San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday that he didn't believe his team put in a claim for Takkarist McKinley after the Atlanta Falcons waived the defensive end this week. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is hearing differently. The NFL insider reports that San Francisco was indeed one of the teams that tried to acquire the defender.
The Cincinnati Bengals were awarded McKinley. Rapoport states that other teams were interested as well.
What if Takk McKinley wasn't claimed by the #Bengals? Source said that the #Raiders, #Browns, and #49ers also put in claims. Cincy won out.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 11, 2020
"I don't think we put in the claim for [McKinley]," Shanahan said before Wednesday's practice. "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."
The 49ers could have certainly used some defensive line help. Injuries have decimated Shanahan's entire roster, including at that position. Both Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas are out for the season with ACL injuries, and Dee Ford has not played since Week 1 due to a back injury. San Francisco brought in Ziggy Ansah for help, and he too was lost for the year with a biceps injury.