The Atlanta Falcons waived defensive end Takkarist McKinley this week. The San Francisco 49ers currently sit at No. 15 in the waiver wire claim order. That doesn't matter, though, because head coach Kyle Shanahan informed reporters on Wednesday that the team did not put in a claim for the defensive lineman.
Injuries have decimated the 49ers roster, including the defensive line. San Francisco lost pass rusher Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL injury during Week 2, and veteran Dee Ford has not played since Week 1 due to a back injury. Solomon Thomas is also out for the season with an ACL injury.
Last season's sack leader, Arik Armstead, has just 1.5 sacks this season. DeForest Bucker, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle, is in Indianapolis.
"I don't think we put in the claim for [McKinley]," Shanahan said. "And I know we were behind a number of people (in the claim order). I'm assuming that he went to some people. It's always tough when you're in the situation that we're in. You can make things work and move some things around, but I don't think we're going in that direction."
As Shanahan was speaking with the media, it was reported that the Cincinnati Bengals were awarded McKinley. The Bengals are above San Francisco in the waiver wire claim order. So, the 49ers coach was correct. Had his team put in a claim, McKinley would not have ended up with the 49ers.
The Falcons drafted McKinley out of UCLA with the No. 26 overall pick in 2017. He has registered seven tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed through four games and 85 snaps this season.
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