First, there have been zero reports that the San Francisco 49ers are interested in former Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Clay Matthews. I cannot stress that enough. Still, with the team's ever-increasing number of injuries, Matthews' name does come up often from fans who feel he could help offset some of the Niners' losses.
In just two weeks, the 49ers defensive line has taken a significant hit. Ronald Blair (knee) and Jullian Taylor (knee) started the season on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list. Then, on Sunday, San Francisco lost Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas to season-ending ACL injuries. No one seems to know when Dee Ford (back) will return to the field. Even D.J. Jones (ankle) got nicked up.
Naturally, that leads to fan speculation involving available players. Even with Ziggy Ansah signing this week, Matthews' name often comes up, and Matt Barrows of The Athletic understand why.
"At 34, he'd be the team's oldest defender," Barrows wrote in a recent mailbag article. "But he had eight sacks last year, which would have ranked third on the 49ers last season. Should Ford be out a while, Matthews seems ideal for the nickel pass-rush role, or at least as ideal as you're going to get in late September."
If you are excited about the prospect of the 49ers adding Matthews, you may want to temper those hopes.
Added Barrows: "Alas, as of Tuesday morning, I was told there's 'nothing there' as far as the 49ers and Matthews."
Who knows if the situation could change in the coming weeks. But for now, it doesn't sound like there is anything there.
Matthews spent last season with the Rams after 10 years with the Packers but was released on March 19. He recorded eight sacks through 13 games in 2019, the most he has racked up since reaching opposing quarterbacks 11 times in 2014.
The Packers made Matthews the No. 26 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He has recorded 91.5 sacks in his 11 NFL seasons, is a six-time Pro Bowl selection, was named a first-team All-Pro in 2010, and is the Packers' career sack leader with 83.5.