The 49ers today will promote defensive lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie, not one of their wide receivers, from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. The roster spot will open up when the 49ers place receiver Mario Manningham (knee) on injured reserve later today.
The move is due to Justin Smith's triceps injury, which will keep him out of Sunday's finale against the Cardinals. And it may be in relation to a neck/back injury that sidelined backup defensive lineman Will Tukuafu Sunday in Seattle. Tukuafu has been limited in practice this week.
Without those two and Demarcus Dobbs, who was placed on injured reserve this month, the 49ers are down to Ray McDonald, Isaac Sopoaga, Ricky Jean Francois and Ian Williams on the defensive line.
Of course, they are short at wide receiver as well. Left standing: Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss, Ted Ginn and A.J. Jenkins, who has yet to have a regular-season pass thrown in his direction. Tight end Delanie Walker, a college wide receiver, is capable of lining up at wideout and often does so in the team's two-tight end sets. The team had considered promoting one of two practice-squad receivers, Chad Hall or Ricardo Lockette.
Jerod-Eddie, meanwhile, stood out in training camp. He went undrafted out of Texas A&M but has good size (6-5, 301) and showed good strength throughout the offseason. He lived with 2011 defensive rookie of the year Von Miller in high school and has become close with Aldon Smith, who also is friends with Miller. Look for Jerod-Eddie to provide depth on the defensive line and play on special teams.
- Matt Barrows
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