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It doesn't sound like the 49ers have much to worry about when it comes to the knee problems that sidelined rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw for the final two games of the 2020 regular season, based on comments from team general manager John Lynch on Monday.
Kinlaw sustained the injury during the 49ers' 41-33 Week 15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Lynch was asked during his year-end press conference if Kinlaw's injury was related at all to knee tendinitis that flared up during the predraft process in the early part of 2020. The general manager responded by saying that Kinlaw's latest knee problem was simply a result of a hard bump he took to his knee when chasing down Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton.
"I guess when you say tendinitis, tendinitis is just some inflammation in the knee," Lynch said. "I think what happened to Javon, if you take it back to the Dallas game, it was actually the play when he stripped Andy Dalton. He's a big man. He came down really hard on his knee, and it was a bone bruise, really -- just the force of hitting the turf. It felt like we had a chance to get him back that week. The swelling just remained and it was stubborn. The good news -- at the end of this week it started to come out, but he had been out of practice so long it didn't make sense to put him in the last game."
Kinlaw finished his rookie season with 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception after being selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. His absence, as well as that of defensive tackle Kevin Givens due to personal issues, gave some other young players, such as undrafted rookie Darrion Daniels, a chance for some playing time.
"Some young guys really stepped up and took advantage of those opportunities," Lynch said. "We're proud of those guys."
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