49ers vs. Chiefs: 5 biggest storylines for 2021 preseason opener
By Peter Panacy
49ers vs. Chiefs Storyline No. 3: Pass-rushing depth will be tested
Not all of the 49ers starters will even play on Saturday, and Kyle Shanahan suggested edge rushers Nick Bosa and Dee Ford will rest even though they’ve been able to partake in training camp activities after suffering serious injuries last year.
Additionally, EDGE Samson Ebukam is banged up a bit and will likely rest, too.
The Niners have little need to play either of the three, though, and preseason games are essentially about figuring out the best options to fill up the back end of the depth chart anyway.
As for San Francisco’s pass-rushing depth, “questionable” is probably the best word to be used when evaluating the second- and third-string options.
Defensive ends Arden Key, Eddie Yarbrough and Shilique Calhoun are going to receive a lot of snaps against the Chiefs, while interior defensive line reserves like Kentavius Street, Maurice Hurst, Darrion Daniels and Eddie Vanderdoes, among others, are going to see a lot of action, too.
Considering the 49ers’ starting crop of Bosa, Ford, Javon Kinlaw, D.J. Jones and Arik Armstead effectively leaves only four, perhaps five other reserve spots on the 53-man roster, it’s not hard to see just how important some excellent performances will be in terms of determining who else makes the cut.
The time for the backup D-linemen to stand out is now.