49ers Place TE Vance McDonald on Injured Reserve, Sign OL Josh Allen
The San Francisco 49ers lost yet another starter to injury, as tight end Vance McDonald (shoulder) now finds himself on injured reserve to finish off the 2016 season.
The 2016 San Francisco 49ers are bad, and we all know this. And while there are plenty of reasons to go around, injuries have certainly played a major role in the team’s 1-12 record through 14 weeks.
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The injury bug claimed its latest victim, tight end Vance McDonald.
McDonald suffered a shoulder injury during the Niners’ 23-17 loss to the New York Jets and was forced to leave the game in the second quarter.
San Francisco announced the team had placed him on season-ending injured reserve the next day. The Niners claimed offensive lineman Josh Allen off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’s bad news for both San Francisco and McDonald, who signed a five-year, $35 million extension earlier this month. His 391 receiving yards and four touchdowns already bested last year’s totals, and he was on pace to set a career high in catches too (24).
Allen has primarily spent time on the Buccaneers practice squad after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He’ll likely assume a depth role, considering the Niners also have injury concerns along the offensive line to left tackle Joe Staley (hamstring) and center Daniel Kilgore (leg).
At tight end, Garrett Celek figures to move up to the No. 1 spot. And second-year pro Blake Bell should wind up being the No. 2 tight end.
Je’Ron Hamm is the No. 3 tight end, and the Niners can also count on long-snapper Kyle Nelson at this position if necessary.
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