The San Francisco 49ers are snagging edge rusher Khalid Kareem right off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, and honestly, it sounds like a move born purely out of necessity. This isn’t just a roster shuffle, it’s a direct response to Sam Okuayinonu being ruled out with a foot injury, creating an immediate hole they needed to plug before Week 1.
Niners Grab a Familiar Face Amid Injury Crisis
This isn’t Kareem’s first rodeo with 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. The dude spent the previous two seasons playing under Morris down in Atlanta, so there’s a built-in familiarity there. That’s huge when you’re trying to integrate a new player on the fly, especially with Week 1 just around the corner. Greg Auman of Fox Sports reported Kareem is already on his way to Melbourne, which practically screams “he’s playing!” This move is about as close to a 1-for-1 swap as you can get, too. Kareem clocks in at 6’4″, 268 pounds, while Okuayinonu is 6’1″, 269 pounds. Plus, Kareem came into the league with some serious physical tools, flaunting arm length in the 83rd percentile and hands in the 95th percentile. Morris is clearly banking on Kareem to step in and be disruptive against the run, just like Okuayinonu was when he was healthy.
Can Limited Experience Be Enough For Week 1?
Now, here’s the thing: Kareem doesn’t exactly have a mountain of NFL experience, even though he was a 5th-round pick back in the 2020 Draft. Since 2022, he’s barely seen the field, playing fewer than 200 snaps. Last season, he appeared in four games but never topped 26 snaps in any single one. Still, the flashes were there. He logged four stops in 31 snaps on the edge, plus five quarterback pressures. One of those stops and a pressure came against the Rams in Week 17, which is a massive benefit. At least the Niners have a direct look at how he stacks up against Sean McVay’s offense, which they’ll face down the line. All these injuries, though, are piling more responsibility on guys like Nick Bosa and Keion White. If Romello Height’s ankle injury doesn’t heal up quick, this might not even be the final pre-Week 1 adjustment. The team did add Kevin Givens to the practice squad, and he could totally be a game-day activation, offering a bigger body against those heavy Rams personnel sets, just like Robert Saleh used to do when they were shorthanded.
The 49ers haven’t announced a corresponding move yet, but if Okuayinonu’s foot injury is serious, expect him to land on Injured Reserve. For now, it’s all eyes on Melbourne as Kareem gets ready to step onto the field for his new squad in a must-win Week 1. They need him to hit the ground running, no question about it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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