LISTEN: 49ers Offseason Musings With Legendary Columnist Mike Silver →

49ers officially place LB Malcolm Smith on IR, sign LB Austin Calitro

Aug 7, 2017 at 11:23 AM--


The San Francisco 49ers have officially placed linebacker Malcolm Smith on injured reserve. To take his place on the roster, the team has also announced the signing of rookie linebacker Austin Calitro, who will wear number 47, to a two-year deal.

Calitro was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Villanova by the New York Jets on May 5 and then waived 10 days later.

Calitro broke into the Wildcats' starting lineup at the end of the 2014 season and had 33 tackles with 2.5 for a loss. As a junior in 2015, he led the team with 90 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, and 4.5 sacks. He followed that up with 86 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 3.5 sacks as a senior in 2016. He was named first-team all-conference last fall.

Lance Zierlein of NFL Media had the following to say about Calitro in his scouting report:

"Possesses a compact frame and plays with a good motor and above average instincts that allow him to make up for some of his speed and athletic deficiencies. He is a likely inside linebacker, but he might offer some value as a 4-3 SAM linebacker. Calitro is a solid football player who finds his way to the football and his intelligence, work ethic and instincts give him a shot of becoming a quality NFL backup."

Villanova Athletics


On Saturday, in front of over 25,000 fans during an open practice held at Levi's Stadium, Smith was injured during team drills while chasing running back Matt Breida. It appeared that Breida's helmet impacted Smith in the chest. Smith exited the practice and the 49ers already knew that the injury to his chest was likely to be more serious than hoped. An MRI following the practice session revealed that Smith had suffered a torn pectoral muscle. The results of the MRI were first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Smith signed a five-year, $26.5 million deal in March, leaving the Oakland Raiders to join Robert Saleh's defense with the 49ers. Saleh was the defensive quality control coach in Seattle during Smith's first three seasons in the NFL. Smith was deemed a good fit for Saleh's defense and figured to be a large contributor this season.

The injury opens the door for rookie linebacker Reuben Foster, who had been competing with Smith for the starting weak-side linebacker job. Foster will now compete with Ray-Ray Armstrong for the right to replace Smith, who had been lining up next to NaVorro Bowman with the first-team defense in practices. Armstrong replaced Smith during practice following the injury on Saturday.

"That would be a big [injury] for us, just because we've been getting so many reps together, jelling together, and really talking about what the offense is trying to do to us throughout these OTAs and training camp," Bowman said on Saturday following the injury but before learning how severe it was. "That would be a loss but it's early. We have other guys that I feel like that can play at this level also."

Smith, 28, spent the previous two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, playing in 31 games, starting all but one, during that time. While in Oakland, he had 225 tackles, four sacks, nine passes defensed, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles.

Smith was a seventh-round selection out of the University of Southern California by the Seattle Seahawks in 2011. He won Super Bowl XLVIII with Seattle and was voted the MVP of the game.

Related News





Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick

By David Bonilla
Apr 16

The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech. Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team. The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man


placeholder image

49ers sign TE Eric Saubert to a one-year deal, announce RB Patrick Taylor signing

By Site Staff
Apr 8

The San Francisco 49ers have announced the signing of tight end Eric Saubert to a one-year deal. The team also officially announced the previously reported signing of running back Patrick Taylor Jr. to a one-year deal. The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundowns. Saubert (6-5, 248) was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round (174th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Throughout his seven-year NFL career with the Falcons (2017-18), Chicago Bears (2019), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020), Denver Broncos (2021-22), Dallas Cowboys (2023) and Houston Texans (2023), he has appeared in 84 games


placeholder image

49ers sign CB Rock Ya-Sin to a one-year deal

By Site Staff
Apr 11

The San Francisco 49ers announced that they have signed cornerback Rock Ya-Sin to a one-year deal. He becomes the third cornerback to join the team this offseason. The Niners previously signed free agents Isaac Yiadom and Chase Lucas to one-year deals. The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown. Ya-Sin (5-11, 195) was originally drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round (34th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. Throughout his five-year NFL career with the Colts (2019-21), Las Vegas Raiders (2022), and Baltimore Ravens (2023), he has appeared in 66 games (40 starts) and registered 193 tackles, 29 passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In 2023,


placeholder image

Saints sign Kellen Mond after 49ers tryout

By David Bonilla
Apr 12

Kellen Mond has found a new NFL home, albeit not with the San Francisco 49ers, the team he had recently expressed hope of joining. The New Orleans Saints have announced the signing of the veteran quarterback. The Saints have signed QB Kellen Mond pic.twitter.com/BGOd7pnU45— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) April 12, 2024 On Wednesday,


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone