Kyle Shanahan Addresses Major Issue for 49ers
san Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Kalia Davis’ ankle injury on Sunday could lead to free agent Ndamukong Suh coming aboard.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged as such after he announced that Davis “is going to be out for a few weeks” due to the high ankle sprain. Suh, had interest in the 49ers last year before he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and reached his third Super Bowl.
“Not yet. I’m not ruling out anything,” Shanahan told reporters on Monday. “We have guys on our practice squad as you guys see that we used last week. But, that stuff we also aren’t exactly sure when [Javon] Hargrave and [Arik] Armstead are coming back.”
Hargrave (hamstring) and Armstead (foot) remain questionable after they both missed the 45-29 blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals. Thought not a starter, Davis’ absence only makes things tougher for the 49ers’ defensive line.
“We do know they have chances this week,” Shanahan said about Hargrave and Armstead. “So, there’s a lot of variables that are playing together that we’ll be discussing here the rest of the day, tomorrow. Even if we don’t make a move in any area, that’ll probably be continuing throughout the year.”
Niners backup defensive tackles Kevin Givens and Javon Kinlaw did some positive things against the Cardinals. Givens tallied four tackles, and Kinlaw made a sack and a tackle.
Ndamukong Suh Could Fill Immediate Need
Suh meanwhile has been a free agent all season, similar to his plan last year. He didn’t sign with the Eagles until November 2022 and opted to walk in free agency after a one-year, $2 million deal.
If the 49ers brought in Suh, he would have immediately familiarity with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, the Athletic’s Matt Barrows pointed out. Kocurek and Suh worked together with the Detroit Lions from 2010 to 2014 when Suh emerged as one of the league’s fiercest, young defensive lineman.
Suh’s career only grew from there amid five Pro Bowl appearances, three All-Pro honors, and a Super Bowl win. He has 71.5 career sacks, five forced fumbles, and 392 solo tackles in 199 career games.
