49ers roster: 5 players who desperately need a great preseason
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche
Enough with the rookies, let’s discuss some veterans, shall we?
San Francisco inked former Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche in the wake of losing veteran lineman Maurice Hurst to what’s likely a season-ending biceps tear earlier in training camp.
And while it’s always easy to get excited about former first-round draft picks, one has to fully admit the soon-to-be 28-year-old Nkemdiche has come nowhere close to living up to his Round 1 draft billing.
Things aren’t stacked in his favor being such a late addition to the 49ers roster either.
Read More: Robert Nkemdiche joins already-stacked Niners D-line
The Niners are going to part ways with starting-caliber defensive linemen prior to Week 1, as it’s just the nature of how deep this particular unit is. Probably with the understanding he was brought in merely to round out the second- and third-string units between now and the regular season, and little more than that, Nkemdiche is likely looking at his last best shot to prove he’s an effective player at the NFL level.
He’ll need to have a preseason campaign better than any other he’s had yet in order to stick around.