NFL Player News

Stribling will have the opportunity to earn an expanded role in the 49ers' offense after Ricky Pearsall (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Pearsall was held out of training camp practices earlier this week due to a PCL injury in his right knee, which has been deemed severe enough for the third-year wideout to undergo season-ending surgery. The Niners signed veteran Deebo Samuel to a one-year contract Friday, but both Stribling and Demarcus Robinson will have an opportunity to compete for an expanded role in the offense alongside Mike Evans and Christian Kirk (calf). Stribling was a second-round selection of the 49ers in the 2026 NFL Draft following his final college season at Ole Miss, when he logged 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games.

Pearsall was placed on injured reserve Saturday and will undergo season-ending PCL surgery on his right knee, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Pearsall was held out of the early portions of training camp due to knee swelling, and the injury had reportedly caused some concern for the 49ers. After undergoing further tests, season-ending surgery has been determined as the best move for Pearsall, and the procedure comes with a 6-to-12 month recovery timetable, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. It's a significant blow for the Florida product, who has played in just 20 regular-season games since being selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Deebo Samuel was signed by the Niners on Friday due to injuries to Pearsall and Christian Kirk (calf), and Demarcus Robinson and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling are both slated for more opportunities on offense alongside WR1 Mike Evans.

Allen was carted off the field during Saturday's training camp practice due to an apparent left knee injury, Nate Taylor of ESPN.com reports.

It appeared as though Allen sustained the knee injury on a special teams punt rep, when he collided with corner Kaiir Elam. Allen initially limped off the field with the help of trainers before being carted to the medical tent, where he'll undergo further tests to evaluate the severity of the injury. Allen was a fifth-round pick of the 2026 NFL Draft and has demonstrated early rapport with quarterback Patrick Mahomes through the early stages of training camp.

Gardner-Johnson was carted off the field to the locker room during Saturday's training camp practice due to a right lower-leg injury, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.

Gardner-Johnson had to be helped into the medical tent after the injury before being taken back to the locker room, where he'll undergo further tests to evaluate the severity of the injury. The 28-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Bills in March in what was a significant upgrade to the team's secondary, so an extended absence would be a blow to Buffalo's defense. Gardner-Johnson was replaced by Geno Stone in team drills.

The Texans hosted Takitaki (undisclosed) for a tryout Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Takitaki appeared in the final three games of the regular season for the Vikings in 2025 but sustained a hamstring injury in Week 18 against the Packers. The 2019 third-rounder is in search of a team that is looking to add depth to its linebacker corps.

The Cardinals signed Martin (undisclosed) to a contract Friday, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.

Martin was one of four players who the Cardinals hosted for a tryout Friday, and the team was impressed enough to sign the Western Kentucky product. Martin has appeared in only six regular-season games since being selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He'll have the opportunity to compete for a depth spot at defensive tackle behind presumptive starters Walter Nolen and Roy Lopez.

Kane (undisclosed) reverted to the Titans' injured reserve Friday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Kane was waived/injured by the Titans on Thursday but was not claimed off waivers by another team. Now that he's on IR, the 2024 seventh-rounder will be forced to miss the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with Tennessee.

Ndubuisi (undisclosed) reverted to the Buccaneers' injured reserve Friday after clearing waivers, per the NFL's transaction log.

Now that he's on the IR, Ndubuisi will be forced to miss the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Buccaneers. He joined the NFL in April of 2022 through the International Player Pathway program and made his pro debut as a member of the Texans in Week 14 of the 2025 campaign against the Chiefs, which is his lone appearance in a regular-season game.

Cotton (hamstring) was waived/injured by the Broncos on Friday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Cotton sustained a hamstring injury during Wednesday's training camp practice. He will revert to the Broncos' injured reserve if he clears waivers, which will force him to sit for the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with Denver.

The Cardinals placed Davis (undisclosed) on injured reserve Friday.

The nature of Davis' injury has not been announced, but now that he's on IR, he'll be forced to miss the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Cardinals. He appeared in each of the Cardinals' last three games of the 2025 regular season, logging three tackles (two solo) in that span.