There was some San Francisco 49ers news prior to a crucial game against the Seahawks in Week 14, as the team maneuvered around the back end of its roster in an attempt to solidify its depth. Wide receiver Chris Conley, who was on the practice squad but had already been promoted to the league-max three times, was one player it moved on. Ray-Ray McCloud was placed on injured reserve, and Conley was added to the 53-man roster by the 49ers.
The 49ers also elevated veteran safety Erik Harris and running back Jeremy McNichols to practice squad status.
It will be painful to lose McCloud, the team’s best punt returner and kicker, especially since he will be sidelined for the duration of the regular season. In Week 13 against the Eagles, 49ers rookie Ronnie Bell returned punts and standout receiver Deebo Samuel returned kicks.
Coach Kyle Shanahan responded to the 49ers’ announcement of McCloud’s injury by saying, “He came out.” Although he didn’t feel well, I believe he was limited on Wednesday. We must thus exercise caution around him. had multiple rib injuries.
Chris Conley ‘Intelligent,’ ‘Hard Worker’
The 49ers’ minor flurry of news on Saturday may have been most interesting in regards to Chris Conley’s elevation. He is a gifted wide receiver whose 2017 Achilles tendon injury derailed his career. Despite being on the 49ers practice squad the entire season, he has not yet tallied any stats. In his three games, he has participated in nine special teams snaps and 19 offensive snaps.
Former Chiefs third-round selection Conley was still improving in 2018, and Kansas City coach Andy Reid spoke highly of him at the time, describing him as “very intelligent, a very hard worker, and you pull for that kind of a guy.”Reid had good reason to be excited, as Conley had also broken the 45-inch record for vertical leap at the NFL Draft Combine. However, despite Conley’s five touchdown receptions in 2018, the Chiefs let him go.
He signed on with Jacksonville in 2019 and caught 47 passes for 775 yards, also with five touchdowns. But that would prove to be the height of his career, and he has bounced through stints with Houston, back to Kansas City and on to the Titans since then.
RB Hierarchy Revealed in 49ers News
In addition to the news about Chris Conley joining the 49ers, the signing of McNichols is noteworthy because the team moved on Tyrion Davis-Price, a former third-round pick, this week, letting him go to make room for Logan Ryan and then re-signing Davis-Price to the practice squad.
However, because backup running back Elijah Mitchell is still questionable due to a knee injury, the 49ers decided to start McNichols over Davis-Price from the practice squad.
That shows how far out of favor Davis-Price has fallen in the 49ers eyes. He was the 93rd pick less than 20 months ago, and now he has been released, cleared waivers and is remaining on the practice squad in favor of McNichols, a veteran journeyman who has not appeared in a game since 2021.
Price-Davis has played in just one game this season and has accumulated 40 carries for 120 yards over the course of his two-year career.
Veteran sports writer Sean Deveney works for Heavy.com, covering the NBA and NFL. With over 20 years of NBA coverage experience, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for Sporting News, he has been writing for Heavy since 2019. A writer of seven nonfiction books, Deveney is the author of “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.”Additional details regarding Sean Deveney
