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This week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the 49ers held meetings with several defenders, including pass rushers Jonah Elliss from Utah, Javon Solomon from Troy, Austin Booker from Kansas, Darius Robinson from Missouri, and defensive end Braiden McGregor from Michigan.
The team may seek a younger player to complement star defensive end Nick Bosa, flanking Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave.
Those aren't the only defenders the 49ers met with at the NFL Scouting Combine. They also spoke with linebacker Cedric Gray from North Carolina and defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson from Texas A&M.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw's torn Achilles, suffered during the Super Bowl loss earlier this month, is expected to sideline him for at least the majority of the upcoming season.
"Achilles, they take some time, right? So you've got to respect that," general manager John Lynch said this week regarding the injury. "Now, having said that, I know that Dre. He's a special athlete. Those guys tend to heal faster, but I think with an Achilles, there's just a timeline that you kind of have to give it. You can be ultra-aggressive. You've also got to be smart, and so we will be."
These initial meetings merely skim the surface. NFL teams are allowed formal 18-minute interviews with up to 45 prospects during the week-long event in Indianapolis. Additionally, teams can engage with as many players as they wish in an informal capacity.