The 49ers officially announced that Parys Haralson has been placed on injured reserve, and the team has signed outside linebacker Clark Haggans. Because Haralson was placed on IR today and not tomorrow, he is ineligible to return under the revised IR rule implemented this past week.
Matt Barrows first commented about this possibility in a tweet last night, and it would appear he was on to something. Haralson appeared to injure himself in the week three contest against the Broncos, as he sat out subsequent practices and last Thursday's game. In reviewing the game it seemed fairly innocuous, but clearly it was a significant issue. Enough so that the team was not going to wait for tomorrow's date to put him on IR.
The 49ers head into the regular season with Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks starting at outside linebacker. Haggans played 75% of defensive snaps while with the Arizona Cardinals last year. Demarcus Dobbs could potentially get some playing time at outside linebacker as well. Whatever the case, the team is left scrambling to a certain extent, and dealing with potentially limited depth. Let's just hope Brooks and Smith can stay healthy.