The San Francisco 49ers are officially in scramble mode, bringing in ten-year NFL veteran pass rusher Matt Judon. Yeah, you heard that right: the guy who tallied exactly zero sacks last season is now their big move to shore up a defensive line that is absolutely falling apart.
Nick Bosa is Out, and the Search for Answers Begins
Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler with 72 career sacks, announced on social media that he expects to sign with the 49ers today. Why the rush? All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa suffered a calf strain in Thursday’s practice, and he is out for multiple weeks. That’s a huge blow to their defense, and it seems like they are just throwing whatever they can at the problem. Judon played 14 games last season for the Dolphins and Bills, racking up three quarterback hits but, again, zero sacks. It is fair to wonder what, if anything, he has left in the tank at 34 years old.
Seven Linemen Gone, and Counting
The situation on the 49ers’ defensive line is beyond grim. After defensive tackle Gracen Halton went down with cramps during their 36-30 win over the Cardinals on Sunday, the team found themselves without seven of the nine defensive linemen who were on their initial 53-man roster. SEVEN! It is a catastrophe. This isn’t their first desperate move either. Just last week, they signed 33-year-old wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the practice squad after Demarcus Robinson went on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain. Cooks only had 24 catches playing for two teams last year, so the pattern of bringing in aging players with recent lackluster stats is pretty clear here. Judon himself told Arabia Tillery that he thinks he “can just come in and help until some of those guys get back.” That says it all, doesn’t it? They need a warm body, yesterday.
Can Judon really be that guy? He had 5.5 sacks back in 2024 with the Falcons, when current 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris was Atlanta’s head coach. His career-best was a phenomenal 15.5 sacks in 2022 with the Patriots, which was good enough for fourth in the NFL. But that was then, and this is now. The 49ers are in a tough spot, and signing a 34-year-old coming off a statistically invisible year on the pass rush feels less like a solution and more like a gamble born out of sheer panic.
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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