Report: San Francisco 49ers signing Breeland Speaks
The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly signed former Ole Miss defensive lineman Breeland Speaks, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson.
The 2018 second-round draft pick for the Kansas City Chiefs worked out for the 49ers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos before ultimately signing with San Francisco.
Speaks initially signed a four-year rookie contract with the Chiefs for $6 million. In his rookie season, he posted 24 tackles with 1.5 sacks in 16 games played. However, as a second-year player, he received a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on PEDs, then the Chiefs released him after the season.
Following his release, Speaks found spots on practice squads, including with the Cowboys, Raiders and Bills. This year, he played in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers. He led the league in sacks with nine.
During his time at Ole Miss, Speaks earned a second-team All-SEC selection after notching seven sacks and eight tackles for loss as a senior. He finished second on the team in tackles in 2017 with 67.
At 27 years old, the former second-rounder still has juice left in the tank, which the 49ers are hoping to take advantage of heading into the 2023 season. San Francisco opens up preseason play on Sunday with a matchup versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
49ers’ Ray-Ray McCloud suffers broken wrist
Tough news from the San Francisco 49ers’ camp as news broke Thursday morning out west that Niners’ kick returner and wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud sustained an injury that will keep him out for some time.
NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco had the report, which he tweeted out:
“Return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud will be out eight weeks due to a broken left wrist. He’ll undergo surgery, and that leaves the return job to start the season wide open.”
McCloud’s loss as a receiver hurts a little bit for depth purposes, but the loss of him as a punt and kick-off fielder is large, since the former Clemson receiver has made a name for himself as a return man during his time in the NFL, especially at his previous stop in Pittsburgh.
The Tampa native signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers ahead of last season, and he is entering his sixth year in the National Football League after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.
On3’s Alex Weber contributed to this report.