Depleted Defensive Line in Houston
By the end of the game on Sunday in Houston, the 49ers’ defensive line rotation included practice-squad players Trevis Gipson, Robert Beal Jr., along with Mykel Williams and Kalia Davis.
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Mounting Injuries to Key Pass Rushers
San Francisco’s already without defensive end Nick Bosa for the season, while they’ve lost other star pass rusher Bryce Huff to a hamstring injury for a few weeks. Defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos is also battling a hamstring injury and his return is also unknown.
Struggling to Generate Pressure
For a position group that was already thin coming into the season, it was down to its last legs on Sunday against C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ passing offense. The 49ers only generated 10 pressures on Sunday, but only five of them came from defensive linemen, which is a season low, per Pro Football Focus.
More Injuries Adding to the Problem
To add insult to injury, defensive end Sam Okuayinonu and rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins are both day-to-day with various injuries, so they’re status for this Sunday’s game is in question.
Statistical Decline Since Bosa’s Injury
The 49ers only have five sacks since Nick Bosa’s injury in Week 3, which ranks 31st in the NFL during that time frame. They also only pressure opposing quarterbacks on 25.3 percent of drop-backs without blitzing, which is dead last in the NFL.
Saleh’s Scheme Under Strain
Robert Saleh’s scheme is heavily reliant on creating pass rush with the front four, while occasionally blitzing. He’s had to rely on it more heavily the last few weeks given the lack of pass rush without it and it didn’t hit on Sunday, which cost the 49ers dearly.
Adjusted Expectations for the Season
San Francisco’s in a position where they might not have a Super Bowl ceiling this season – especially given all the injuries – but they can certainly compete to make the playoffs in the NFC and have positioned themselves well to do that.
The Case for Adding Defensive Line Depth
General Manager John Lynch owes it to the 49ers’ roster to add some depth along the defensive line that can help this season for a postseason run, while also being a factor for 2026. As Kyle Shanahan’s previously highlighted, it’ll be important for the 49ers to use valuable draft assets to bolster this roster for now and the future, so if they do add someone, it’ll be someone that’s probably under contract for next season.
Potential Trade Partners and Targets
The teams that come to mind as sellers, as we approach the November 4 trade deadline would be the Jets, Dolphins and the Titans.
New York would be ideal, as Robert Saleh has some familiarity with the defenders having worked with them previously. Defensive end Jermaine Johnson sticks out as a candidate that the 49ers would love to add for the right price, who’s also under contract beyond this season. Veteran Bradley Chubb is another trade candidate that’s been tossed around in discussions, while Jaelen Phillips is also an option for the 49ers from Miami.
A Possible Reunion in Tennessee
With regards to the Titans, the 49ers could possibly reunite with a former teammate in Arden Key, who could provide some interior pass rush.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of who the 49ers choose to purse in the next week or so, I think they owe it to the remaining healthy players to bolster this defensive line to give them a better chance of making the playoffs and slowing down opposing offenses.
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