49ers depth chart: 4 defensive veterans on the roster bubble
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair
Last year out of training camp, then-rookie linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was a nice feel-good story heading into Week 1.
Al-Shaair, an undrafted free agent, was something of a surprise addition to San Francisco’s 53-man roster. And while the Niners already had a deep linebacking corps, including Fred Warner and recently signed Kwon Alexander, Al-Shaair’s role as a backup wasn’t going to be overlooked.
Midseason injuries, notably to Alexander, opened up the door for Al-Shaair to see some defensive action, including four starts.
It wasn’t necessarily pretty.
Al-Shaair managed to record 18 tackles while picking up seven assists, but he was also credited with seven missed tackles and was pegged with a lowly 49.3 pass-coverage grade, per Pro Football Focus.
During the offseason, the Niners inked former Arizona Cardinals veteran linebacker Joe Walker to provide depth behind the starters, as well as potentially assume Al-Shaair’s role on special teams.
As a result, the second-year pro could find himself off the 53-man roster by the time Week 1 rolls around.