Isaac

Yiadom

Yiadom has been sidelined since straining his hamstring in Week 4. Although the Buccaneers are without WRs Mike Evans (collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula), their deep receiving corps, led by rookies WR Emeka Egbuka and WR Tez Johnson, still poses problems for defenses. Yiadom’s return is helpful. The Saints declared OG Xavier Truss, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DB Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, DL Jonah Williams and DT Khristian Boyd inactive for Week 8 against the Buccaneers.

Yiadom returns to the Saints, who he played for in 2022 and 2023. The 29-year-old corner joined the 49ers on a one-year deal last offseason and appeared in all 17 games while making five starts. In those games, Yiadom totaled 46 tackles and one interception while also breaking up six passes and earning a PFF coverage grade of 55.3. One of Yiadom’s best seasons as a pro came in 2023 while with the Saints, where he broke up a career-high 13 passes. His signing doesn’t fully address the secondary problems the Saints had last season, but he’s a good depth signing who should be able to provide them plenty of snaps at a good value.

The 49ers will become Yiadom’s fifth team over the last five years, as the former third round pick has also spent time with the Texans, Packers, and Giants. Yiadom played on 517 defensive snaps last season, earning a PFF coverage grade of 80.4 while allowing 22 catches for 289 yards and three touchdowns on 44 targets. The veteran corner has started in 28 of the 87 games he’s appeared in for his career, and is likely more of a depth signing at this point.

Houston will only have O.J. Howard and Jordan Akins (an elevation) active at tight end with TE Brevin Jordan (ankle) also ruled out on Friday. WR Tyler Johnson is active for the first time this season. Also inactive for the Texans are OL Austin Deculus (ankle), CB Isaac Yiadom (thigh), LB Jake Hansen, DL Michael Dwumfour, and DL Demone Harris.

Brown going may cut into the viability of OJ Howard as a barebones TE streamer this week -- Brown bounced back from a Thursday DNP with a full practice on Friday. Both will have some freed up targets by the absence of Brevin Jordan (ankle), who was ruled out on Friday. Also inactive for the Texans are DL Kurt Hinish (foot), OL Austin Deculus (ankle), DB Isaac Yiadom (thigh), LB Jake Hansen, and WR Tyler Johnson. No practice squad elevation for Jeff Driskel means the Texans will actually use backup QB Kyle Allen for the first time all season.

Yiadom spent last year as a Packers depth cornerback and didn’t impress. He’s yet to post a PFF Grade over 57 in any of his four seasons and allowed six touchdowns in 42 targets in 2020 per Sports Info Solutions charting. Nobody should ever be confident of where things stand with the Texans, but Yiadom is likely just fighting for a roster spot as a special teamer/depth player.

It appears to be cornerback workout day for the Texans with Malcolm Butler also in town. Yiadom played fewer than 100 defensive snaps last year for the Packers. He’s got outside cornerback traits, but has not been able to convert them into good results to this point. He’s still only 26 years old.

It is the second time in as many summers Yiadom has been traded, as he was acquired by the Giants from the Broncos on the eve of last season. He ended up making 10 starts for the G-Men, but was not effective. Last year’s trade price was a seventh-rounder, and this will certainly be something similar. If he makes the 53-man roster, Yiadom will ideally slot in as a special teamer with the experience on defense to step in during a pinch.

Yiadom will take a pay cut, dropping his 2021 salary to $1.07 million. He’ll get $100K guaranteed with the restructure. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his rookie contract.

The offseason hasn’t been kind to the Giants secondary, so they’ve been making last-minute moves to round out their roster. Yiadom was a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and has two years remaining on his rookie contract. He’ll see regular snaps given the depth chart.