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San Francisco 49ers: An Early Look at the Team’s 2017 Free Agents

By Peter Panacy

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert looks over the defense against the St. Louis Rams in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert looks over the defense against the St. Louis Rams in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (90) is carted off the field after getting injured during the first quarter in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (90) is carted off the field after getting injured during the first quarter in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Tackle Glenn Dorsey

Additions of rookie defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Ronald Blair via the NFL Draft this year may easily push veteran defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey out of the picture.

The thing with Dorsey, though, is he’s injured and recovering from an ACL tear suffered at the midway point of 2015. Like fellow defensive tackle Ian Williams, Dorsey’s status for the start of this season is in doubt.

If that’s the case, and anything regarding ACLs suggests it will be, Dorsey won’t be ready anytime soon. This means the Niners will likely stash the 30-year-old former first-round pick on the injured-reserve/designated-to-return list to start the year.

That’s not a terrible insurance policy to have. But Dorsey’s injury concerns aren’t anything new. He missed all but four games with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012 and missed San Francisco’s entire 2014 campaign altogether.

Injury worries, age and a growing depth along the D-line likely push Dorsey out of the picture in 2017.

Next: Unrestricted Free Agents -- Quinton Patton