The 49ers are bringing back veteran linebacker Mychal Kendricks, even though he’s never played a snap for them.
The longtime Eagles linebacker was in 49ers training camp, but didn’t make the 53-man roster and was released due to injury. Kendricks is expected to be healthy now, and is being added to the active roster to help with linebacker depth, according to Ian Rapoport.
The move brings the 49ers to 52 players on their roster. A few players are expected to return from the injured reserve this week, so other moves are likely forthcoming.
It seems as if the 49ers have been looking to add a veteran linebacker for a while, and now have depth issues with Dre Greenlaw injured. San Francisco’s list of healthy linebackers consists of Fred Warner, Azeez Al-Shaaair, Marcell Harris and Demetrius Flannagan-Fowles.
Kendricks, 31, hasn’t played extensively since 2019, when he started 14 games for the Seahawks. Kendricks was a starter for the Eagles from 2012-2017. According to PFF, Kendricks has been an average or below-average player for most of his career, but had standout seasons in 2014 and 2017.
