The San Francisco 49ers have signed 23-year-old cornerback Jalen "Teez" Tabor to the practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Tabor was one of several cornerbacks to work out for the team on Monday.
San Francisco lost Ahkello Witherspoon to a foot sprain during a Week 3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The starting cornerback is expected to miss at least a month.
To make room for Tabor, the 49ers have released offensive lineman Ryan Pope from the practice squad, which was first reported by Howard Balzer.
The #49ers have signed former #Lions second-round CB Teez Tabor to their practice squad, source said. A high-upside signing for SF. ... FA LB BJ Bello has been added to the #Packers practice squad, too.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2019
49ers released T Ryan Pope from practice squad.
— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) September 30, 2019
The Detroit Lions made Tabor a second-round selection out of Florida in 2017. He has appeared in 22 games with five starts in his two NFL seasons and accumulated 42 combined tackles during that timespan.
The Lions released Tabor on August 30 as part of their roster cutdowns.
Leading to the 2017 draft, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein pointed out the following strengths in his analysis of Tabor:
"Prototypical size and athleticism. Plays with bouncy feet in coverage. Good initial patience and foot quickness to mirror receiver's release from press. Has the quick twitch to accelerate and pattern match receivers throughout their routes. Has recovery speed to bird-dog crossers. From zone, can split high/low routes and is quick enough to challenge the catch on either. Has agility and change of direction to come off of one route and pick up the next. Shines when the ball is in the air. Pro-ready closing burst. Has excellent hand-eye coordination. Hands and timing help turn opportunities into interceptions. Posted 28 passes defensed over the last two years. Finished career with nine interceptions at Florida. Willing to unload into receiver's ribs in order jar a ball free."
The 49ers signed Pope on September 2 as the final player on the team's initial 10-player practice squad. The Detroit Lions signed Pope as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State on May 10, 2019. He was waived on August 30.