Illinois wants 49ers LB coach Hardy Nickerson for defensive coordinator

The San Francisco 49ers added a new name to their crowded defensive line Friday, signing free agent Tomasi Laulile to a one year deal. Laulile (6-3, 300, Brigham Young) entered the NFL as an undrafted signing of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. He spent time on the New Orleans Saints practice squad later in the year after being waived by the Colts, then was with the Saints during spring workouts in 2019 before being waived in May. The 27-year-old totaled 47 tackles, five sacks and ten tackles for loss in four seasons at BYU. He played earlier this year with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL, a stint that included a memorable game that saw him

The 49ers weren't sure exactly what they were going to get when they signed cornerback Darqueze Dennard late last season during a period of absence among the team's defensive backs, but he was able to deliver beyond their expectations, perhaps putting him in a position for a significant role on this year's squad. The 49ers added Dennard to their practice squad on January 4 of 2022 while multiple cornerbacks were dealing with illness and injury. They later elevated him to the active roster for the team's regular season finale, a 27-24 road overtime win over the Rams that helped push the 49ers into the playoffs. Dennard played 21 defensive snaps in that game and raised some eyebrows among the team with his performance -- both during the game and in practices

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans spoke with reporters after Wednesday's training camp practice. Here is everything he had to say. Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff. After a practice like yesterday, things were getting physical there. With LB Fred Warner, is there anything you feel like you need to say to him in terms of walking that line between kind of pushing it and going over? "I think Fred has done a great job of leading this team, leading this defense so Fred understands the limits. It's training camp, it happens all the time and at all 32 training camps, I'm pretty sure scuffles and things like that happen. You want guys to be smart and understand we are teammates

Is Deebo Samuel's future role with the 49ers playing any part in the state of his contract negotiations with the team? Based on comments from head coach Kyle Shanahan, that doesn't seem to be the case. Shanahan was asked in his pre-practice press conference on Saturday if Samuel's role in 2022 needed to be spelled out in order for contract negotiations to move forward. Shanahan responded by suggesting that he and Samuel have an understanding on that front and that everything is positive between him and the standout wide receiver outside of where things stand with his contract. "Deebo and I talk a lot," Shanahan said before Saturday's practice. "We're good, and we understand our role. I know there's a lot of noise for five months and tweets and a lot of people are