The Falcons signed McCloud to a two-year deal worth up to $6 million Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
McCloud has agreed to terms with Atlanta after spending the last two years of his career in San Francisco. The 27-year-old wideout was primarily utilized as a return specialist in 2023, returning 24 punts and 10 kicks for 428 yards. McCloud played just 28 percent of the 49ers' offensive snaps last season, catching 12 of his 15 targets for 135 yards and no touchdowns. He's expected to have the opportunity to compete for a depth role at wideout this offseason, most likely behind both Drake London and Darnell Mooney.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Battles through injury in 2023
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McCloud accrued 135 receiving yards and 428 combined return yards across 12 regular-season games with San Francisco in 2023.
McCloud overcame a broken wrist suffered during training camp to suit up as the 49ers' return specialist in Week 1. The 27-year-old still sat out five games over the course of the regular season due to injury, with Deebo Samuel and rookie Ronnie Bell handling return duties in McCloud's absence. The veteran wideout performed up to standards as a return man, chipping in 165 combined yards from scrimmage on offense. This upcoming offseason, the 49ers may opt to have the cheaper Bell take over return duties while letting McCloud walk in free agency to save cap space in 2024.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Exits game with back injury
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McCloud (back) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Rams.
McCloud was activated off the 49ers' injured reserve list Saturday and returned for his first game since Week 12. He had three catches for 22 yards and one carry for seven yards before exiting with a back injury.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Will play Sunday
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McCloud (ribs) is good to go for Sunday's matchup with the Rams, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
McCloud was activated off injured reserve Saturday before subsequently getting a questionable designation. He will now be available to play in his first game since Week 12. Look for him to take on his usual role providing depth at receiver and contributing on special teams assuming he avoids any setbacks.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Lands on IR
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The 49ers placed McCloud (ribs) on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
McCloud was already ruled out of Sunday's game against the Seahawks for the second straight week. He'll be forced to miss at least the next four games and will be eligible to return Week 18 against the Rams on Jan. 7. In a corresponding move, San Francisco signed Chris Conley to the active roster.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Sitting out second straight game
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The 49ers have ruled McCloud out in advance of Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
McCloud will miss his second game in a row after he took a step back in terms of practice activity this week, opening with a limited session Wednesday before regressing to no participation Thursday and Friday. The 27-year-old serves as a depth receiver for San Francisco, but his absence will loom larger on special teams, where he serves as the 49ers' top kickoff and punt returner when healthy. While McCloud was out in the team's 42-19 win over the Eagles last Sunday, Deebo Samuel stepped in as the 49ers' kickoff returner while Ronnie Bell returned punts.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Still dealing with injury
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McCloud (ribs) is considered day-to-day to start Week 14 prep, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
McCloud missed the team's Week 13 win over the Eagles, but it appears he has a chance to return Sunday against the Seahawks based on his day-to-day status. However, if he's unable to play, Deebo Samuel and Ronnie Bell will likely fill in for the return game as they did against Philadelphia.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Misses practice
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McCloud sat out Wednesday's practice with a rib injury, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
McCloud has played just 10 snaps on offense over the past three weeks but has an important role on the team as the primary returner for both kicks and punts. An absence for Sunday's showdown with the Eagles might free up a few more snaps and routes for Ronnie Bell, who also would be one of the leading candidates to replace McCloud on kick and punt returns.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Given limited designation Monday
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McCloud (ribs) was listed as a limited participant in San Francisco's practice estimation Monday, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
McCloud popped up on the injury report Monday, putting his status for Thursday's matchup with the Seahawks in doubt. If the 27-year-old ends up being unable to play, Ronnie Bell should take over as the team's primary return specialist.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Back to full session
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McCloud (illness) participated fully in practice Thursday.
McCloud was dealing with an illness Wednesday and unable to practice as a result. With his quick return to the field, he should return to his role primarily as the 49ers' kick and punt returner.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Logs 29 snaps on offense Sunday
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McCloud caught both of his targets for 43 yards in Sunday's 31-17 loss to Cincinnati.
McCloud finished third in playing time (49 percent) among 49ers wide receivers with his 29 snaps logged on offense against the Bengals. The 27-year-old finished as the only wideout to be targeted aside from Brandon Aiyuk (nine targets) on Sunday. With the 49ers' bye week on tap, there is a chance that Deebo Samuel (shoulder) returns against Jacksonville in Week 10. If that happens, McCloud would move back to primarily returning kicks after helping fill in for the injured star in recent weeks.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Catches two passes on 19 snaps
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McCloud had two receptions on three targets for 20 yards in Monday's 22-17 loss to the Vikings.
