The San Francisco 49ers will have to make some tough decisions by Saturday's roster-cutdown deadline. One area where decisions could be particularly difficult is the defensive line, where the 49ers seem to have an abundance of wealth.
Among the players who have impressed during the preseason is defensive end Damontre Moore, who has been the 49ers' top-graded defensive player in each of the last two games, according to Pro Football Focus.
This offseason has been Moore's second shot at the NFL, and he is making the most of the opportunity, according to 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Moore, a former third-round pick by the New York Giants in 2013, has also played for the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Oakland Raiders. The Raiders released him on December 24, 2018.
Moore caught on with the San Diego Fleet of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football league for the startup's abbreviated inaugural season. The 49ers signed him on April 5, 2019.
Moore was later released and then brought back. Saleh explained that the move simply came down to numbers, which were reduced at the time due to injuries.
"We had to steal from somebody, which ended up being the defensive line," Saleh told reporters on Monday. "In the process of him getting cut, and he had a baby, I'm sure he was still staying in shape, and we brought him back. Since he's come back, he has not wasted this opportunity. He's been going for it, and you love to see it out of a guy, too."
If Moore doesn't end up making the 49ers' 53-man roster, he is putting on a solid audition for the 31 other NFL teams. He has 13 total pressures during the preseason, per PFF, and was credited with two sacks on Saturday night, per NFL.com.
Saleh believes he knows at least one reason Moore is so motivated to prove himself.
"He's been playing his butt off," Saleh said. "Like I said, he's a new dad, so it's amazing how the mind triggers when you've got a new 'why' in life. It's the ultimate goal for every human, I think, is to always know what your 'why' is and why you're doing things.
"He's relentless, he's been practicing with a relentless nature, and I'm excited for him getting this second shot at the NFL. He's making the most of it, and he's got another big week ahead of him."