Observers have been impressed with one San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman, a former first-round pick that many fans had already cast off as a bust. Javon Kinlaw has missed 24 games over the past two seasons. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery in 2021. A setback last season forced Kinlaw to miss 11 games.
Kinlaw is healthy and ready to prove his critics were wrong to give up on him so soon.
"The world gonna see, point blank, period," Kinlaw told reporters on Friday, following the 49ers' final joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Entering the NFL, some evaluators classified Kinlaw as a "freak" of a talent with a ton of potential. Kinlaw used the term "freak" to describe himself when asked about a snap he took at defensive end early in training camp, with the reporter wondering if that might be a preview of things to come. The defender wanted him to know anything was possible, but we'll have to wait and see.
Kinlaw, a massive physical specimen when he entered the league, looks to have undergone an offseason change. He looked sleeker at the podium while speaking to the media. How much more confidence does he have now that he is less concerned about his knee holding up?
"I mean, a whole bunch," Kinlaw responded. "Playing with one-and-a-half legs is no good. You think about it every snap versus [having] two legs, two good legs. Body is improving as a whole. Just able to do some things I've never been able to do, so it gives me superior confidence."
Kinlaw worked hard this offseason to transform himself. The work has seemingly paid off, as the defensive end has looked like a force on the practice field. It is what the 49ers thought they were getting when they made him the No. 14 overall pick in 2020.
"Just a grind, you know?" Kinlaw said of his offseason efforts. "But I've been grinding. Nothing new. Only thing I added differently, I focused on a lot of mobility, a lot of stability, and a lot of body mechanics. Just trying to make myself a better athlete as a whole, and it's paying off. But I've been grinding. That's what I do. That's what got me to this point."
Kinlaw says he has improved his leverage and ability to get off the ball. He feels more explosive and violent off the line of scrimmage.
"When the pad level comes down, I don't believe nobody can stop me," the defender added.
Kinlaw is taking advantage of the talented roster around him. There are two veterans ahead of him on the depth chart that can offer a wealth of knowledge—Javon Hargrave, this offseason's prized free-agent addition, and Arik Armstead.
"I'm playing behind two of the best interior defense linemen in the game right now, so I'm just soaking in as much information as I can, like I always do," Kinlaw shared. "And I'm blessed to be in the position that I'm in. They just do a good job of leading, setting the tone every day.
"Grave is a special player—change of direction, just natural leverage. Just nobody can stop him when he gets into them. He's able to work edges, too, slice people up. And you know Arik, just a wrecking ball. So I'm really blessed right now."
Kinlaw has put his setbacks behind him and is ready to focus on his future. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The 49ers opted not to exercise his fifth-year option. Why is the defensive tackle confident that his NFL story isn't close to being over?
"Because I work at it every day," Kinlaw said. "When you work at something every day, you get superior confidence over it. It's all mind over matter, and right now, I'm in a great mental space. And nothing's going to stop my knee because I work at it every single day. It's a must. I don't go a day without working on it."