andy Reid parked Steele after an early fumble against the Chargers, opening the door for recently signed Kareem Hunt to make his in-game return. Hunt and Broncos castoff Samaje Perine represent the top Chiefs RB options presently; Edwards-Helaire returning would at least bring a player in the champs’ offseason plans back into the mix.

While Edwards-Helaire has not come especially close to living up to the Chiefs’ hopes when they drafted him in the 2020 first round, he suddenly could be a more important figure while Pacheco rehabs. The player who usurped CEH as a Kansas City starter, Pacheco is set to be sidelined for at least five more weeks. A two-month recovery period could be on tap for the former seventh-round pick, leaving a makeshift backfield behind for a team suddenly dealing with two major wide receiver injuries — those affecting Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice.

Brown is out for at least the regular season’s remainder, while Rice is feared to have torn an ACL. The Chiefs have not confirmed Rice’s injury yet, but a return this season appears unlikely. Although Kansas City still has future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce, first-round pick Xavier Worthy and Super Bowl-era tertiary targets JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman, but this offense has largely lacked explosiveness over the past season and change.

Edwards-Helaire, 25, re-signed on a one-year, $1.7MM deal, doing so on the same day the Chiefs hosted J.K. Dobbins on a visit. CEH played behind Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon during most of the past two seasons; he accumulated just 411 scrimmage yards in 2023. (McKinnon is no longer with the team.) He has not cleared 500 in a season since 2021 and played just four offensive snaps in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs’ current situation, however, could make the LSU alum more valuable than he has been in a few years.

Jets Place S Chuck Clark On IR

October 15th, 2024 at 9:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Jets safety Chuck Clark‘s troubles staying on the field since leaving Baltimore have continued into this year. The former Ravens strong safety only missed two games over the first six years of his career in Baltimore, but since being traded to New York, he is on track to have missed at least 21 games. He missed all 17 games of the 2023 NFL season with a torn ACL, and now, Clark is set to miss at least four more after being placed on injured reserve today, per Jets team reporter Ethan Greenberg.

Clark missed the entirety of his only season under contract with New York, but the Jets elected to keep him around, re-signing he and fellow free agent Ashtyn Davis while watching Jordan Whitehead walk in free agency. The Jets held an offseason competition for the starting two jobs between Clark, Davis, and Tony Adams after Adams and Whitehead started most of last year. Clark ended up beating out Davis to start the first six games of the season alongside Adams, with Davis getting playing time here and there off the bench.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network pinpointed the sidelining injury as a high-ankle sprain suffered in last night’s loss to the Bills. A minimal four-game absence would see Clark returning to the field on November 17 for a Sunday night matchup against the Colts. If Clark isn’t quite ready to return at that point in the season, an additional two weeks would be available for recovery as the Jets’ bye week falls right after the Week 11 contest versus Indianapolis.

With Clark sidelined, the Jets are fortunate to have the safety depth from their position competition this offseason. Davis will be the obvious choice to step in as the new starter in Clark’s absence. The team also rosters veteran Jalen Mills, who has several seasons of starting experience from his time with the Eagles and Patriots.

49ers Designate Ricky Pearsall For Return

October 15th, 2024 at 9:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 15: Coming off their bye week, the 49ers have made this designation official. Pearsall has been designated for return, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. It would make sense if the team gave Pearsall the full three-week onramp before activating him; Tuesday’s return designation starts that clock. The 49ers must activate Pearsall by Nov. 5 or he would miss the full season.

OCTOBER 11: Ricky Pearsall continues to make progress in his rehab, and he is set to return to the practice field in short order. The first-round rookie wideout will have his 21-day return window opened next week, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (video link).

Pearsall suffered a gunshot wound to the chest as the victim of an attempted robbery in August, and he began the campaign on the non-football injury list. Players moved to NFI are required to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign, but the 24-year-old made steady progress through September. A return to practice was contemplated last week, but San Francisco elected to take a cautious approach.

Once Pearsall is officially designated for return, he will have three weeks before the 49ers will be forced to activate him to avoid the absence spanning the remainder of the campaign. Given how close the Florida product was to returning last week, he should be positioned to make his regular season debut in relatively short order. Pearsall will provide the team with another intriguing option at the skill positions.

Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel remained in place after an offseason filled with speculation about their respective futures. The former drew major trade attention, with a Steelers deal being worked out on the 49ers’ part; Aiyuk did, however, ultimately sign a four-year, $120MM extension. Samuel is under contract for 2025, but his pact does not contain any guaranteed salary for that year. As a result, the 28-year-old could be a trade candidate this spring as the 49ers prepare for a Brock Purdy extension.

Having Pearsall live up to expectations could of course soften the blow of moving on from Samuel. In his final collegiate season, Pearsall set career highs in catches (65) and yards (965), and he could operate a depth role behind Aiyuk, Samuel and Jauan Jennings once he is activated. With Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Trent Williams on the books beyond this year – not to mention Purdy being due for a big-ticket extension – having an offensive contributor attached to a rookie deal for several seasons will be key from a financial standpoint.

The 49ers have seven activations remaining for the campaign, and one will be needed once Pearsall is ready to return to action. The team will also need to save activations for the likes of McCaffrey, Jon Feliciano, Ambry Thomas, Yetur Gross-Matos and Talanoa Hufanga as the season progresses. Regardless of how things play out on those injury fronts, Pearsall should be able to suit up in the near future.

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