Running back Kory Sheets, an undrafted rookie from Purdue, said his good-byes in the 49ers locker room this afternoon. The Dolphins signed Sheets off the 49ers practice squad today, he told his now-former teammates.
Sheets said he did not know all of the details of his new opportunity. The Dolphins lost running back Patrick Cobbs to a season-ending knee injury last night. Sheets said he enjoyed his time with the 49ers and wishes things could have worked out.
“I like it here,” Sheets said. “The players were cool, the coaches were cool and I put in the work here but unfortunately it’s one of those things. It’s how the business goes.”
The decision to allow Sheets to get away looks a little questionable. The 49ers have just three wide receivers who have caught passes in the first five games of the season. Yet, the 49ers have seven wideouts on their 53-man roster. In the 49ers’ run-oriented offense, they have Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Moran Norris and Michael Robinson on the depth chart at running back.
After Gore’s ankle injury, coach Mike Singletary said Sheets was not ready to be activated because he is not yet proficient in blitz pickup. Players on practice squads are, in essence, free agents. They have the right to sign with another team, as long as they’re placed on the 53-man roster.
Practice-squad players receive $5,200 a week, while a rookie minimum deal on the 53-man roster pays $18,235 weekly.
Sheets rushed for 177 yards on 39 carries (4.5 average) and three touchdowns in the exhibition season.
Earlier in the day, the 49ers signed Khalif Mitchell (
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