J.J.

Nelson

The team signed Nelson, 29, to a future contract in February. The former 49er, Raider, and Cardinal was out of the league in 2020. In 2019, he played just two games for the Raiders, managing four receptions. Nelson remains a long shot to crack the Colts’ 53-man roster.

Nelson, 29 in April, didn’t play in the league this season after spending the summer with the 49ers before getting hurt with a knee injury. He landed on Buffalo’s practice squad for the playoffs. The vertical threat will try to restart his career in Indy this offseason.

Nelson opened 2020 on IR with the 49ers. He was released with an injury settlement in September. Signing Nelson suggests Buffalo is concerned Cole Beasley (knee) won’t be available for the postseason.

Nelson’s injury was initially reported to be much less severe. He was expected to miss between two and four weeks. now he’s done for the season and San Francisco is still in desperate need of healthy receivers in training camp. Jalen Hurd (torn ACL), Deebo Samuel (toe), and Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring) are all dealing with injures. San Francisco has brought in Tavon Austin, River Cracraft, and Kevin White in recent weeks to fill their receiver room. They added DE Alex Barrett after placing Nelson on injured reserve.

The hits keep coming for the Niners, who only signed Nelson because they were already dealing with a myriad of injuries to Jalen Hurd (torn ACL), Deebo Samuel (toe), and Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring). Kevin White and River Cracraft, recently signed off the streets to provide bodies for Jimmy Garoppolo to throw to at camp, will be used in the interim. It’s possible this cements Nelson as the odd man out when cuts are due on September 4.

The team also came to terms with Tavon Austin (pending his physical). Nelson hasn’t made an impact since 2018, seeing five targets in two appearances while having a cup of coffee with the Raiders last year, but remains (in theory) an over-the-top threat with gifted 4.28 straight line speed. He’ll battle with nine other receivers on San Francisco’s roster during camp.

Austin was expected to workout for the Niners, and it seems Moncrief and Nelson are also on the team’s radar as they look to fill out a receiver group that lost Travis Benjamin to an opt out, Marquise Goodwin to a trade, and Deebo Samuel to a foot injury that could keep him out for the first part of the regular season. Meanwhile, rookie WR Brandon Aiyuk remains available in the 12th round of 12-team leagues.

The Raiders are bringing back Marcell Ateman to take Nelson’s 53-man roster spot. Ex-Cardinal Nelson had been active only twice through the Raiders’ first five games, catching four passes as he struggled to stay healthy. In theory, he’s a big-play threat, but he has trouble making an impact for years now.

Nelson was never expected to play after missing practice all week. With Nelson out, rookie Keelan Doss could make his regular season debut.

Keelan Doss will take over as the Raiders’ No. 4 WR with Nelson sidelined. The defense will surprisingly welcome back No. 1 CB Gareon Conley (neck) less than a week after he left the field on a stretcher.