Jordan

Matthews

The former second round pick, who last year converted from wideout to tight end, is back in the league after tearing his ACL in August 2022 as a member of the 49ers. Matthews could be called up to the 53-player roster if the Panthers run into tight end injuries later this year.

Matthews will be placed on injured reserve. Now 30 years old, the former second-rounder of the Eagles made the switch to tight end from wide receiver last year. He’d reportedly made big strides in his development, but this could be a career-ender for Matthews. He’s played in a combined eight games since 2018. Simply put, guys don’t miss multiple years of games on the wrong side of 30 and become impact players.

The team also signed DL Alex Barrett, OL Alfredo Gutierrez, FB Josh Hokit, CB Ka’dar Hollman, TE Tanner Hudson, WR KeeSean Johnson, WR Austin Mack, LB Curtis Robinson, DL Chris Slayton, and WR Connor Wedington to reserve/future contracts. Matthews opened the 2019 season with San Francisco but was cut after appearing in just one game. After a cup of coffee with the Eagles, he returned to the Bay Area for a total of three games between 2020 and 2021. Now a tight end, he will be fighting for a roster spot as a backup to George Kittle and a special teamer this summer.

Doing everything he can to stay in the league after injuries took his legs out from underneath him, Matthews converted to tight end earlier this offseason. He will presumably continue to try to develop at the position on the 49ers’ practice squad.

Matthews, who appeared in two games for the 49ers last year, will move to tight end as he looks to resurrect his career. The 49ers are hoping Matthews can be insurance for George Kittle, who’s missed 10 games the past two seasons. Matthews joins a crowded but unproven depth chart of Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, MyCole Pruitt, and UDFA Josh Pederson behind Kittle.

Headed into his age-29 campaign, Matthews announced the position switch earlier this summer. Matthews was briefly in the league last season, making two appearances for the 49ers. Matthews’ lower-body explosion has appeared shot for some time. Combined with his modest tight end stature of 6-foot-3, that could make a position switch difficult as Matthews isn’t going to be exploding up the seam.

Matthews said in June that he was transitioning to tight end after entering the league in 2014 as a receiver. He’s reportedly packed on 30 pounds this offseason -- making him somewhere around 250 pounds -- in hopes of finding new life in the NFL. Matthews’ career year came in 2015, when he caught 85 balls for 997 yards and nine touchdowns for the Eagles. He also had stints with the Bills and the 49ers. Matthews will be 29 on July 16.

Matthews added 30 pounds this offseason and has been working out at the University of Louisville. He appeared in two games for the 49ers last year but didn’t have any targets. Still just 28, Matthews is hoping to resurrect his career similar to Kelvin Benjamin. The Eagles could make sense as a landing spot if they move on from Zach Ertz.

Matthews played a near every-down role in Weeks 11 and 12, ultimately catching just 4-of-12 targets for 33 scoreless yards. The move indicates that Nelson Agholor (knee) and/or Alshon Jeffery (ankle) could be ready to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Dolphins.

He was fourth on the team in targets, behind both the tight ends and Greg Ward. Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert are the only pass-catches worth playing in this group with Alshon Jeffery (ankle) and Nelson Agholor (knee) banged up.