49ers get reinforcements on the defensive line

Reinforcements are on the way.

The San Francisco 49ers will be getting reinforcements on the defensive line this week. Kalia Davis opened his 21-day training window on Wednesday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made the announcement in a conference call on Monday.

Now it has become a reality. Davis has been on injured reserve since injuring his knee in the first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. The exact details of his injury were never revealed, other than that he required surgery.

It was estimated that Davis would return midway through the regular season. So opening his practice window gives him a chance to return sooner. This means he is recovering amazingly well, which is great. Davis is a fantastic addition to the 49ers.

Prominent starting defensive lineman Javon Hargrave suffered a torn triceps in the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Hargrave will miss the remainder of 2024 for this reason and has little chance of returning should the 49ers make a deep playoff run. Hargrave's absence makes the defensive line thinner and reduces their chances of generating pressure with four-man forwards.

Because of this, the 49ers blitzed the New England Patriots on a third of their defensive plays, their highest blitz rate this season. They had to create pressure this way because Hargrave had left a huge hole in the interior. Well, Davis has the best opportunity to shrink that hole a bit.

Davis was a player the 49ers were excited about in 2024. He looked solid in training camp and against the Titans. Until his injury, the arrow was pointing upward for Davis. Now he has a chance to reignite that momentum and commit to the 49ers at a time when they desperately need it.

The 49ers will give him a chance to play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5, but won't be in a hurry. It depends on how strong he looks. It's probably best for the 49ers to move him forward slowly so they can get the best version of him. Keep an eye on his training status throughout the week.

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