SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
49ers GM John Lynch On What Led To Trey Sermon’s Release
Sep 1, 2022, 3:48 PM
JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Trey Sermon #28 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on November 21, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. The 49ers defeated the Jaguars 30-10. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch detailed the decision to release Trey Sermon and keep rookie Jordan Mason to the media Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, the 49ers surprised everyone when they released the 2021 third-round pick. In his rookie year, Sermon rushed for 167 yards and one touchdown on 41 attempts. The presumed starter last season was beaten out by 2021 sixth-round pick Elijah Mitchell.
Initially, the team planned to keep Sermon and five running back on the roster, “as long as we could.” But, when the 49ers claimed Cleveland Browns tackle Blake Hance off waivers, that meant someone had to be dropped. Ultimately, Sermon was beaten out by undrafted rookie Jordan Mason for one of the last running back spots. During the preseason, Mason ran for 94 yards on 19 carries.
“The bottom line, J.P. Mason just played too well,” Lynch said. “And we felt like he made our team better. We got this kid out of Georgia Tech as a backup. And we couldn’t deny at the end of the day that he hadn’t earned a spot on the roster.”
Lynch went on to say Trey Sermon wasn’t ready to play “like we felt we needed him to last year.”
“To Trey’s credit, he was challenged. And he answered the bell in every way this year. And so really proud of Trey for that,” Lynch said.
Sermon was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles.
