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It only took the loss of their best defensive player for the 49ers to turn to Ziggy Ansah after twice eschewing his services. Ansah visited with the team once toward the tail-end of training camp, but according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, team doctors passed on him. Ansah met with the team once more on September 15, per Rapoport, but the sides were unable to come to terms on a deal.
Now, with Nick Bosa gone for the season, Solomon Thomas potentially to follow, and Dee Ford’s status murky, the 49ers have given up on waiting-and-seeing. Ansah is expected to sign with the team, per Rapoport.
Third time the charm: The #49ers are flying FA pass-rusher Ziggy Ansah to the East Coast to meet them with the expectation that he signs after going through COVID testing. He’s visited with them twice but the sides didn’t agree to a deal. Much more optimistic this time.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 21, 2020
Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, it will be, as expected, a one-year deal.
Once Ansah signs, he will be in a similar situation to Mohamed Sanu, and need to pass a series of COVID tests in order to be allowed to practice. That means he won’t be able to get onto the field likely until Thursday, at the earliest. Sanu couldn’t practice until last Friday.
The 49ers’ current EDGE depth is Arik Armstead, Dee Ford and Kerry Hyder, with Kentavius Street a fourth option who is better served and preferred on the interior. The team also has Dion Jordan, the third overall pick in the 2013 Draft, two slots before Ansah, on the practice squad. Jordan did not make the 53-man roster after a rough training camp.
