Nick Bosa is sidelined with a calf injury and is expected to miss more time than just Sunday’s game, forcing the 49ers to scramble for defensive line help. That’s why the team held a series of workouts on Saturday, bringing in four defensive linemen, including a very familiar name: veteran Matt Judon.
The impact of losing a player like Bosa, even for a few weeks, is huge for any defensive front. To address this immediate need, the 49ers looked internally and externally, making some swift moves. In addition to the tryouts, the team elevated defensive linemen Kevin Givens and Sebastian Valdez from the practice squad, making them available for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. It shows how quickly they’re trying to patch up what could be a significant hole as the regular season grinds on.
Among the four players who tried out, Matt Judon’s name definitely jumps out. This is a guy who, across his first nine NFL seasons, absolutely terrorized opposing quarterbacks, piling up an incredible 72 sacks. Seventy-two! That’s a resume-builder for sure. However, last season was a stark contrast for Judon. He saw action in 13 games for the Dolphins and then one more game with the Bills, but the big stat everyone looks for in a pass rusher? He recorded zero sacks. Zero. The other names on the workout sheet were Julian Okwara, who found himself out of the league after the Browns released him in August, Jamin Davis, who appeared in just two games for the Raiders last year, and Dawuane Smoot, who managed two sacks for the Jaguars last season.
The defensive line wasn’t the only position seeing movement. The 49ers also placed wide receiver Damarcus Robinson on injured reserve, showing that injuries are hitting multiple spots on the roster. To further bolster the defensive line depth, they officially signed defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko to their 53-man roster, a move separate from the tryouts. These are the kinds of immediate adjustments teams have to make when key players go down. With Bosa out, the 49ers are clearly in full-on roster shuffling mode to find someone, anyone, who can step up. They’ve got a game against the Cardinals coming up, and they’ll need all hands on deck on that defensive front.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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