49ers Lose Key Practice Squad Player to the Carolina Panthers
The San Francisco 49ers need all the help they can get. Sitting at 5-3 through the first eight games of the season, the 49ers are still very much alive in the playoff race and are eager to improve off of their 6-11 season from 2024. So far, things are trending that way. But what is most impressive about the 49ers’ strong start is how they have done it despite all the injuries that they have endured. Because of that, the 49ers have needed everyone to step up and make an impact in order to make up for the loss of the all the injured players.
But on Tuesday, Oct. 28, the 49ers lost a very important player. Trevis Gipson, a practice squad linebacker/EDGE rusher, was signed to the Carolina Panthers‘ active roster. The 49ers have a very depleted linebacker and defensive line room, and given how Gipson was expected to take on a bigger role, his loss is substantial.
Gipson’s Loss
The news of Gipson’s departure was first broken by NFL insider, Ian Rapoport, who announced the acquisition on his X(fka Twitter) account.
“The Panthers waived DT Jaden Crumedy and signed outside linebacker Trevis Gipson off the 49ers practice squad,” Rapoport said.
Gipson, a fifth round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2020 NFL Draft, has been a journeyman player throughout his career, spending three seasons in Chicago before signing with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. After a season in Tennessee, Gipson was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, spending a season there as a rotational player. A free agent for most of this offseason, Gipson signed with the 49ers during the preseason– where he bounced between the practice squad and active roster before the Panthers signed him.
What Gipson’s Loss Means for the 49ers
Now that Gipson is gone, the 49ers are even more depleted on defense and may be forced to make a move sooner rather than later. Star pass rusher Nick Bosa tore his ACL earlier in the season, joining fifth year pro Tarron Jackson as the two edge rushers out for the season. Then, offseason acquisition Bryce Huff, injured himself in the 49ers’ win over the Atlanta Falcons in week seven, forcing him to miss some time. Those injuries alone put Gipson in line for more playing time.
And at linebacker, the 49ers are down Fred Warner— as well as having a very young group overall. A seasoned veteran, Gipson could have added some more leadership to the linebacker room and helped the team get by without their star in Warner. There is no doubt that his departure for the Panthers will leave a major void on the 2025 49ers.
Eagles Aren't Making Change With Cooper DeJean
The Philadelphia Eagles have had some questions in the secondary this season, but one thing that is still clear is that the franchise hit two absolute home runs in the 2024 National Football League Draft.
Taking Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and following up with Cooper DeJean in the second round certainly turned some heads. Mitchell shined right away last year, but DeJean started slow due to injury. Once both were consistently playing, they both thrived. Both played well enough that they cracked the NFL's annual list of the top 100 players in the league heading into 2025.
Mitchell has emerged as one of the top overall outside corners in football, and DeJean arguably is the best nickel corner in the game. But, the No. 2 outside spot opposite of Mitchell has given the team some fits, naturally leading to questions about whether DeJean should move out there. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said on Tuesday that the team has talked about it, but it's not happening at this moment while giving the second-year corner nothing but praise.
The Eagles aren't making a change right now
"I don't think everybody was sure, was he a first-round corner? Second-round corner? Third-round corner? I don't think the league as a whole had a feel for his versatility because he didn't play it in college," Fangio said. "He's really a damn good nickel. Probably one of the best nickels in the league and we're playing him at corner in the base. He could play safety if we needed him to. He's a defensive back, but really he's just a good football player...
"We considered it," Fangio said in reference to moving DeJean full-time to the outside. "But, when you have one of the better players at a certain position and it's an important position, where you get involved more. You hate to take a really good player at one position to maybe not be as good a player or impactful of a player at another position. It's definitely something we've talked about."
He's not wrong. DeJean has a shot at being the best nickel corner in the entire NFL. Mitchell has been nothing short of brilliant on the outside as well. If you were to move DeJean to the outside full-time, there would at least be a question on how he would adjust. Plus, the Eagles would have to find a way to find someone to fill his current role as well as he already does. It's a scenario that has more questions than answers.
The second outside corner spot is a question, but at least there are two solidified stars as well in DeJean and Mitchell.
