It's not unreasonable to think San Francisco 49ers fans sometimes overreact to injuries. Maybe some of the constant consternation on social media about minor ailments is a bit much, but any concern about the team’s current edge rusher situation is completely warranted.
There are already growing concerns about Nick Bosa, given the fact he’s dealing with tendinitis in his knee, and head coach Kyle Shanahan gave a disappointing update on edge rusher Mykel Williams’ availability for Week 1.
There’s a very legitimate possibility the Niners will be without both players in their first game, which could lead to an uninspiring defensive effort. The team needs more depth at edge rusher, and they must kick the tires on a reunion with at least one of these three players.
Yetur Gross-Matos
Yetur Gross-Matos was oft-injured in his two seasons with the Niners, and he remains unsigned in free agency. He had four sacks with the Niners in 2024 and has proven he can be productive. If the red and gold can bring him in at an affordable price, then he's at least worth a look.
He would present a temporary option who could fill in for Bosa or Williams but could potentially be a depth piece if he proves he can stay healthy.
Kevin Givens
While the Niners just cut Kevin Givens (and although he is not an edge rusher), perhaps adding more interior depth could allow them to get more creative outside.
Gracen Halton impressed in the team’s first preseason game, so maybe the 49ers could experiment with him in an edge rushing role. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and if San Francisco’s two starting edge rushers from last season aren’t ready to go, then everything should be on the table.
Leonard Floyd
A reunion with Leonard Floyd seems so obvious it’s bizarre it hasn’t happened yet. He has an extensive history with defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and played with the Niners back in 2024. Maybe he is still upset that he got cut, but if they’re the only ones that come knocking, he may not have a choice.
He’s a veteran who knows what he’s doing and would be a perfect stopgap option if Williams and Bosa need some more time to get healthy.
The 49ers pass rush is far from ideal at the moment, but they need to be proactive rather than sitting on their hands. Reuniting with one of these players would be an effective way to give the defensive line a boost ahead of the regular season.
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