49ers
One positive unintended side effect of 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo‘s injury last season was the emergence of backup quarterbacks Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard. San Francisco received some trade offers for one of their backups but said no one met their asking price and they were content to carry three into the regular season.
“In the last week there was a lot of interest, a lot of conversations,” Lynch said via Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. “That position, to us, is one that you set a price and you stay firm on it. And so while we had discussions, we never deviated from what that price was for us, and nobody ever met it.”
“We believe [quarterback] is a great position to be in a position of strength,” Lynch added. “And we feel from our starter to Jimmy on down to the other two, that it is a great position of strength, not that we weren’t open to [a trade]. But a certain price had to be met, but it wasn’t.”
- Mullens was named the No. 2 quarterback ahead of Beathard, per ESPN’s Nick Waggoner.
- 49ers first-round DE Nick Bosa feels good about playing on Sunday against the Buccaneers, saying that’s been his goal since he first sprained his ankle this preseason: “There’s an ice bucket over there with my name on it.” (Matt Barrows)
Panthers
Panthers fifth-round RB Jordan Scarlett performed well enough in the preseason to earn the main backup running back spot behind Christian McCaffrey. While McCaffrey played more than 90 percent of the snaps in 2018, the team has expressed a desire to give him a little more of a breather this year. In order to do that, Scarlett is focused on becoming more of an all-around threat as a back.
“When you watched the film … all of the drop issues his hand placement was off,” Panthers RB coach Jake Peetz said via ESPN’s David Newton. “It’s the fundamentals we can train that will allow you to do it. It’s not to say you’re going to catch every ball doing that. At some point it’s a little bit of confidence. He’s put in the work. He’s still out here doing that.”
- Panthers second-round OT Greg Little remains in the concussion protocol. (Newton)
- The Panthers expect recently-claimed former Bills, WR Ray-Ray McCloud, to make an immediate impact as a returner. (Max Henson)
- Carolina released WR Torrey Smith because they needed more ability on special teams from their backup wide receivers.
- Both Scarlett and RB Reggie Bonafon will split the backup running back duties.
- Panthers S Eric Reid won’t appeal his fine for a late hit during the preseason, saying it was clearly late when he rewatched the play. (Joseph Person)
- Panthers GM Marty Hurney says the team always planned to keep three quarterbacks and that third-round QB Will Grier just needs some time to adjust to the NFL. (Person)
- Recently-claimed former Packers DB Natrell Jamerson will be a cornerback first, safety second, per Hurney. (Person)
- Hurney says Panthers CB Javien Elliott won the competition to be the team’s starting nickel cornerback: “He’s got the quickness; he’s got the instincts. There’s a knack whether it’s slot receiver, whether it’s nickel corner, there’s a knack to playing inside, and he’s got that. Since he came in here, he’s shown that ability. He’s shown that physical skillset, the quickness, and he’s had that feel inside.” (Henson)
Seahawks
- According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Seahawks and Texans first discussed a trade for DE Jadeveon Clowney before the draft. However, Seahawks GM John Schneider said the price was a little high and they were jammed up logistically with extensions for Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner.
- Schneider said the more work they did on Clowney, the more they believed he’d be a strong fit and could potentially be a building block going forward: “You never feel like you have enough pass rushers. And that’s not necessarily a reflection of the people you have here. It’s just, we’re constantly looking at all positions, but especially how you improve your pass rush, for sure.”
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