Kinlaw may help ailing defensive line
Javon Kinlaw’s extended absence could be close to ending. The San Francisco 49ers’ defensive tackle has a chance to return to practice next week for the first time in nearly three months, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday.
Kinlaw, a 2020 first-round pick whose career has been marred by knee issues, has been sidelined since a loss to the Broncos on Sept. 25. Shanahan said the team has been tentatively planning for Kinlaw to resume practicing after its game at Seattle on Thursday night.
“Our goal was after the Seattle game to hopefully get him back in practice,” Shanahan said. “We’ll finish this game up and we’ll see how it is when we come out on Monday.”
Kinlaw’s availability has become even more relevant recently because of injuries to defensive tackles Kevin Givens (knee) and Hassan Ridgeway (pectoral). The backups have combined to make 18 starts because Kinlaw and Arik Armstead (who has played the past two games) have combined to miss most of the season.
The team disclosed that Givens will miss “a few weeks” after a sprained MCL sustained in a 35-7 win against the Buccaneers on Sunday. Ridgeway suffered a sprained pectoral in a win against Miami on Dec. 4 that will sideline him for at least six weeks.
Their attrition could force the 49ers to give T.Y. McGill, 30, his first career start when they play Seattle. McGill, an eight-year veteran who has played in 51 games, played a season-high 34 snaps against the Buccaneers after Givens exited in the first quarter.
Kinlaw has been on injured reserve because of swelling and fluid buildup after he had ACL reconstruction surgery 14 months ago. The 49ers will have three weeks to place him on the 53-man roster once they open his practice window.
The 49ers also signed former Houston defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour to the practice squad.
Corner conundrum: The 49ers also are running low on backup cornerbacks. On Sunday, Dontae Johnson suffered a torn ACL, Ambry Thomas had a minor ankle injury and rookie Samuel Womack suffered a concussion that will keep him out of Thursday’s game.
The injuries could prompt the 49ers to promote Janoris Jenkins, 34, from their practice squad after signing him Nov. 28. Jenkins ranks eighth in NFL history in interceptions returned for touchdowns (eight) and is eighth among active players in career interceptions (27). Greenlaw’s big get: Shanahan was amused that linebacker Dre Greenlaw asked Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady to sign the football he threw that Greenlaw intercepted in the third quarter.
Shanahan was appreciative that the seven-time Super Bowl champion wasn’t ticked by the unusual postgame request.
“I thought that was pretty funny,” Shanahan said. “It was real cool of Tom to do that for him. I think a lot of guys could mean that in not the coolest way, but I know Dre too well, and he was a giddy fan at that time. … That was ultimate respect. And I know he was real excited to get that ball from him.”