It seems like the hands of time have turned back for San Francisco 49ers first-round pick Javon Kinlaw. When you look at Kinlaw's physique, you can tell a transformation has occurred. When Kinlaw was drafted in 2020, the expectations were high. The 49ers had traded Pro Bowler Deforest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts and selected Kinlaw with that pick received in return.
The defensive tackle finished his rookie season with 33 combined tackles, one and a half sacks, and an interception return for a touchdown. Although Kinlaw wasn't putting up Deforest Buckner stats, he showed flashes of what type of player he would be for the 49ers. Unfortunately, he injured his knee during the Dallas Cowboys game on December 20, 2020. On October 30, 2021, Kinlaw went on the injured reserve list, finishing the season with eight combined tackles. Soon after, he had reconstructive surgery on his ACL.
After months of rehabilitation and training, Kinlaw seems to have a much different approach for the 2022 season. After being labeled a bust by the media and many fans, Kinlaw let the hate motivate him to play better. In his most recent matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, Kinlaw finished the game with a sack and his version of the "Griddy Dance."
The 49ers have limited Kinlaw in practice and the preseason. He looked like a different player on the football field, and he played like one. Kinlaw is not known for getting sacks. He only had ten career sacks in South Carolina. However, he is known for stuffing the run, and we all saw firsthand after his injury in 2021 that he was a key piece missing on the interior of the 49ers' defensive line.
Kinlaw is having fun in practice and during the games, and that can be dangerous for 31 teams in the NFL. When a player can focus on the game and nothing else, it's a mental relief.
"Even in practice, I'm back to having fun," Kinlaw said after Saturday's game. "I don't have to worry about being in pain; you don't have to worry about nothing than just playing football."
I predict that Kinlaw will far surpass his total season sack record (1.5 in 2020). Could Kinlaw possibly have double-digit sacks this season? My advice is, don't leave Kinlaw unblocked, and good luck trying to block him in one-on-one matchups. Kinlaw is back, and in the famous words of Darkwing Duck, "Let's get Dangerous!"
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Written by:Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
