The San Francisco 49ers inevitably had to add a defensive lineman with so many players sidelined by injuries. The latest significant injury was to defensive end Nick Bosa, the team's best pass rusher, who suffered a calf injury ahead of practice last week.
On Monday, the 49ers signed veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon to the practice squad. He worked out for the team over the weekend, but the coaching staff will use this week to get a clearer picture of where the 34-year-old stands.
"I know we had a workout with him over the weekend, so just to really get him in with the group on Wednesday, see where he's at," head coach Kyle Shanahan said during a conference call on Monday. "Starting him out in individual drills, just seeing the type of shape and stuff he's in, what he can learn in the scheme."
Injuries have thinned the 49ers' defensive front. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins (patellar tendon) is out for the season, while defensive end Sam Okuayinonu will miss significant time as he recovers from a broken foot.
Defensive tackles James Thompson Jr. (ankle) and C.J. West (knee) are also expected to miss multiple weeks. The 49ers were also without rookie defensive end Romello Height in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals after he underwent hand surgery last week.
"Obviously, with our situation, hopefully, we'll get him (Judon) caught up here real fast, and hopefully, he'll be an option to help us," Shanahan added.
Judon won't be the only defensive lineman the 49ers evaluate this week. The team plans to open second-year defensive end Mykel Williams' practice window on Wednesday. However, he cannot be activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list until after the Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos, potentially allowing Judon to contribute sooner.
Against the Cardinals, the 49ers' defensive front featured several less experienced players. Still, Shanahan was proud of how the unit performed despite missing so many key pieces.
"By no means was it perfect, but I was real proud of how they played," Shanahan said. "They really competed their asses off. They were running to the ball, working real hard. I thought they did a good job throughout the game."
Shanahan acknowledged that the defensive linemen were worn down as the game progressed, and rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton dealing with cramps didn't help.
"But we were able to change up our fronts throughout the game," Shanahan added. "We asked a lot of them, and considering the circumstances for them, I thought it was a real successful game for them."
Judon has recorded 72 sacks during his career. However, his most recent sack came in 2024 with the Atlanta Falcons, when he finished the season with 5.5 sacks.
More info on: Nick Bosa, Alfred Collins, Gracen Halton, Romello Height, Sam Okuayinonu, James Thompson, C.J. West, Mykel Williams
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