McCloud wound up playing 19 snaps on offense (36 percent) in addition to gaining 36 yards on his only official kick return. The 26-year-old teamed up with Jauan Jennings (5-54-0) to help replace Deebo Samuel's (shoulder) missing production Monday. McCloud hasn't recorded more than two receptions in any game this season, so his value remains minimal even with Samuel being ruled out for Sunday's tilt against the Bengals.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Completes quick return
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McCloud (wrist) was on the field for four special teams snaps in Sunday's 30-23 win over the Rams.
McCloud made a speedy recovery from a broken wrist suffered this preseason, missing just the first game of the regular season ahead of Sunday's appearance. The 26-year-old was limited to returning kicks against the Rams, which could just be the coaching staff easing him back into action. Assuming his wrist held up fine, McCloud should continue serving as the 49ers' return man in a home matchup against the Giants on Thursday.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Logs limited practice Thursday
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McCloud (wrist) was a limited participant at the 49ers' practice Thursday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
McCloud suffered a broken wrist in early August, but he's been recovering ahead of schedule and opened the week with consecutive limited practices. The wide receiver will have one more chance to practice Friday before the team makes a decision on his official status for Sunday's regular season opener versus the Steelers.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Cleared for limited practice
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McCloud (wrist) has been cleared to practice and was a limited participant Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
A prior report suggested McCloud would be out for about two months after breaking his wrist in practice in early August, but he seems to be well ahead of schedule in his recovery and might even be able to play Week 1 at Pittsburgh. If so, he'll likely work as San Francisco's fourth or fifth receiver and might get a couple return chances on special teams.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Sidelined two months
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McCloud (wrist) is expected to be sidelined for two months after breaking his left wrist at a recent training camp practice, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
The 49ers are optimistic McCloud could return a little earlier than his current eight-week estimation. However, he is expected to be placed on injured reserve after their initial roster cut on Aug. 29, which would make him eligible to return after a minimum of four games. He averaged 10.8 yards per punt return and 23.0 yards per kick return for the team in 2022 and served as their No. 4 wide receiver.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Converts long catch in win
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McCloud had one reception (two targets) for 41 yards in Sunday's 37-34 overtime win over the Raiders.
McCloud produced a big-splash play for the second consecutive week, although this one fell short of going for a touchdown. The return specialist is proving that he can be a home-run threat on offense, but his role is too inconsistent to be relied upon in fantasy. McCloud has recorded more than one reception just once this season (Week 7), so more of the same can be expected against the Cardinals on Sunday.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Rips off huge TD run
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McCloud broke off a 71-yard touchdown run and did not catch his lone target in Saturday's 37-20 win over Washington.
McCloud did his best Deebo Samuel (knee/ankle) impression when he took a wide zone handoff for a 71-yard touchdown. It was the return specialist's fourth rushing attempt this season, with the previous three tallying just seven yards back in Week 14. McCloud's usage as a receiver hasn't increased in the two games sans Samuel, so this unique touchdown run shouldn't have fantasy managers rushing to the waiver wire ahead of San Francisco's Week 17 matchup against Las Vegas.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Garners three targets in win
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McCloud caught one of three targets for 16 yards in Thursday's 21-13 win over Seattle.
McCloud was elevated to third on the receiver depth chart with Deebo Samuel (ankle) sidelined, but his offensive usage did not expand much with the elevated role. The return specialist combined for 84 return yards for fantasy league's that factor in that statistic. Samuel is likely to miss Week 16's contest against Washington, giving McCloud another shot to generate value as a cheap DFS flier against the Commanders next Saturday.
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49ers' Ray-Ray McCloud: Sees boost in snap count
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McCloud logged 28 snaps on offense (44 percent) and caught his lone target for 11 yards in Sunday's 35-7 win over the Buccaneers.
McCloud saw an uptick in offensive snaps in the second half of Sunday's blowout win after Deebo Samuel (knee/ankle) was carted off the field. The latter suffered a pair of injuries and is expected to miss time. Jauan Jennings would figure to step into Samuel's starting wideout role, with McCloud seeing an increase in playing time in addition to his usual work as the team's primary return specialist. Neither backup figures to see a huge increase in targets, but some deep-league value could be had for as long as Samuel is sidelined, starting with Thursday's tilt against Seattle.
