Niners Nation
Tashaun Gipson made Adrian Amos’s roster spot expendable, while Darrell Luter Jr.’s replacement might’ve just been signed
The San Francisco 49ers announced a practice squad transaction on Monday afternoon. Veteran safety Adrian Amos was released from the practice squad. The corresponding move was to sign cornerback Nick McCloud.
McCloud has spent the previous three seasons with the New York Giants. McCloud played 286 snaps this season with the Giants, including 116 on special teams.
Amos signed to the team’s practice squad on October 15. He played eight special teams snaps in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys but was not used on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tashaun Gipson played 11 special teams snaps against Tampa Bay. Kyle Shanahan is familiar with Gipson dating back to their days in Cleveland, so it’s no surprise he got the nod over Amos after Gipson’s suspension ended.
Neither Amos nor Gipson played on the punt coverage teams. The 49ers didn’t punt against the Buccaneers, but McCloud was on four different special teams units with the Giants this season. That versatility may spell the end of Darrell Luter Jr, who has to know when the play is over and get away from the returner. That type of turnover is a fireable offense, so seeing the 49ers looking into potential replacements is not surprising.
