Should 49ers make a deal for Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey?
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SANTA CLARA — Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon’s foot sprain could keep him out a month, and it could launch the undefeated 49ers into the trade market.
“We always look at the trade market and will continue to but it’s got to make sense for us,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday.
What may make sense for the 49ers lineup — such as swinging a deal for disgruntled Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey — will have to be weighed against financial and other issues.
“How much does it help the team and how much does it help the organization moving forward,” Shanahan said, without naming Ramsey or anyone else as a trade candidate. “You think of the years in advance too in terms of salary cap and draft picks.”
The Jaguars reportedly were seeking two first-round draft picks last week for Ramsey. The 49ers have drafted in the top 10 the past four years, and they’d surely be slotted later next draft if they break their five-year playoff drought.
Financially, the 49ers have doled out big contracts in recent years to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, defensive end Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander and running back Jerick McKinnon. Poised for a lucrative extension are defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead and tight end George Kittle, and possibly running back Matt Breida.
Witherspoon, who’s been enjoying a bounce-back season, will seek a second opinion on his right foot. He left in the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If the 49ers stay in-house, Witherspoon’s immediate replacement would be Emmanuel Moseley rather than Jason Verrett, the latter having struggled in his 49ers debut Sunday upon relieving Witherspoon. Verrett got called for a pass-interference penalty and then gave up a touchdown catch on the next play.
“Everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s done at a high level,” Shanahan said om Moseley. “He earned his way onto the team with how hard he goes on special teams. He’s extremely detailed in everythign he does.”
JALEN HURD UPDATE
Rookie wide receiver Jalen Hurd is overcoming a “stress reaction” in his back that’s sidelined him the past month and he could return to practice Monday, Shanahan said.
LONG SNAPPER SHUFFLE
Jon Condo, 38, retired after a one-game cameo as the 49ers long snapper, having replaced Colin Holba last week. Condo, the Raiders long snapper from 2006-17, launched a couple off-target snaps Sunday after also doing so in practice.
Shanahan said the 49ers will have a new long snapper signed by Tuesday’s practice, and that it will not be Holba.
Condo tweeted his retirement rationale: “I’m thankful for the opportunity the 49ers gave me but realized after yesterday’s game that I am not 100 percent committed to playing this game and it would have been unfair to the organization to keep playing.
“… I am at a point in my life where my focus has shifted and I realize the most important thing for me is being mentally and physically healthy for my 3 young children and wife.”
— Jon Condo (@JonCondo) September 23, 2019
Kyle Nelson eventually will reclaim the long snapper role. He has three games remaining on a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The 49ers signed Nelson to a four-year extension in March.
‘AS COOL A WIN EVER’
Shanahan opened his celebratory address in inside the locker room by calling it “as cool as a win as I’ve ever been a part of.”
What made it so cool? “I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a win with five turnovers. That was impressive — that we were able to win; not the five turnovers,” Shanahan said Monday. “It takes a lot of resilience form all three phases of our guys. Four turnovers in the first half was extremely discouraging, but that it was only 6-3, we felt good coming out (of halftime).”
"How much better can we get though"
Wasn't perfect but the #49ers head into the bye week with a perfect record. #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/f8WRceg9C7
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 23, 2019
Regarding those five turnovers, Shanahan had no problem with the passes Garoppolo attempted that resulted in interceptions (off the hands of Matt Breida and Dante Pettis). With Raheem Mostert’s ball-security issues resurfacing in the form of a fumble and a dropped lateral, Shanahan noted that Mostert has built up equity to gain forgiveness, but any more turnovers will cease his backfield opportunities.
Shanahan did not say how he might alter the running back rotation once Tevin Coleman returns from a season-opening ankle injury. Coleman has been jogging and is expected to practice Monday.
CONVERSION CHART
The 49ers parlayed both of their defense’s takeaways (K’Waun Williams interception, DeForest Buckner fumble recovery) into touchdowns, continuing an impressive turnaround from last season.
So far, the 49ers have matched last season’s total of seven takeaways, and they’ve scored 32 points off them. That’s the second-most production in the NFL behind only the Vikings’ 34 points off six takeaways.
Williams’ interception set up Jeff Wilson’s first touchdown run Sunday, and Buckner’s fumble recovery (Arik Armstead forced it) led to Jimmy Garoppolo’s touchdown pass to Dante Pettis.
EARLY BYE WEEK
This is the fifth time in team history the 49ers have had their bye in Week 4 or earlier. They made the playoffs in those other four seasons: 1990, ’96, ’98 and 2002. That 1998 team was the last to start 3-0 before this year’s club matched that.
More pertinent to this season, Shanahan is calling for three extra practices before their next game, including Tuesday and next Monday and Tuesday. He did not do that last year, because the 49ers came out of their bye with a 27-9 loss at Tampa Bay, Shanahan altered the schedule this year.