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The San Francisco 49ers made several moves today, as they settled some of their injury situations for the short term future. The 49ers placed WR Kyle Williams, LB Darius Fleming, WR Mario Manningham and RB Kendall Hunter on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. They also placed DE Tank Carradine, DT Quinton Dial, RB Marcus Lattimore and OT Luke Marquardt on the Active/Non-Football Injury (NFI) list.
The moves come a day after rookies reported to training camp, and a few days before veterans are required to report on Wednesday. The moves do not clear up spots on the 90-man roster. Additionally, it is worth noting the 49ers did not make a move with regard to Michael Crabtree. I suspect he'll eventually end up on injured reserve with return designation.
Last month, socalisteph explained and broke down the differences between the PUP and NFI lists. In this case, players who suffered injuries on an NFL football field (in games or in practice) get PUP designation. Players who suffer injuries during their college career will get the NFI designation. Technically, the team can choose not to pay players on the NFI list. However, the club and a player's agent will often agree to pay the player on that status. There is no "injured reserve" right now, as that is an in-season designation. Right now, the 49ers have two eventual IR players in Brandon Carswell and Alex Debniak. They are both currently listed as Reserve/Injured. They will transfer to IR after training camp.
These moves are purely technicalities at this point, and for the most part were widely expected. Kyle Williams and Kendall Hunter have both indicated they are healthy, but for now, placing them on the training camp PUP list gives the 49ers options. If either had practiced on day one, they would have lost that eligibility. The 49ers will put them through physicals, and I suspect both will be active sooner rather than later. My guess is Williams will be activated first.
Darius Fleming is not a surprise, but we still don't know what exactly is going on with him. He tweaked his knee during OTAs, and missed practices after that, but Coach Harbaugh did not give any more details. We'll have to just wait and see what's going on with Fleming.
Mario Manningham is dealing with torn knee ligaments, and there was a general belief that the earliest he would be back was late in training camp. It would not surprise me if he started the season on the PUP list. If players currently on the Active/PUP or Active/NFI list get through camp without being able to practice, the 49ers would then either activate them, or transfer them to the Reserve/PUP or Reserve/NFI lists.
Among the rookies on the NFI list, Marcus Lattimore is expected to spend the season on the NFI list. Luke Marquardt remains up in the air in that regard, but I suspect the 49ers will stash him there as well. Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial should be ready before the end of camp. Last month, Vic Fangio indicated that he did not expect either to be ready for the start of training camp. Carradine is recovering from his torn ACL suffered last November. Quinton Dial is recovering from January surgery on turf toe.