49ers sign former Lions WR, release third-year RB
Second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall surprisingly started camp on the PUP with a hamstring injury that he's been dealing with since minicamp. Then, on Wednesday, 2024 fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing suffered a hamstring injury of his own just before their first training camp session of the year.
Pearsall and Cowing join Brandon Aiyuk, who's recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season, as injured wideouts on San Francisco's roster.
To give quarterback Brock Purdy another weapon to target in practice, the 49ers signed wide receiver Quintez Cephus on Thursday.
Cephus, 27, played collegiately at Wisconsin from 2016-19 before the Detroit Lions took him in the fifth round (No. 166 overall) of the 2020 NFL draft. He spent three seasons in Detroit, catching 37 passes for 568 yards and four touchdowns in 22 games. Since then, he's had short stints with the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams, but he hasn't played in a game since 2022.
To make room for Cephus on the roster, San Francisco released running back Israel Abanikanda. The 22-year-old running back played at Pittsburgh from 2020-22, where he earned All-ACC and All-American honors in his final season.
The New York Jets took Abanikanda in the fifth round (No. 143 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft, and he rushed for 70 yards on 3.2 yards per attempt and caught seven passes for an additional 43 yards in six games as a rookie. The 49ers claimed him off waivers in December after the Jets released him, but he never appeared in a game for them.
San Francisco's running back room now includes Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor Jr., 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James and undrafted rookie Corey Kiner.
More 49ers: 49ers predicted to trade No. 1 WR during training camp
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
Shaun Alexander: Sam Darnold a good risk for Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have undergone plenty of high-profile changes since the calendar turned to 2024. Mike Macdonald was hired as the franchise's ninth head coach last January. This year, Seattle traded Geno Smith, signed Sam Darnold to a contract worth over $100 million, traded DK Metcalf and signed Cooper Kupp to play in his native state. Will the changes result in tangible improvement? The Seahawks haven't clinched a playoff berth since 2022 and haven't won a postseason game since the 2019 season, but former Seahawks great Shaun Alexander believes the team is on the cusp of something special. 'Coach McDonald, his style, his personality, I think the way he's doing it is going to be very beneficial for us. The Seahawk family is in a good place to go on a great run,' Alexander said to USA TODAY Sports on behalf of USAA's Salute to Service Bootcamp. 'Last year, we were the only team with 10 wins and not make the playoffs.' The Seahawks were a part of the quarterback carousel this offseason when they sent Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and signed Darnold during free agency. Darnold is coming off an impressive 2024 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings in which he recorded career-highs in most major quarterback statistical categories. He became the first QB in NFL history to record 14 wins in his first season with a team and his performance earned him his first ever Pro Bowl nod. But Darnold's been a journeyman quarterback for a majority of his career. Seattle's his fifth team in eight seasons. The big question is whether Darnold's lone Pro Bowl year in Minnesota was an anomaly or a sign of things to come? Seattle signed the 28-year-old quarterback to a three-year contract. However, the structure of the deal enables the Seahawks to cut Darnold after just one season and the club drafted an insurance plan in the third-round of the 2025 draft in Alabama product Jalen Milroe. 'I'm one of those people like, is the risk? Yes, but is it a good risk? Yes. One hand, I love Geno I thought he was very good for our team… Here we are with Sam, I think he's gonna be a good quarterback,' Alexander explained. 'Sam is a fine NFL quarterback that if put in the right situation, he can look really good.' Alexander is the Seahawks' all-time leading rusher. Suitably, he thinks Darnold is in a good offensive situation because of the current Seattle running back, Kenneth Walker, who could be motivated because he's on an expiring contract. Exclusive: Patrick Mahomes talks painful Super Bowl loss (and new haircut) 'I've always thought he was a steal. I always thought he was a jewel of a running back. I think a healthy him gives us a shot in every game. He could look like he just passively is going to put up 100 yards and score a touchdown,' Alexander said. 'He's gonna be in a good place to have a great year this year.' Is Darnold going to be the franchise QB the Seahawks are paying him to be? It's one of the more fascinating questions entering the season. Although, akin to all quarterbacks, the answer is largely dependent upon his surrounding parts. Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
Fox Sports
a few seconds ago
- Fox Sports
The World Is Dan Hurley's Playground: UConn Strikes Gold with Furphy and Reibe
College Basketball The World Is Dan Hurley's Playground: UConn Strikes Gold with Furphy and Reibe Updated Aug. 5, 2025 2:35 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link STORRS, Conn. — Even for a state like Connecticut, where college basketball is a year-round passion, there was nothing particularly special about the morning of June 28, another nondescript Saturday amid a searing summer in this part of the country, with far too many weekends remaining before UConn returns to the court. But things began to change shortly after 11 a.m. local time in response to what was happening across the ocean and several time zones away, as Australia battled the United States in the group phase at this year's FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, an event held in Lausanne, Switzerland. There in Vaudoise Arena, the American roster included bonafide stars like BYU signee AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle; Louisville signee Mikel Brown Jr., the No. 8 overall prospect; and Arizona signee Koa Peat, the No. 9 overall prospect. All of them future first-round talents. And yet the player who outscored them all — the one whose highlights quickly