The San Francisco 49ers are signing veteran tight end Niles Paul, according to a report from Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
#49ers are signing former #Redskins and #Jaguars TE Niles Paul, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 26, 2019
Paul, 29, spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins, the team that made him a fifth-round selection out of Nebraska in 2011. He spent 2018 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Paul hauled in 10 passes for 98 yards through six games and one start with the Jaguars last year before he was placed on injured reserve in October due to a knee injury. Jacksonville released the tight end on December 14, 2018. It was the third time in four years that Paul ended up on injured reserve.
Paul has registered 78 receptions for 954 yards with two touchdowns over his career. He spent three seasons with Kyle Shanahan when the 49ers head coach was the offensive coordinator in Washington. Paul was a vital contributor on special teams for Washington.
You might remember former 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garçon, another former Wahington player, campaigning for Paul to join San Francisco last offseason.
Paul's best statistical season came in 2014 when he appeared in 16 games with seven starts and recorded 39 receptions for 507 yards with a touchdown.
Veteran 49ers tight end Garrett Celek landed on the team's "physically unable to perform" (PUP) list following offseason back surgery and is a candidate to land on the in-season PUP list.