The corresponding move in the DeForest Buckner trade says plenty on its own: To make room on the roster, the San Francisco 49ers have released Jack Jones, the veteran cornerback who was benched for a rookie during the loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Regardless of how the depth chart played out before, it's clear that Ephesians Prysock is the next cornerback who needs to step up for the Niners.
Jones earned the decision the hard way. He stood out plenty during training camp, but the games that followed (and their stat sheets) told a different story. In Atlanta, throws came Jones' way five different times, and he allowed four of them for 39 yards.
Though it's a small sample size, it's representative of the big picture.
Ephesians Prysock's audition is now a real job
That's how the Niners came to release Jones, and it's sure to turn Prysock's two-snap cameo into an actual job description. Upton Stout is expected to return after the bye, which places Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green back on the outside as the starters. Behind them, the options were Jones, safety Ashtyn Davis, who's been serving a dual role at corner in addition to his safety duties, and Siran Neal, more known for his special teams play.
This leaves Prysock open to make a push for the job.
Prysock is a tall, fourth-round rookie who flashed throughout the preseason, and he's already been turned in a live moment when coaching had seen enough of the veteran.
None of this makes Prysock a finished product. His limited time on the field in the NFL will sure to bring mistakes, but with the 49ers already releasing their starter, what could they have to lose putting Prysock in the job?
Luckily, the Niners have the bye to bide their time and figure things out without the pressure of knowing they have to field these guys on Sunday. The Las Vegas Raiders at home in Week 9 would be a good spot to start building the first-year pro up.
Even if Jones returns on the practice squad, the message has already been sent: San Francisco would rather field a rookie learning than a veteran repeating the same mistakes that could cost another loss.
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