San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw has recorded 15 tackles, a quarterback hit, and three passes defensed through his first seven NFL games. There is one thing noticeably absent from the first-round pick's stat sheet — sacks.
Kinlaw has yet to record his first.
That doesn't really concern the rookie, though. Kinlaw has a team-first mentality and has, from the beginning, said that he is willing to do whatever is asked of him.
"I'm not really worried about sacking the QB," Kinlaw told reporters on Wednesday. "I'm just worried about just getting a win, honestly. All that stuff comes a part of playing D-line, and trying to get the quarterback, and things like that. But the main thing is to win.
"And of course, (I'm) still learning how to play good technique. The sacks, they gonna come. They always gonna come, but right now, I'm still in the phase of just trying to play with good technique, play good football."
Kinlaw acknowledges he's come close to reaching opposing quarterbacks. He just hasn't been able to bring one down. According to Pro Football Focus, the young defender has 11 quarterback pressures, nine hurries, and two hits this season.
Kinlaw has a big challenge this week. He is tasked with disrupting MVP candidate Russell Wilson of the Seahawk Seahawks.
"It's really my first time, today, really getting an eye on the Seahawks," Kinlaw admits. "I'm still trying to figure some things out about what do I see, tendencies, and things like that."
The 49ers and Seahawks are set to play at CenturyLink Field on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT.
