49ers vs. Chiefs: Top 5 performances from preseason Week 3

No. 4: Defensive Lineman Damontre Moore

Defensive line is the deepest position on the 49ers team, but with both edge rushers Nick Bosa and Dee Ford being held out for the entire preseason with injuries, there have been opportunities for fringe players to make cases for themselves for roster spots.

Enter defensive lineman Damontre Moore, a former third-round draft pick of the New York Giants back in 2013, who has been solid throughout the preseason for the 49ers. He continued that against the Chiefs, finishing the game with five total tackles (including one for loss), two sacks and four additional quarterback hits.

This output pushes his preseason totals to nine tackles (two for loss), two sacks and seven quarterback hits. Most importantly, Moore has looked dominant against lower-level talent, and not out of his depth when matched up against first-team offensive lines.

As previously mentioned, there’s a lot of depth along this defensive line, with players like Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas and Ronald Blair, among others, joining Bosa and Ford for playing time.

Moore, however, could have made a case for a fringe roster spot, something he may be fighting with previous top performer Jeremiah Valoaga for, and if he makes it, could help add to the strength of this unit for the 49ers in 2019.