Trenton

Cannon

Cannon was injured on the opening kickoff as one of Tennessee’s core special teamers. The 28-year-old was officially placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

Cannon joined the Ravens amid a slew of running back injuries in September but only lasted a week. The 49ers then picked him up for the same reason. He appeared in 11 games for them, seeing all but two of his 162 snaps come on special teams. A scary collision on a kickoff sent him to the hospital in Week 13. Cannon wouldn’t return until the NFC Championship when he resumed special teams duties. He adds depth to the Tennessee backfield but doesn’t project for a role in Week 1.

Cannon suffered the injury on the opening kickoff. Seattle safety Talanoa Hufanga’s collided with Cannon’s neck on the play. Players took a knee around him and an ambulance was eventually brought on the field to take Cannon from the game. Cannon was able to wave to the crowd as he was leaving the game.

Kyle Shanahan has already ruled Hasty out for the team’s Week 3 matchup with the Packers. Trey Sermon is dealing with a concussion and Elijah Mitchell briefly exited the 49ers’ Week 2 contest due to a shoulder injury. Mitchell was able to return to that game and is currently considered day-to-day. Lamar Miller, T.J. Yeldon, and Duke Johnson are all visiting San Francisco this week and at least one of them should be signed to the active roster. Trenton Cannon is the only healthy back currently available to Shanahan. If healthy, Mitchell will serve as the starter and see the bulk of the rushes with Cannon and a newly-signed veteran backing him up.

The claim serves as a stinging indictment of Trey Sermon, who the team made a healthy scratch in Week 1. The loss of Raheem Mostert should have been enough to get Sermon on the gameday roster but Cannon entering the mix puts that in doubt. San Francisco added Sermon in the third round of the draft this year but Kyle Shanahan has clearly been disappointed with his performance in practice so far. Sixth-round rookie Elijah Mitchell rushed 19 times for 104 yards and a touchdown in his Week 1 debut. If Sermon is passed on the depth chart by Cannon, he can officially be written off for fantasy purposes.

Cannon played nine snaps for the Ravens Monday night as one of just three backs available on the team’s roster. His departure will likely lead to either Le’Veon Bell or Devonta Freeman getting promoted from the practice squad to play behind Ty’Son Williams and Latavius Murray. The usage between those two will be something to monitor as Williams played significantly fewer snaps after he blew the pass-blocking assignment that led to Lamar Jackson’s costly fumble.

The Ravens have suffered a number of brutal injuries at the running back position, starting with J.K. Dobbins tearing his ACL in the summer followed by Justice Hill going down with a torn Achilles’ tendon. Ty’Son Williams is currently slated to back up Gus Edwards but Cannon could take a small piece of that role away. Cannon is a small speedster but only has 48 carries in three years of play. He figures to be a placeholder for Le’Veon Bell, who is currently getting up to speed while on Baltimore’s practice squad.

Baltimore is in the market for an RB3 after Justice Hill tore his Achilles last week. They worked out Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman yesterday. Cannon was released by the Panthers during roster cutdowns, but his ability on special teams figures to land him a job somewhere. Even if Baltimore signs him, Cannon wouldn’t be on the fantasy radar, as Gus Edwards and Ty’Son Williams are the clear top-two backs.

The move clears a roster spot for Royce Freeman, who was claimed off waivers from the Broncos on Thursday. A 2018 sixth-round pick of the Jets, Cannon had been dabbling in a position switch to receiver. He is essentially a strict special teamer.

Christian McCaffrey (ankle) is still at least one week away from his return and Reggie Bonnafon (ankle) was placed on IR. That leaves Cannon and Armah behind Davis for Week 5. It’s a good indication that Davis will continue to serve as the team’s workhorse. Cannon is an OK waiver add in deep leagues.