Andre

Dillard

San Francisco placed Dillard on the PUP list ahead of training camp. Dillard underwent offseason ankle surgery and was still recovering from the procedure. He came off the PUP list earlier this week. It’s unclear if he suffered a setback or if this is a new issue. Either way, the 49ers are down a potential swing tackle as the season approaches.

The 49ers continue to be extra cautious with their No. 1 wide receiver, whose expected return-to-play date falls in the Weeks 5-6 range. A recent beat report suggested Aiyuk is ahead of schedule and has a chance to suit up for Week 1, though this outcome should be considered somewhat unlikely at this time. The 49ers also placed OL Andre Dillard, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, S Malik Mustapha and LB Curtis Robinson on the active/PUP list while OT Ben Bartch and S George Odum landed on the active/non-football injury list.

Dillard hasn’t lived up to his first-round pick status, but the 49ers could do far worse for their backup offensive tackle spots. The 29-year-old Dillard is unlikely to make leaps in performance, but he’s a viable depth tackle for San Francisco on a one-year deal.

After spending four seasons with the Eagles, Dillard, a former first-round pick, signed a three-year, $29 million deal with the Titans last offseason. The Titans’ hope that Dillard would bolster a struggling offensive line was quickly dashed, as he started just 10 of the 16 games he appeared in while allowing a career-high 12 sacks on 41 pressures. The Titans released Dillard after his underwhelming performance, taking on a $7.8 million dead cap hit while saving just $2.8 million in cap space. Now, Dillard will get a chance to revive his career with the Packers on what will likely be a prove-it deal for the veteran tackle. Dillard will likely compete with tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom for a starting role, but both should be viewed as having the inside edge at this time.

Dillard carried a cap hit just north of $10.6 million for this season. Despite having two years left on his deal, the Titans opted to cut Dillard and take on the $7.8 dead cap hit in exchange for saving $2.8 million in cap space. Dillard started 10 of 16 games he appeared in for the Titans last season, earning a PFF blocking grade of 51.0 while allowing 12 sacks on 41 quarterback pressures. It wasn’t a good 2023 for the veteran linemen, but at just 28 years old, another team could take a shot on him.

Dillard suffered the concussion last week and was unable to return. Dillon Radunz took his place at left tackle and got in some work at left tackle during practice this week, so he should draw the start. Signed to a three-year contract in the offseason, Dillard has failed to live up to expectations in Tennessee. He may not have a starting spot to return to if Radunz plays well. Cornerback Sean-Murphy Bunting was also ruled out.

Dillard, a former first-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, has battled through a number of injuries since entering the league. He lost all of his 2020 season to a torn biceps and appeared in just five games as a backup last season after breaking his forearm in training camp. Dillard started a handful of games at left tackle his first two years in the league but slotted in at guard during what little action he saw this past season. The Titans are giving Dillard starting money, although it’s unclear where he’ll line up at next season.

Dillard suffered a broken forearm in the preseason which forced him to miss the first five weeks. Now healthy, he will back up starting LT Jordan Mailata.

Dillard in the preseason suffered a “nondisplaced fracture in his forearm” and has missed the team’s first four games. A first-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Dillard should be back soon, playing tackle for a Philadelphia offensive line graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s best pass-blocking unit.

Dillard fractured his forearm in a September 1 practice and is expected to miss about 4-6 weeks per Ian Rapoport. The Eagles will be short on tackle depth while he’s out, but Dillard has essentially been a left tackle only so far in his playing career. He wouldn’t have started in place of Lane Johnson in the event of an injury there anyway.