The San Francisco 49ers apparently plan to sign former Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders receiver J.J. Nelson in addition to previous Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys receiver/kick returner Tavon Austin, pending physicals.
ESPNs Adam Schefter reported that second-year receiver Deebo Samuel is “likely to miss the start of the season” after suffering a damaged left foot during casual workouts with teammates in June. General manager John Lynch had actually formerly specified, “Its reasonable to state that he might miss some video games early in the year.”
Austin has 2,000 career getting yards and Nelson has 1,475, with the previous coming off a more efficient 2019 season. In 2015, Austin taped 171 getting yards and one goal in 12 video games with the Cowboys, who utilized him mostly as a returner. Nelson had four receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown in 2 games with the Raiders, before being released in October.
Austin and Nelson have something in common: theyre both incredibly fast. The 30-year-old Austin, a former first-round choice of the Rams, ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, and at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, the 28-year-old Nelson nearly broke the 40-yard dash record then held by Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. (Nelson ran a 4.28; Johnson ran a 4.24, considering that eclipsed by John Rosss 4.22 at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.).
Eric Ting is an SFGATE reporter. Email: [email protected]|Twitter:@_ericting.
Nelson also has experience returning punts and kicks during his time with the Cardinals. The 49ers primary 2019 kick returner, Richie James, is currently on the active/non-football injury list with a damaged wrist sustained in June.
