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The San Francisco 49ers defensive line underwent a small makeover this offseason with the departures of DeForest Buckner and Sheldon Day, both of whom are now with the Indianapolis Colts. The team replaced Buckner with first-round pick Javon Kinlaw.
San Francisco will get another crucial piece of the defensive-line puzzle back this season in D.J. Jones, whose 2019 campaign ended in Week 14 due to an ankle injury.
Jones recorded a career-high two sacks and 23 tackles before his injury. He may not have the flashy statistics, but don't discount the impact he had on the unit has a whole.
Pass rusher Dee Ford spoke with reporters on Friday via a video conference call and discussed what Jones brings to the table and why he is such a vital part of the team's campaign to return to the Super Bowl.
"In the beginning of the season, we really saw what D.J. could do," Ford said. "He's a game-changer. He can definitely disrupt the whole offensive line the way that he penetrates and pushes pads back. Man, he's definitely a pivotal part."
Ford, who missed five games due to injury last season, knows how important it will be for him and his teammates to stay healthy this season.
"I think he's in the same boat as me," Ford continued. "Just being available is the more important thing. The more we have D.J., the more scarier the D-line is as a whole. We all play together, and everything that we do together is tied in together. D.J. will be a very important part of that."
More will be asked of Jones in 2020, and the defensive tackle sounds up to the task. He has been working this offseason to improve his ability to reach and bring down opposing quarterbacks.
"I know I have it in me,"
Jones told reporters last week. "I just need the opportunity, and I need to continue to work at my craft to get better. Like I said, I stop my feet, I'll be stuck in mud, and I won't be able to make any plays. But as long as my feet keep working, my hands are working, I can get to the quarterback."
The injury and lost time were disappointing to Jones, who had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates fought their way to the Super Bowl and lost.
"I felt like I was on the rise," Jones said. "I felt like there was a lot more out there for me. I felt like I could have helped my team along the way. But at the same time, God makes no mistakes, and there's nothing I can do about the past except for work hard for the future."
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their "Legendary Revenge Tour," and rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will be part of the show. In fact, fourth-year wideout Kendrick Bourne believes Aiyuk will be a big reason why the 49ers will make their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Hopefully, this time, key offseason moves will be enough to lift the team to a victory in the big game.
San Jose-area photographer Pierre Whitsey snapped some fantastic photos of Bourne working out with others at San Jose State on Tuesday, according to the date on the gallery. Aiyuk was among the group, and some of those photos showed Bourne talking to the rookie, perhaps offering up some
The San Francisco 49ers could have been in a bind after Joe Staley's retirement. Instead, the team may have improved. That's because it replaced the Pro Bowl offensive tackle with another Pro Bowl offensive tackle in Trent Williams.
Williams was among several 49ers players who took part in this week's State of the Franchise event. He wanted out of Washington, and his most desired destination was San Francisco. The 49ers were able to pull off the trade during the third day of the draft, and Williams is grateful to be where he is now.
A lot of that has to do with the tackle's familiarity with the 49ers' head coach, Kyle Shanahan, and the scheme he runs, but that wasn't the only reason.
"I say this all the time: It was an attractive destination, not
Just bringing up Colin Kaepernick's name can still evoke strong emotions from different people. That difference was even more evident in 2016 when the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback started kneeling during the national anthem in protest of social injustice.
A lot has changed since then. The nation has a better understanding of why Kaepernick was so passionate about the cause. It may have taken four years, and some horrific recent events, but the quarterback's message is finally getting through. More people are beginning to understand what he was trying to do back then to spread awareness, and more are now willing to listen.
Kaepernick is still unemployed from football. Although, he remains active in his efforts to bring about awareness of social injustice
