The San Francisco 49ers announced today that they have placed DE Arik Armstead on Injured Reserve, ending his season, and claimed DT Chris Jones off of waivers to fill his roster spot.
Armstead, last year's top draft selection by the 49ers, has been dealing with a shoulder injury since training camp. When asked today if his season might be over, Armstead said, "Yes, I've got to take my health into consideration."
"Of course, it's frustrating not being to play to the best of your ability," Armstead said via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "But it is what it is. It's part of football." Armstead has stated that the injury will require surgery and will not heal on its own.
With Armstead to IR, the #49ers defense seems less likely to make a dramatic turn-around anytime soon. Smart move, though. #49wz
— Aaron Erickson (@EricksonAaron44) November 8, 2016
Armstead was joined his season by his former Oregon teammate and close friend, DeForest Buckner. Buckner was the seventh overall selection made by the 49ers in this year's draft.
Dealing with the injury, Armstead has played poorly this season, especially against the run. Advanced statistics site Pro Football Focus ranks him as the 85th best interior defender in the NFL. While he is tied for the 20th best pass rusher spot, he is 110th out of 114 against the run this season.
Armstead appeared in all eight games this season, starting four. He ended with 21 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Armstead is the second 49ers player to head to Injured Reserve today. Earlier, defensive coordinator said that CB Will Redmond, a third-round selection this year, would not be activated to the 53-man roster and would be returning to Injured Reserve at 1 p.m.
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Jones was a sixth-round draft selection by the Houston Texans in the 2013 NFL Draft. He has also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins. In three seasons with New England (2013-15), he appeared in 28 games and started 23, where he registered 79 tackles and nine sacks. He was released by New England in April and spent this season with Miami where he had seven tackles in seven games. The Dolphins waived Jones on Monday.