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Isaac Yiadom

49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga Returns To Practice

September 1st, 2024 at 10:10am CST by Rory Parks

49ers fans received some good news during final roster cutdowns this week, as the club elected to activate safety Talanoa Hufanga from the PUP list. The even better news is that Hufanga has returned to practice, as David Lombardi of The Athletic writes (subscription required).

Hufanga suffered a torn ACL in November, and if he had not been activated, he would have begun the season on the reserve/PUP list and would have therefore been forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. He was indeed mentioned as a candidate for the reserve/PUP list, but San Francisco saw enough progress to believe that he could be ready for game action sooner rather than later.

Lombardi cautions that Hufanga’s return to the practice field does not necessarily mean that the 2022 First Team All-Pro will see a full snap share right away. After all, he only participated in individual drills during his first two practice sessions, with the team hoping to ramp up his activities this week.

Plus, the Niners gave themselves a little protection on the back end of their defense by adding veteran Tracy Walker to the taxi squad after finalizing their 53-man roster. Walker signed with the club early last month, was released during final cuts, and was brought back to the p-squad shortly thereafter with the goal of elevating him for the Week 1 contest against the Jets (thereby suggesting that San Francisco will need an extra safety at least for that game).

Per Lombardi, Walker will not start even if Hufanga is unavailable for the season opener, with rookie fourth-rounder Malik Mustapha and veteran George Odum likely to see more reps. While Mustapha has built some momentum for himself, all of those players are presently placeholders for Hufanga, who is entering a contract year and who could set himself up for a lucrative payday if he is fully healthy and can continue performing as he did in 2022 and prior to his injury in 2023.

“He’s really worked his butt off,” defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said of Hufanga. “Hearing how he’s gone through this process, I’m not surprised just because of who he is. I think everybody involved with it — but him primarily — the way that he worked to get back to this, it’s exciting and really happy for him.”

As Lombardi notes, the 49ers also welcomed new acquisition Isaac Yiadom back to practice. Yiadom, who figures to see plenty of reps at cornerback this year, had been battling an ankle injury throughout the second half of training camp.

49ers Notes: Gipson, Purdy, Yiadom, Mond

April 10th, 2024 at 12:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Safety became an issue for the 49ers last season, with Talanoa Hufanga suffering a season-ending injury on Thanksgiving. The team brought in Logan Ryan as an emergency pickup, and the versatile veteran ended up sliding into a key slot role down the stretch. Ryan has since retired, and another safety regular to close out San Francisco’s Super Bowl season is unsigned. Although Tashaun Gipson is going into an age-34 season, John Lynch said the team has engaged in talks about re-signing the veteran. Gipson has been a full-time starter in San Francisco over the past two seasons. However, the 49ers are looking at other experienced safeties.

“The safety market took a beating,” Lynch said, via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows (subscription required). “It took years to get the guys to where they were being compensated. A bunch of them got cut, so a bunch of great players are out there. It’d be foolish of us to not take a look.”

With Hufanga on the way back, the 49ers have a host of options to consider outside of Gipson. The Broncos released four-time All-Pro Justin Simmons, while the Seahawks cut Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. Eddie Jackson and Marcus Maye are also available due to roster cuts, and Micah Hyde remains unsigned as well. This many proven options available will cut into this group’s earning potential, but it represents good news for safety-needy teams. Though, the 49ers rostering 2023 third-rounder Ji’Ayir Brown may limit their interest in spending much for a veteran.

Here is the latest out of San Francisco:

  • Had the 49ers not ended the 2022 draft by selecting Brock Purdy, he would already be extension-eligible due to UDFAs only needing to play two years before being free to sign for veteran terms. The 49ers must keep the former seventh-round pick on his rookie deal through at least the 2024 season, but the Super Bowl starter did fare well via the NFL’s proven performance escalator system. Tied to an $870K base salary in 2023, Purdy nearly doubled his money via PPE earnings ($740K), ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Purdy, 24, is tied to a $985K base salary this season; 49ers owner Jed York is already discussing the prospect of a monster extension come 2025.
  • Recent signee Isaac Yiadom is set to compete for a regular job on the outside, Lynch said. Yiadom, a former Broncos third-rounder who enjoyed a quality season with the Saints after his career struggled to take off for years, will join Ambry Thomas, Darrell Luter and Samuel Womack in competing for the primary boundary job opposite Charvarius Ward. A member of that quartet impressing would allow the 49ers to move Deommodore Lenoir inside in sub-packages. Lenoir has played both outside and inside in his career; he closed last season on the outside, as Ryan patrolled the slot.
  • Former Vikings third-round pick Kellen Mond worked out for the 49ers on Wednesday, Barrows adds. The Texas A&M product has been with three teams in three years. After a Vikings cut led Mond to a third-string role with the Browns, his failure to make Cleveland’s 53-man roster last year keyed a move to the Colts’ practice squad. Mond did not see any action in 2023, and the Colts did not keep him on a reserve/futures deal. The 49ers lost Sam Darnold to the Vikings but re-signed Brandon Allen and added recent Vikings starter Joshua Dobbs. While teams regularly bring four QBs into offseason programs, Mond would not seem to have much upward mobility if he caught on with San Francisco.
  • A recent roster violation led the NFL to strip the 49ers of a 2025 fifth-round pick. Lynch said the penalty stemmed from (via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco) the team overpaying an unspecified player by $75K during the pandemic period. Rather than contacting the NFL about this, the 49ers’ effort to recoup the money brought on the violation.

49ers Sign CB Isaac Yiadom, Re-Sign LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

March 15th, 2024 at 10:55pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers continue to secure depth on defense. After losing cornerback Isaiah Oliver to the Jets and potentially watching linebacker Oren Burks depart via free agency, San Francisco has added former Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom and re-signed reserve linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler brings us the news of Yiadom. Yiadom played a similar role in the Saints’ defense as Oliver did in the 49ers’ last year but to different results. Both graded out extremely well in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), but Yiadom graded out much better in run defense. Yiadom was also tested more in coverage and delivered by tallying up an impressive 14 passes defensed.

After a season that saw Yiadom grade out as the 10th best cornerback in the league, according to PFF, the 49ers replace one talented corner with another. Fowler tells us that Yiadom explored other options, visiting the Commanders yesterday, but ultimately, the 27-year-old chose to join one of last year’s best defenses instead of helping to rebuild one of last year’s worst.

According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, Flannigan-Fowles is set to return on a new one-year deal. Flannigan-Fowles has played much the same role in the last four years with the 49ers. Flannigan-Fowles plays mostly on special teams but tends to find his way onto the field around 13 percent of the time. With another season in San Francisco, though, the 27-year-old may be able to carve out a bit more playing time. As of right now, Burks is a free agent, not signed to return for 2024. If that holds true and the 49ers fail to make any other additions, Flannigan-Fowles could find his way into Burks’ role next season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/23/23

March 23rd, 2023 at 9:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Washington Commanders

Woods and Cole both served as special teams contributors to start their careers. The former is making his first move outside the NFC North, having previously played for the Bears and Lions. Likewise, the latter is set for his first stint with a non-AFC South squad, after beginning his career with the Texans and Titans. They each bring considerable third phase experience to their new teams.

Sweeny, 27, is making the New York-to-Buffalo trek several have made before him recently. He will reunite with Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who served as the Bills’ offensive coordinator during their time together in Buffalo. Sweeny served in a backup role during each of his three heathy seasons to start his career, making a total of 18 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. He will look to continue operating as a secondary option at the position in New York under Daboll as the Giants incorporate Pro Bowler Darren Waller into their new-look offense.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/22

December 5th, 2022 at 7:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

For Minor NFL Transactions followers, Jackson is obviously overqualified for inclusion here. He is one of the great deep threats in NFL history. But the Ravens made a procedural move involving the 35-year-old wideout. Jackson initially moved to Baltimore’s 53-man roster as a gameday elevation. He will now reside on the team’s active roster moving forward. Should the Ravens cut Jackson, he will need to pass through waivers. Jackson, who has played in three Ravens games, has five receptions for 100 yards this season.

