San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Eric Rogers, who was signed from the CFL this offseason, suffered a torn ACL during practice yesterday and will be out for the season. The information came from head coach Chip Kelly on Friday.
There were high hopes for Rogers, who at 6-foot-3 and 210 lbs, had good size for a receiver lining up on the outside. The injury is the first significant one since training camp practices started this past weekend.
He's not likely to be finding the positives in it yet, but tearing an ACL in Aug gives Eric Rogers a chance to return in 2017 #49wz
— Aaron Erickson (@EricksonAaron44) August 5, 2016
Rogers visited with the Eagles in December when Kelly was still with his former team. Kelly reportedly called Rogers within hours of learning that he would become the 49ers' new coach. He was trying to recruit him. "He basically told me, 'I guess I had to come to Cali to sign you since you're a Cali boy,'" said Rogers in January. Kelly also stated that Rogers was the first player that he wanted to sign at his new job.
Rogers spent time with the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2013 season, but failed to make the final roster. He spent time in the Arena Football League before moving on to the CFL. Last year, Rogers caught 87 passes for 1,448 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Calgary Stampeders.
Rogers had 13 offers from NFL teams before ultimately deciding to join the 49ers. Kelly stated that the team would likely bring in another receiver to replace Rogers on the team's 90-man roster.