All-Pro linebacker has change of heart, signs with Dallas Cowboys over San Francisco 49ers Due to the Recent Issues Within
The Dallas Cowboys have been inactive during NFL free agency. It has been a major talking point. The same thing can’t be said for the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.
Apparently, the Cowboys have now pulled one over on their bitter rivals.
It was reported early Wednesday morning that All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks had signed with the 49ers after his release by the Los Angeles Chargers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Kendricks has had a change of heart and now plans to sign with the Cowboys. New Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer wanted Kendricks to follow him to Big D after he coached the linebacker with the Minnesota Vikings from 2015-21. Meanwhile, Kendricks preferred to sign with the ‘Boys.
Kendricks, 32, suited up with the Chargers a season ago. He was a team captain, leading the defense with 117 combined tackles.
The former second-round pick from UCLA played his first eight seasons with the Vikings. That included earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in Minnesota back in 2019. He’ll now anchor one of the better defenses in the NFL.
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49ers Release Arik Armstead, Re-Sign Quarterback and Other Moves
The San Francisco 49ers announced that the team has released DL Arik Armstead. In addition, the team has re-signed QB Brandon Allen to a one-year deal, signed OL Colton McKivitz to a one-year extension through the 2025 season and signed S George Odum to a two-year extension through the 2026 season.
Armstead (6-7, 290) was originally drafted as the 17th overall selection by the 49ers in the 2015 NFL Draft. Throughout his nine-year career (2015-24) with San Francisco, Armstead appeared in 116 games (97 starts) and registered 302 tackles, 33.5 sacks, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also started in all 12 of his playoff appearances, registering 38 tackles, 8.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Armstead’s 8.0 sacks in the postseason are the second-most in franchise history.
In 2023, Armstead started in 12 games and registered 27 tackles and 5.0 sacks. He also started all three postseason contests, registering 11 tackles, 1.0 sack and one fumble recovery. For the fourth-consecutive season, Armstead was recognized as the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. Armstead’s work with his foundation, the Armstead Academic Project, has helped raise over $2 million to support Sacramento and Bay Area youth in need of comprehensive academic support.
A 30-year-old native of Sacramento, CA, Armstead attended the University of Oregon. In 39 games with the Ducks, he finished with 87 tackles, four sacks, 10.0 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and two passes defensed. As a junior in 2014, Armstead earned honorable mention All-Pac 12 honors as he played in 13 games and registered 46 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Allen (6-2, 209) was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round (201st overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. Throughout his eight-year NFL career with the Jaguars (2016), Los Angeles Rams (2017-18), Denver Broncos (2019), Cincinnati Bengals (2020-2022) and San Francisco 49ers (2023) he has appeared in 15 games (nine starts) and completed 149 of his 263 passing attempts for 1,611 yards and 10 touchdowns. Allen spent the entirety of the 2023 season on San Francisco’s active roster after signing with the team as a free agent.