A hamstring injury has sidelined Parham, but the Chargers are moving into position to have the 6-foot-8 tight end back in uniform. An XFL 2.0 alum, Parham has been a Justin Herbert auxiliary target during his time with the team. Parham caught six touchdown passes from 2020-21; he has yet to score this season. Despite the usual array of Bolts injuries, the team is in good shape for IR activations. The Chargers have only used two of their eight allotted activations this season.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/17/22

November 17th, 2022 at 5:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Houston Texans

  • Signed: CB BoPete Keyes
  • Released: RB Gerrid Doaks

New England Patriots

  • Signed: OL Hunter Thedford

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/15/22

November 15th, 2022 at 7:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Seattle Seahawks

Texans Set 53-Man Roster

August 30th, 2022 at 8:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans released a number of veterans today as they reduced their roster to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR:

Placed on short-term IR;

Davis Mills and Kyle Allen sit atop Houston’s QB depth chart, making Jeff Driskel expendable, but there’s a chance the veteran sticks around as a third quarterback via the practice squad. Driskel spent the 2021 campaign in Houston, getting into a single game. He’s started nine of his 16 career games, tossing 13 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions.

Chris Conley has spent seven seasons in the NFL, and he could have provided some experience to the receivers room. There’s a chance the veteran could end up back in Houston, as the Texans decided to carry only four wideouts in Nico Collins, Brandin Cooks, Phillip Dorsett, and Chris Moore.

Antony Auclair started 13 games for Houston last season, mostly serving as a blocking tight end. Terrence Brooks started three of his 11 appearances, collecting 21 tackles.

Texans Sign CB Isaac Yiadom

March 24th, 2022 at 4:12pm CST by Ben Levine

After visiting the team almost two weeks ago, Isaac Yiadom has finally inked a contract with Houston. The Texans have signed the cornerback, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).

The Boston College product was a third-round pick by the Broncos in 2018. He lasted two seasons in Denver before he was shipped to the Giants for a future seventh-round pick in 2020. He spent one season in New York before he was traded again, this time to the Packers for cornerback Josh Jackson. Ultimately, his tenure in Green Bay only lasted one season, but at least this time, Yiadom had some say in where he landed next.

During his four seasons in the NFL, Yiadom has only missed four games. He got some extended run on defense with the Broncos and Giants in 2019 and 2020, but he reverted back to a special teams role with the Packers this past season. The 26-year-old saw time in 75 percent of Green Bay’s special teams snaps vs. only nine percent of their defensive snaps in 2021.

Yiadom has seen time in 61 career games (20 starts). That includes a 2021 campaign where he collected 10 tackles in 16 games (one start).

Malcolm Butler Visiting Texans

March 11th, 2022 at 1:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

After spending all of the 2021 campaign away from football, Malcolm Butler is taking a step towards a comeback today. Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson reports that the veteran corner is visiting the Texans. 

[RELATED: Malcom Butler Released, Considering Comeback]

The 32-year-old stepped away from the Cardinals just before the start of the campaign, citing personal reasons. That seemed to mark an abrupt end to a career which includes a Pro Bowl and two Super Bowls – one of which, of course, is most remembered for the game-winning interception he was responsible for.

After four seasons with the Patriots, including three as a starter, the former UDFA joined the Titans. His third and final campaign in Nashville, 2020, was his most productive; Butler racked up 100 tackles, four interceptions and 14 pass breakups. To save cap space and get out of another two years on his contract, however, the team released him last March.

Given his age and pedigree, Butler could add at least a useful, experienced piece to a Houston secondary which ranked 23rd against the pass in 2021. On that point, Wilson further reports that the Texans are “working to retain” fellow veteran CB Desmond King. The pending free agent signed a one-year deal last offseason, and played well enough (despite shifting to the outside, as opposed to his more natural slot position) to warrant a new deal.

The Texans are also working out free agent corner Isaac Yiadom, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). The 26-year-old has spent four seasons in the NFL, most recently in Green Bay where he almost exclusively played on special teams.

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