San Francisco 49ers' Deebo Samuel (19) runs with the ball against Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Logan Ryan (26) in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
SANTA CLARA — Safety Logan Ryan, a two-time Super Bowl champion, could be headed for a third ring now that he has signed with the 49ers.
The NFC West-leading 49ers (9-3) signed Ryan on Tuesday. Running back Ty Davis-Price, a 2022 third-round draft pick, was waived in a corresponding move.
Ryan brings veteran experience for a unit lacking depth following last month’s injuries to Talanoa Hufanga (knee) and George Odum (biceps).
Rookie Ji’Ayir Brown replaced Hufanga in the starting lineup the past two games to pair with veteran Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Ryan, 32, won the Super Bowl with the 2014 New England Patriots as a second-year reserve and he started on their 2016 championship team that rallied in the Super Bowl to defeat the Atlanta Falcons and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, now the 49ers’ coach. Ryan went on to play three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, two with the New York Giants, and last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for whom he made a season-high nine tackles in their Dec. 11 loss to the 49ers.
A year later, Ryan will return to Levi’s Stadium and be available as the 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks (6-6) this Sunday.
Ryan has started 121 of the 149 regular-season games in which he’s played, and 10-of-14 playoff appearances. Highlighting his 21 career interceptions was a pick-six on Tom Brady’s final pass for the Patriots in the Titans’ January 2020 wild-card win in New England.
Davis-Price appeared in only seven career games as was a routine healthy scratch on game days, unable to climb a depth chart as Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason are entrenched as backups to NFL rushing leader Christian McCaffrey.
Davis-Price played only once this season, getting six carries (21 yards) in seven snaps during the 42-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys two months ago. In six games as a rookie, he totaled 99 yards on 34 carries; he had 33 yards on 14 carries in his NFL debut, a 2022 Week 2 win in which he sustained a high ankle sprain.
ARMSTEAD NOMINATED AGAIN
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead, for a fourth straight year, is the 49ers’ honoree for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, recognizing his vast work with youth education through his own foundation and the 49ers.
Armstead is in the midst of his best season in years, but ankle and foot injuries threaten to disrupt it. His status for this Sunday’s game is to be determined. He’s recorded five sacks and 13 quarterback hits in starting every game this season as part of an elite defensive front alongside Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Clelin Ferrell, Chase Young, Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens and Kalia Davis.
Originally published at Cam Inman