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49ers remove DC role from Nick Sorensen

Wed Jan 8 10:15am ET
Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers have removed Nick Sorensen from his role as defensive coordinator, ESPN reported.

He just completed his first season in the position after being elevated from defensive passing game specialist and nickelbacks coach.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan hopes to retain Sorensen, 46, in a different role, per Tuesday night's report.

The 49ers (6-11) missed the playoffs after reaching at least the NFC Championship game in four of the previous six seasons.

San Francisco finished 29th in points allowed (25.6 per game), including 87 combined points in the final two games of the campaign.

Sorensen received his promotion last March, replacing Steve Wilks. Wilks was the DC for one season in 2023 after succeeding DeMeco Ryans, now the head coach of the Houston Texans.

Sorensen joined the 49ers in 2022 as a defensive assistant after serving as an assistant with the Seattle Seahawks (2013-20) and as the Jacksonville Jaguars' special teams coordinator (2021).

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Antonio Pierce Jan 8 11:30am CT
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From RotoBaller

Jalen Hurts Jan 8 11:20am CT
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion) is expected to be at the first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to sources. It's a notable step forward as Hurts works his way out of the league's concussion protocol and prepares to start on Sunday in the wild-card round of the postseason versus the visiting Green Bay Packers. Hurts suffered a concussion in the Week 16 loss to the division-rival Washington Commanders and did not play in the final two games of the regular season. He's also dealing with a fracture to a finger on his left (non-throwing) hand, but his concussion is the much bigger issue. The 26-year-old was a top-10 fantasy QB in 2024 and led the league with 14 rushing touchdowns, but that's where the root of his value lies. The Eagles passing attack left a lot to be desired all year. Given the potential rust factor heading into the playoffs, Hurts carries a lot more DFS risk this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Zay Flowers Jan 8 11:10am CT
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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee), who missed Tuesday's practice, is a long shot to play on Saturday evening against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Flowers is pretty sore while dealing with a sprained right knee that he suffered in the win over the division-rival Cleveland Browns in the Week 18 regular-season finale last Saturday. The good news is that Flowers could have a chance to play in the Divisional Round next week, but the Ravens would need to take care of business and beat the Steelers this weekend to advance. This is big news for the highest-scoring offense in the NFL. Baltimore will look for receivers Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace to step up, while tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely will both become more attractive in DFS playoff lineups.

From RotoBaller

Caleb Williams Jan 7 9:50pm CT
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Isaiah Hodgins Jan 7 8:50pm CT
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Roman Wilson Jan 7 8:40pm CT
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Denzel Perryman Jan 7 8:40pm CT
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From RotoBaller

Cameron Heyward Jan 7 8:20pm CT
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (illness) was absent during Tuesday's practice session. Heyward played his normal role during the regular season finale last weekend, so he must've picked up the illness afterwards. The Steelers don't play until Saturday for their Wild-Card matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. That being said, Heyward has plenty of time to recover before Saturday's contest. His absence would be a significant loss for this defense considering he well Heyward has performed this season. Heyward finished the regular season with 71 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and eight sacks across 17 games.

From RotoBaller

Mike McCarthy Jan 7 6:33pm CT
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From TheHuddle

Kyle Hamilton Jan 7 6:00pm CT
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According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) was a limited participant during Tuesday's practice. The star defensive back saw his typical workload during their Week 18 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week but seeing him open the week as a limited participant is a positive sign. Across 17 games this season, the Notre Dame product has tallied an impressive 107 tackles (77 solo) with 30 assists, two sacks, nine deflections, two forced fumbles, and one interception. If Hamilton were to miss Saturday's playoff game against the Steelers, Sanoussi Kane would see an increase in playing time.

From RotoBaller

John Metchie III Jan 7 5:40pm CT
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According to the team, Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder) did not practice on Tuesday. The 24-year-old wideout exited Sunday's game early. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week as he could be in danger of missing Saturday's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before exiting, Metchie saw four targets and brought in two of them for 24 yards. In Week 17, Metchie saw a season-high eight targets. With Tank Dell (knee) out for the remainder of the season, Metchie should operate as the clear No.2 wideout in this offense for the remainder of the playoffs. If Metchie were to miss Saturday's playoff game, fantasy managers should expect Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, or Diontae Johnson to move up the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Jan 7 5:30pm CT
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According to the team, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (thigh) was a limited participant on Tuesday. Johnston is coming off a career-day where he tallied 186 yards on 13 receptions. This was only the second time this season he eclipsed 100 yards in a single game and first time he brought in double-digit receptions. Fantasy managers should not be overly concerned with his status during Tuesday's practice as he did not show any signs of an injury during Sunday's game. However, fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Since Week 14, Johnston has become a top option in Los Angeles passing attack as he has seen an impressive nine targets per game and averaged 69.0 yards per game. Johnston should be viewed as a solid option in DFS formats on Saturday facing a struggling Houston secondary.

From RotoBaller

Cameron Heyward Jan 7 5:23pm CT
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From TheHuddle

J.K. Dobbins Jan 7 5:20pm CT
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According to the team, Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (ankle) was a limited participant during Tuesday's practice. Dobbins missed four games earlier this season due to an MCL sprain but now appears to have a minor ankle injury. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the week. However, seeing him open the week as a limited participant is a positive sign. Since returning in Week 17, Ekeler has averaged 18.5 attempts per game and tallied 69.5 rushing and 9.5 receiving yards per game over this stretch. Before his knee injury, Dobbins averaged a similar 69.6 rushing yards per game and found the back of the end zone eight times over his first 11 games. If he can take on his typical workload, the 26-year-old should be viewed as an elite running back option in all playoff competitions.

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Denico Autry Jan 7 5:13pm CT
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From TheHuddle

Ezekiel Elliott Jan 7 4:57pm CT
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Russell Gage Jan 7 4:53pm CT
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