WR Sanu ‘agrees’ to 1-yr deal with 49ers
SANTA CLARA, California, Sept 16, (AP): The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a one-year contract with free agent receiver Mohamed Sanu.
Sanu’s agent Mike McCartney said Tuesday that the sides reached the agreement to reunite Sanu with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan was offensive coordinator in 2016 in Atlanta with Sanu and said Monday the team was interested in adding him.
The Niners are banged up at receiver after placing Deebo Samuel on injured reserve last week with a broken foot. Rookie Brandon Aiyuk is working his way back from a hamstring injury and Richie James Jr hurt his hamstring in a season-opening loss to Arizona.
All-Pro tight end George Kittle also sprained his knee against the Cardinals and his status for this week remains up in the air.
The 49ers got only four catches all game from wide receivers in the opener with Kendrick Bourne catching two passes for 34 yards and slot receiver Trent Taylor catching two for 7 yards.
Dante Pettis was the only other healthy receiver but was targeted only once on 30 pass patterns. In the past nine games Pettis has been active, he has no catches on four targets.
❑ ❑ ❑ The Detroit Lions’ bangedup secondary will be without cornerback Justin Coleman against the Green Bay Packers.
Detroit put Coleman on injured reserve on Tuesday, two days after injuring his hamstring during a loss to Chicago. The Lions also signed defensive end Kareem Martin to the practice squad and released defensive end Jonathan Wynn from the practice squad.
The Lions hope rookie cornerback Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 pick overall, will make his NFL debut at Green Bay on Sunday after he missed the opener with a hamstring injury.
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Drue Tranquill was placed on injured reserve by the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday.
The second-year linebacker broke his left ankle during the first quarter of last Sunday’s 16-13 victory at Cincinnati.
Asmar Bidal was promoted from the practice squad to fill Tranquill’s roster spot.
Coach Anthony Lynn said on Monday that he expected Tranquill to miss significant time, but did not say it was a season-ending injury.
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The San Francisco 49ers are seeking to identify the fan who sent racist messages to Arizona safety Budda Baker and say they will ban the person from future games and events.
Baker tweeted a screenshot of the derogatory messages on Monday that came after his hit Sunday injured All-Pro tight end George Kittle. Kittle sprained his knee after a legal hit by Baker on a high pass in the first half. No penalty was called on the play and the Niners didn’t complain.
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A person with direct knowledge of the decision says the New York Jets will place running back Le’Veon Bell on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Bell was hurt in the second quarter of the Jets’ seasonopening 27-17 loss at Buffalo on Sunday.
❑ ❑ ❑ The Bengals claimed former Browns kicker Austin Seibert off waivers but expect Randy Bullock to be ready to play in Cleveland on Thursday night.
Bullock missed a 31-yard field goal with 2 seconds left Sunday when his left calf cramped, leaving the Bengals with a 16-13 loss to the Chargers. Bullock fully practiced Tuesday and coach Zac Taylor said he would be the kicker heading into their intrastate rivalry game.