NFL Notes: 49ers, Browns, Packers

49ers

• 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan denied that the recent trade rumors (NFLTR) that they’ve discussed potential deals involving RB Carlos Hyde, calling the talk: “Absolutely 100 percent false.” (Matt Barrows)

Browns

Browns HC Hue Jackson told reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Texans that he never texted QB Deshaun Watson to “be ready” on draft day.

“Oh my God, I don’t know anything about that,’‘ Jackson said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I wouldn’t have done that.‘

“I know I did not send that text on draft day,” Jackson said. “You said on draft day, so no. I knew who we were taking with the first pick and we took the guy that we wanted (Myles Garrett), so I don’t remember making that text.‘

“Again, I don’t remember making a text to him on draft day, other than later on telling him congratulations of him being drafted to where he went to Houston,” Jackson said. “I don’t remember telling him to be ready for us to draft him or anything like that.  I wouldn’t have done that.”

During Sunday’s broadcast, Andrew Catalon of CBS said that Watson told the TV production team on Friday that Jackson had texted him on draft day with that message and Watson confirmed as much to reporters after Sunday’s game.

“Correct,” Watson said. “Me and Hue during the draft process communicated, they were a team that was big on me, brought me in, worked me out, met with me, phone calls throughout the weeks and building a relationship, building a friendship.

“I didn’t know where I was going to go, but at the end of the day, God put me here with Houston and Hue texted me that morning and just said, ‘Be ready, anything can happen.’ They took the picks they wanted to take and I belong with this situation and this organization, but the relationship and friendship will always continue.”

Packers

Packers HC Mike McCarthy told reporters that they’re focused on moving forward with Brett Hundley as their starting quarterback now that Aaron Rodgers could be done for the season with a broken collarbone.

“Brett Hundley’s my quarterback. Joe Callahan’s the backup,” McCarthy said, via ESPN.com. “That’s the direction we’re going. That is the focus. And that’s where we are as a football club.”

Randall Cobb, however, called the loss of Rodgers “devasting” for the team.

“It’s devastating, no question about it,” Cobb said. “First and foremost, it’s one of my closest friends, so to see him go down with that, it’s tough. But we’ve still got to play football. We’ve got a long season ahead of us, and we’ve got to figure out what we’re going to do.”