The San Francisco 49ers announced that the team has activated defensive lineman Kentavius Street from injured reserve ahead of the its Week 15 matchup this weekend against the Atlanta Falcons.
The move comes as defensive tackle D.J. Jones' season comes to an end. The 49ers officially placed Jones on injured reserve following a high-ankle sprain he suffered this past Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
The 49ers opened the practice window for Street on Wednesday, December 4. The team's defensive line has been struck by injuries this season. In addition to Jones, both Ronald Blair (ACL) and Damontre Moore (fractured forearm) have already been placed on injured reserve. Jullian Taylor (elbow) is expected to miss another week, and Dee Ford (hamstring) may not be available until the playoffs.
Street has yet to play in a regular-season game. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve after the 49ers made him a fourth-round draft pick out of NC State. Street was coming off an ACL injury suffered during the pre-draft process.
San Francisco placed Street on injured reserve on September 1 of this year. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee but became eligible to return after Week 8.
"I feel completely back to normal, now," Street told reporters on Thursday. "Like, even coming back and practicing (during) training camp, OTAs, it still felt a little bit limiting. But right now is probably the best I've felt since prior to the injury."
In four seasons at NC State, Street registered 121 combined tackles, 19.5 for a loss, and 9.5 sacks. 5.5 of that sack total came in 2016 alone, with 3.5 coming in 2017. He was a three-year starter for the Wolfpack.
"Just getting him back out there, I know how hard he's worked to get out there," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Friday. "I think each week, he's gotten more of his legs under him.
"He's been ready to go, but to get into football, practice, and everything, holding his gaps and stuff, looked in shape, healthy from the beginning and now getting these weeks of practice. He definitely looks ready to go this week and he's getting his opportunity."
As for Jones, the 49ers made the defensive tackle a sixth-round selection out of Ole Miss in 2017. He registered 23 combined tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble through 11 starts this season.
Jones, 24, has recorded 50 combined tackles, two sacks, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble in his three NFL seasons.
