Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers are entering the portion of the schedule where experience matters. Since Fred Warner’s injury, the 49ers have started Tatum Bethune and Curtis Robinson. Bethune remains out with a high-ankle sprain after starting five games, while Robinson, a lifetime special teamer, has started the previous two games.
With Bethune’s status in question this week, the 49ers are looking for experience at MIKE linebacker. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more experienced player than Eric Kendricks, who signed to the Niners’ practice squad on November 26.
The 11-year veteran played against the 49ers last season with the Dallas Cowboys, where he finished with nine tackles. Kendricks finished the season with 138 tackles, which led Dallas by 50, despite him missing a couple of games. Those 138 tackles from last season are 37 more than Bethune and Robinson have in their careers.
That wasn’t the only time the 49ers saw Kendricks. In 2022, the Niners had joint practices against the Minnesota Vikings during training camp. On Monday, Trent Williams told reporters what it was like to go against Kendricks:
“I just remember him wrecking our practice. He was a thorn in our backside as o-linemen because he diagnosed so quickly. He took away our ability to help because he was getting to the spot he needed to be so quick.”
Monday’s bonus practice wasn’t open to the media. We likely won’t know Kendricks’ role until Sunday. It’s hard to imagine a player who has started 142 times in this league joining the practice squad for a playoff team to watch from the sidelines.
Kendricks called this 49ers team “special” and admired how the Niners have continued to fight through adversity, calling it “inspiring to watch.”
Kendricks also spoke about the differences between Mike Zimmer’s scheme and Robert Saleh’s: It’s a little more eyes on the quarterback, and some of the blitzes are very similar. It’s a lot of memorization with terminology, but there’s some carry-over. Being blessed to be with four teams in four years, it’s allowed me to learn things really fast.”
The 49ers’ run defense hasn’t changed much since Warner’s injury, but their inability to stop passes over the middle and get after the quarterback with their pressures has fallen off a cliff. Both are areas where Kendricks has excelled throughout his career, which is why the best-case scenario may be Bethune on early downs and Kendricks on passing downs when everyone is healthy and up to speed.
It was too soon to throw Kendricks out there against the Browns before the bye week. Kendricks will still only have a few practices under his belt after this week. This Sunday against the Titans might feel like a preseason game for Kendricks as he shakes the rust off. But after this, it should be all systems go as the Colts-Bears-Seahawks games will be nailbiters.
Kendricks said he was here to “humble” himself and be part of a good team. He should have his opportunity, and that could...
