SANTA CLARA — The 49ers are no longer counting on defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to be a starter. But when Kinlaw gets on the field whenever Javon Hargrave or Arik Armstead need a break, the 49ers expect Kinlaw to play like a starter. Kinlaw enters his fourth season after the 49ers selected him with the No. 14 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. The club declined to pick up his fifth-year option for 2024, meaning he will be scheduled for unrestricted free agency next spring. Kinlaw missed 26 games over his first three NFL seasons due to knee issues. He simply has not practiced or played enough to show any marked improvement. He has been healthy all summer, and demonstrated the ability to move laterally and push the pocket as a pass-rusher. The area of his game that poses the biggest question mark is his run defense. Listed at 6-foot-5, 319 pounds, Kinlaw has not shown the ability to anchor against double-teams on run plays coming at him. "He is a massive man, very tall," 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. "So we constantly talk about his pad level, staying low. This is a leverage game. Low man wins. "I've seen that improvement with him, not only with him, with guys...
49ers need Javon Kinlaw to anchor defensive line second unit
Sep 1, 2023 at 11:40 AM
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