began circulating the internet to enliven Huskies fans several thousand miles away — was a far less recognizable combo guard for the Australians named Jacob Furphy, a product of the NBA Global Academy. Though his team wound up losing by double digits, Furphy poured in a game-high 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting to set social media ablaze, at least within the college basketball sphere. His mixture of spot-up shooting, crafty pick-and-roll maneuvers and a unique ability to finish around the rim had UConn supporters salivating at a time when the program's recruiting class also included five-star shooting guard Braylon Mullins (No. 15 overall) and blue-chip center Eric Reibe (No. 28 overall), who shined for runner-up Germany in the same event. ADVERTISEMENT "You're looking out there on the floor and there's lottery picks up and down the lineup for the Americans and [Furphy] is playing great. He's hanging with all those guys," UConn assistant coach Luke Murray told me last week. "It was just fun to see him play against the best guys. We already had an incredibly high expectation for him, and so we were excited to get to work." With two future Huskies competing in Switzerland, where the United States eventually prevailed, Murray and head coach Dan Hurley hopped across the pond in support of their signees. They watched giddily as the tournament developed into an international emergence for Furphy, who averaged 16.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in seven games, and yet another confirmation for the long-admired big man Reibe, who put up 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while playing a central role for the Germans. Reibe and Furphy even played against each other in the quarterfinals — "I liked talking a bit of s--- to him," Furphy told me — as online chatter about the legitimacy of UConn's forthcoming push for a third national title in four seasons intensified. The identification and procurement of a player like Furphy, who committed to the Huskies last October, is in keeping with the philosophical revolution Hurley underwent following his team's dispiriting loss to 12th-seeded New Mexico State in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Slowly but surely, and with more than a few nudges from Murray, who is regarded as one of the keenest offensive minds in college basketball, Hurley availed himself to the possibility that junkyard defense and unflinching toughness weren't the only traits needed to win at the highest levels. He followed Murray down the rabbit hole of complex offensive actions, high-powered analytics and the pursuit of players with more holistic understandings of the game, the kind who can make complex reads in real time by enacting a set of well-drilled principles. "My mental health is much better embracing offense," Hurley told me back in 2024, two months before winning his second consecutive national title with a team that finished No. 1 in the country for offensive efficiency. Many of the specific player attributes and schematic ideas that UConn came to embrace are staples of the international game, where freedom of movement and off-ball screening begets beautiful team basketball over some of the one-on-one, isolation-heavy trends in the NBA. That meant it was only a matter of time before the Huskies, who are entering Year 8 under Hurley, began eyeing recruits familiar with those types of systems when identifying potential targets. Reibe, who chose UConn over Kansas, Creighton, Indiana and Oregon, was born in Germany and spent a chunk of his childhood in Switzerland before eventually completing his high school career at the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. He possesses exceptional ball skills for a 7-footer and can operate comfortably from either the low post, where his soft touch should be an asset for the Huskies, or the perimeter, where his jumper extends beyond the 3-point line and his sharp passing can feed cutters. With several years of national team experience under his belt, Reibe, who flitted back and forth between a four- and five-star ranking, now comes to Storrs as the primary backup for starting center Tarris Reed Jr., the former Michigan transfer. "Coach Murray watches a lot of EuroLeague and tries to implement some stuff from there and then combine it with the stuff from [the United States]," Reibe said. "They kind of mix it together, and I see a lot of similarities." McDonald's High School All-American Eric Reibe (22) poses during a photo shoot. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Furphy, meanwhile, was born in Tasmania, an island off the southeast coast of Australia, and traveled back and forth to the mainland several times each year as his basketball career progressed. He eventually relocated to the capital city of Canberra, which is smack in the middle of Melbourne and Sydney, to join Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence and the NBA Global Academy, a program that has produced players like Andrew Bogut, Joe Ingles, Patty Mills and Josh Giddey. As with Reibe, the versatile Furphy has been part of his country's international pipeline for several years and even made his debut with Australia's senior team in the 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers. He, too, recognized the offensive overlap between the kind of basketball he's been taught and the core tenets Murray described to him during recruiting conversations. "That was one thing I talked to my agent about as soon as I found out that UConn was interested," Furphy said. "It's a style that I like playing and I've played pretty much growing up my whole life. That was one of the main attractions for sure." Jacob Furphy of Australia drives to the basket during the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. (Photo by Vianney Thibaut/FIBA via Getty Images) This summer, Australia's U19 national team ran much of their offense through Furphy at the FIBA tournament by asking him to come off screens or come through actions and then make the right decisions with the ball in his hands, even if he wasn't technically the team's point guard. Murray was impressed with Furphy's comfort level in a high-usage role and lauded his understanding of how to change speeds as a cutter. Hurley came away from the trip to Switzerland pleased with how Furphy carried himself on the court: He was the first player in and out of every huddle; he was constantly communicating with teammates and coaches; he ran everywhere he went — always a point of emphasis with Hurley. Now, Furphy will be part of a deep guard rotation that includes returner Solo Ball and newcomers Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia transfer), Malachi Smith (Dayton) and Mullins. He projects as a shooting guard or undersized small forward who is capable of sliding over to point guard when necessary. And while his playing time as a true freshman will likely be less than what Furphy was used to with Australia, he's skilled enough to contribute immediately in a reserve role. "We just love his versatility," Murray told me. "He's a screener, he's a cutter, he's an initiator of offense, he's a really good pick-and-roll player. Historically, we haven't been a team that plays a ton out of pick and roll, but he's going to be a guy that we're going to give more freedom to play that way. "He's going to have to continue to get better defensively and get more accustomed to dealing with size and athleticism when he's making his reads as a passer — just getting more accustomed to how that length presents itself on the court, presents itself at the rim when he goes to be a scorer — but yeah, we're super excited about him." That Furphy spent his entire childhood on the other side of the world means the Huskies didn't become aware of him until receiving a tip from a journalist who specializes in covering the NBA Draft. The recommendation sent Murray down another rabbit hole of studying Furphy on tape from his time with both the national team and the NBA Global Academy. Murray liked him enough to ask fellow assistant Tom Moore to visit Atlanta when one of Furphy's teams was competing in the United States last summer. Moore loved what he saw, just as Murray hoped he would, and the Huskies' recruitment of Furphy accelerated once the staff returned to campus and Hurley caught up on the latest film. They convinced Furphy to sign with UConn over Illinois, another program mining international talent at a high level, and have been thrilled with the decision ever since — even if he was ranked outside the top 130 players in the country in the final 247Sports rankings. But fast-forward to this summer and the FIBA tournament became Furphy's formal introduction to the American basketball world. It marked the first time that Hurley watched his incoming freshman play in person, and what a string of performances he and Murray saw. "He doesn't necessarily have the best body, he doesn't have unbelievable length or tremendous athleticism or great speed," Murray said of Furphy. "But that's part of the reason people didn't think [former UConn star] Cam Spencer was that good in high school, you know, or didn't think he was that good at Loyola [before entering the transfer portal]. "So again, I think a lot of it is about fitting stylistically. He may not be a perfect fit for everybody, but he's a perfect fit for us." Michael Cohen covers college football and college basketball for FOX Sports. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Basketball share
New York Post
a few seconds ago
- New York Post
Shannon Sharpe quips pockets are lighter after settling bombshell rape lawsuit before ESPN firing
The fallout from Shannon Sharpe's turbulent year has apparently hit his wallet. During Sunday's installment of the 'Nightcap' podcast, the NFL Hall of Famer — who was fired by ESPN on Wednesday, weeks after settling a bombshell $50 million lawsuit that accused him of rape — pressed co-host Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson to pay him $5,900, including late fees, while comparing him to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. 'I'll pay you when I get ready,' Sharpe said, mimicking Jones, who is currently engrossed in an ugly contract standoff with All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons. 'Like you do me. Like you owe me [$]5,900. You basically told me, 'I'mma pay you when I get ready.' Advertisement Johnson hit back with, 'Oh no, I ain't say that.' 4 Shannon Sharpe tells Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson that he has lighter pockets after settling a $50 million lawsuit in which a Jane Doe accused him of rape last month. YouTube/Nightcap 'Your actions did,' Sharpe said. 'We're coming up on a year. There's a penalty for being late.' Johnson, who wasn't happy about being compared to Jones, vowed to repay Sharpe. Advertisement 'I'm gonna take care of you, baby. I'm not Jerry, I don't like that comparison. Don't do me like that… I got you,' the former wide receiver said. 4 Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson couldn't contain his laugher when Shannon Sharpe said he has lighter pockets. YouTube/Nightcap 'See, you got it, but I need to get it,' Sharpe replied before looking down at his pockets. 'You know, pockets light right now, Ocho. Pockets light.' Advertisement That's when Johnson got up from his chair because he was laughing so hard. 'That's why I love you,' he said to Sharpe. 'That's what I need. C'mon back home to me. That's what I need. Thank you. That's the Shannon I need … We gon' be alright.' Sharpe did not specifically mention the settlement with his sexual assault accuser. 4 Former NFL player Sterling Sharpe, right, and his brother Shannon Sharpe pose with his bust during an induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Canton, Ohio. AP Advertisement The three-time Super Bowl champ, 57, overshadowed older brother Sterling Sharpe's Hall of Fame induction in Canton this past weekend, as his ESPN firing dominated headlines less than two weeks after the settlement. During a Wednesday appearance on 'First Take' — the same day news of Sharpe's firing broke — Johnson, 47, said he'll be in the studio for the 2025 NFL season. Sharpe had been off the air for ESPN since April. 4 Shannon Sharpe attends ESPN First Take at Clark Atlanta University on November 8, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images Sharpe denied all allegations of coercion or misconduct in a statement through his counsel to The Post. In her complaint, the plaintiff — who is more than 30 years younger than him — alleges Sharpe brutally sexually assaulted her several times at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. Sharpe was sued a day before Front Office Sports reported that he was poised to sign a deal for his 'Club Shay Shay' podcast that would exceed $100 million after his contract with Colin Cowherd's The Volume podcast network expired. He began appearing on 'First Take' in the fall of 2023 following his FS1 exit.
