The San Francisco 49ers just pulled the trigger on some serious defensive line moves, elevating Viliami Fehoko Jr., Kevin Givens, and Sebastian Valdez straight off the practice squad. Seriously, they’re digging deep.
The Great D-Line Shakeup for Week 3
To make space for Fehoko Jr., the Niners had to put wide receiver Demarcus Robinson on injured reserve, so he’s out for at least four games. Talk about a shakeup! Fehoko Jr., a former San Jose State product, is a beast at 6’5″, 267 pounds, though he was 276 coming into the league, so maybe he bulked up for that interior role. Some folks even compared his athletic profile to guys like Mason Graham and Walter Nolen, both true defensive tackles. His ability to play multiple spots along the defensive line probably saved him, especially with Nick Bosa and Romello Height both ruled out for Week 3. He could be a short-term solution at defensive end. Right now, Keion White’s the most experienced edge rusher they’ve got active against the Cardinals, with Khalid Kareem and Ogbo Okoronkwo also on the roster. That’s a thin crew, man. Seriously, this isn’t just depth, it’s about finding anyone who can contribute.
Veteran Tryouts: Plugging Unexpected Holes
But get this: the 49ers were the ONLY team doing tryouts on Saturday, according to the transaction wire. Only them! They hosted Jamin Davis, Matt Judon, Julian Okwara, and Dawuane Smoot. Davis is a pure off-ball linebacker, and the Niners might want him for those 5-man fronts, which is an interesting wrinkle. Then there’s Matt Judon, who’s 34 years old and definitely needs no introduction for any NFL fan. He played a full season way back in 2024, and last season with the Dolphins, he only got in just over 300 snaps. That’s not a lot of recent game time, right? Julian Okwara has the kind of body type that coach Morris seems to love, with an 83rd percentile arm length, but Cleveland cut him loose after training camp in 2025. Smoot, who’s 31, is the veteran you grab when you need someone who just *gets* the assignment. He’s got nearly 2,400 career snaps under his belt, making him the most experienced of the bunch. This isn’t just a few tweaks, this is a full-blown attempt to plug some major, unexpected holes in the defensive line.
What’s Next for the Niners’ D-Line?
So, until the 49ers make another move, their defensive line for Week 3 against the Cardinals is looking like Keion White, Osa Odighizuwa, Gracen Halton, Khalid Kareem, Naquan Jones, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Viliami Fehoko Jr., Sebastian Valdez, and Kevin Givens. That list? Man, it’s a far cry from what they had heading into September. Their D-line went from looking solid to “who’s available?” in a heartbeat. It’s gonna be wild to see if these new guys, or any of those tryout vets, can step up and hold the line for Week 3. This is huge for them, you know? They can’t afford to let their defense get gashed early in the season, especially when their division rivals are watching. What a situation for Week 3!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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