The 49ers released Simpson on Saturday, the team's official site reports.
The 49ers have started the process of whittling down the roster from 90 to 75 players by Tuesday's deadline, jettisoning Simpson and fellow wideout DiAndre Campbell among others. Simpson experienced decreased usage as the preseason proceeded, following up five catches combined in the first two games with no stat line to speak of in Friday's exhibition against the Packers. The 30-year-old may have reached the end of his NFL life, but with 150 career catches to his name, another team may come calling in the coming weeks.
Simpson led all San Francisco wideouts with three caches (five targets) for 29 yards Sunday.
While that stat line isn't eye-popping, the catches and targets led all 49er receivers on a day where the passing game struggled as a whole. Simpson is currently pushing to potentially move into a starting job come Week 1, and his performance in the final three preseason games could heavily influence the decision on that front.
Simpson stood out with a 40-yard touchdown during Monday's practice and head coach Chip Kelly didn't rule him out as an option in a "wide open" competition for receiver roles, according to Cam Inman of the Mercury News.
Simpson had a strong showing during Monday's practice, catching the touchdown from Blaine Gabbert. With many younger options in house, it was thought that Simpson would move down the depth chart or even miss the cut. Kelly disputed that opinion though, confirming that Simpson has been a player to watch early in camp and that San Francisco's competition for starting wideout roles are very open. Simpson has flashed ability over his seven-year career with off-the-field issues being his biggest flaw. If he were to win either the No. 2 or slot position out of training camp, he would see an immediate bump in value.
Simpson (finger) is active for Sunday's game versus the Bengals, John Dickinson of 95.7 The Game San Francisco reports.
Entering the 49ers' list of ailing Friday with a finger injury, Simpson will nonetheless be available to offensive coordinator Geep Chryst. However, Simpson has earned only 66 offensive snaps across four games this season.
Simpson caught two of his four targets for 20 yards and a touchdown against Cleveland on Sunday.
Simpson's score came on a garbage-time touchdown late in the fourth quarter, so this performance should be taken with a grain of salt. He remains the fourth or fifth option on this less-than-stellar San Francisco offense, rendering him useless in most formats.
Simpson caught three passes off of 10 targets for 34 yards in Sunday's loss to the 49ers.
Despite his modest numbers in his season debut, Simpson led the team in targets and receiving yards on Sunday, an illustration of the 49ers' woeful offense. Simpson should be considered a low-reward pickup as, even if he were to become Colin Kaepernick's favorite outside target, he'd have the distinction of being the favorite outside target on a team burrowing near the bottom of the league in passing offense.
The 49ers have reinstated wide receiver Jerome Simpson (suspension) to the active roster, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
The 49ers were granted a one-game roster exemption for Simpson, giving the team until Friday to decide if it wanted to release him or keep him. Although there's still some chance they could cut him, Simpson is back on the roster after serving a six-game suspension to start the season. He'll be no higher than third or fourth on the depth chart, playing in a terrible offense.
The 49ers did not activate Simpson -- who served a six-game suspension to start the season -- to their 53-man roster in advance of Thursday night's game against the Seahawks, CSN Bay Area reports.
Per the report, the 49ers were granted a one-game roster exemption for Simpson, giving the team the option of waiting until next Friday to make a decision on whether or not to add Simpson to their roster, or release him.
Jerome Simpson, who is competing for the role as the 49ers' No. 3 wide receiver, has been suspended for the first six games of the season. The suspension is due to a July 2014 arrest and previous off-field incidents, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Simpson was suspended for a third time by the NFL.
“The probability of a suspension was known when we signed Jerome,” general manager Trent Baalke said. “Since joining the 49ers, Jerome has proven to be a great teammate.
“Although he will not be able to participate in the first six weeks of the season, Jerome has done everything asked of him, both on and off the field. We are in full support of the NFL’s decision, and look forward to Jerome’s future contributions to our organization.”
The 49ers announced they've signed veteran receiver Jerome Simpson to a two-year deal on Thursday.
Simpson, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, was a former second-round draft selection by the Bengals in 2008. He was last with the Vikings and totaled a single-season best 726 receiving yards in 2013.
He didn't play in 2014 after the Vikings cut him following a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Free-agent wide receiver Jerome Simpson met with the 49ers on Wednesday, sources told CSNBayArea.com.
Simpson did not play in 2014 after being released by the Vikings in September. In 2013, he registered 48 receptions for 726 yards and one touchdown for the Vikings.
The Vikings have released wide receiver Jerome Simpson , the team announced.
Simpson was already serving a suspension for a drunken-driving arrest last season, but would have been eligible to return Monday. Reports popped up Thursday that Simpson was in more legal trouble. He was cited on charges of marijuana possession, open bottle and violation of his limited drivers license in July, and was scheduled to appear in count in November.
Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson has added another run-in with the law to the problems that already have him suspended for the first three games of the 2014 season.
Simpson was charged on July 7 for marijuana possession, open bottle and violating a limited drivers license, according to ESPN. The team has not commented. He is serving his current suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy after a drunken-driving arrest last season.
Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson could not get a three-game suspension handed down by the NFL for a DUI reduced. The league has confirmed the suspension, per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Simpson contributed 48 catches for 726 yards and one touchdown last season, but faded after a strong start. He racked up nearly half of those yards in the first four games.
Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson is appealing his three-game suspension stemming from a January DUI, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Simpson attended a hearing regarding the suspension in New York Monday.
Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson missed practice Monday to attend a hearing and defend himself against a possible suspension related to a drunk-driving arrest in November, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Simpson was previously suspended by the NFL in May 2012 after being convicted for a felony for mailing two pounds of marijuana to his home while a member of the Bengals.
The Vikings have "four solid options" at receiver and have bigger draft needs than wideout, reports the Minneapolis StarTribune. The paper expects the team to pass on receivers in the draft, then add one from the deep pool of undrafted free agents.
Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright project as the team's top four wideouts.
The Vikings have re-signed receiver Jerome Simpson, the club announced Friday.
Simpson spent the past two seasons with the Vikings. He had 48 catches for 726 yards and one touchdown in 2013.
He is expected to be the No. 3 receiver for the Vikings behind Cordarrelle Patterson and Greg Jennings.
With Jerome Simpson entering free agency, ESPN.com guesses the Vikings will bring back the 28-year-old receiver on a one-year deal. Simpson "stretched the field" and developed into an effective run-blocker, the website notes, and would serve as the No. 3 receiver behind Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson.
Simpson made $2.1 million last season.
Vikings wideout Jerome Simpson posted a career-high 726 receiving yards this season, but the team faces a tough choice on whether to re-sign the impending free agent "knowing he could be facing another NFL suspension after pleading guilty to DWI and careless driving charges stemming from a Nov. 9 arrest," reports ESPN.com.
If Minnesota re-signs Simpson, who turns 28 next month, the contract likely would be in the $2 million range, the report said.