APThe 49ers tried to address their outside linebacking depth in the draft by selecting Darius Fleming and Cam Johnson in the draft.
That plan didn’t work out quite as well as hoped. Fleming is on the PUP list with a knee injury and Johnson is on the practice squad, leaving the team in similar straits as they were in last season when they had just three players at the position. According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, the team will address that issue by signing veteran Clark Haggans on Sunday.
The 49ers have Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks as starters at the position with Parys Haralson as the lone backup. Haralson missed Saturday’s practice with an undisclosed injury and his status for the opener is unknown at this point.
Per Barrows, he will be a 49er if he passes a physical. Haggans started all 16 games for the Cardinals last season, his fourth in Arizona, but got released on Friday as the team decided to go with O’Brien Schofield at the position this season. This will be the 13th NFL season for Haggans, who spent the first eight years of his career with the Steelers.
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Not a bad pickup for a 4th linebacker. I was a little concerned about testing the odds again with only three.
Seems like a good addition.
Welcome to the 49ers . . . but you can’t wear #53 anymore.
Seemed like a good guy when with the Cards. For once, they got rid of a player past his prime instead of picking one up.
Clark’s a hell of a nice guy and I’m glad he’s still in the NFL…..good luck with the Niners sir!!!
Get this man in the 49er O meetings to kick some inside knowledge!!
Lol for what? Its the cards
Johnson and Flemming were late round picks, so it’s somewhat inaccurate to say Niners were trying to address the position with those drafts and it didn’t work. Jury’s still out on those two and if they really were trying to address the position they would have picked an OLB higher in the draft.
All that said, Haggans is a serviceable guy. Blue collar LB.