Azeez Al-Shaair is still rehabbing from a knee injury and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is in the concussion protocol
The 49ers are battling injuries at linebacker as Azeez Al-Shair works his way back from a knee injury, and Demetrius Flannigan-Foles is in the concussion protocol. Samson Ebukam played linebacker primarily when he was with the Rams, but he’s been in and out of the lineup during the past week and a half due to leg soreness.
According to the NFL’s transaction wire, the Niners hosted former Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks.
Kendricks has been productive in the NFL as recently as 2019 when he started 14 games with Seattle. However, Kendricks tore his ACL during Week 17 in the season finale against San Francisco.
Oh, and there’s something else.
Three weeks ago, Kendricks was sentenced to one day in jail, three years probation, and 300 hours of community service for a 2018 insider-trading charge.
If you’re going to go after a former Seahawk linebacker, wouldn’t K.J. Wright make the most sense? K.J. Wright may not have the same pure speed, but he’s plenty athletic. In addition, both linebackers are in their 30s. Wright was arguably Seattle’s best linebacker last season.
Either way, the team needs at least one body until either Al-Shaair or Flannigan-Fowles returns to the lineup. In addition, the 49ers may feel like both of their young linebackers needs these preseason reps and could want a veteran in the third linebacker spot next to Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.