The San Francisco 49ers' linebacker depth is being tested heading into the opening round of the playoffs—a challenge with the defense needing to contain Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley on Sunday.
The 49ers placed Tatum Bethune on injured reserve after the linebacker suffered a groin tear against the Seattle Seahawks. Dee Winters is dealing with an ankle injury and did not practice on Wednesday, while Luke Gifford will be limited after suffering a quad injury.
Star linebacker Fred Warner has been out since sustaining a dislocated and fractured right ankle in Week 6 and would only have a chance to return if the 49ers make a deep playoff run. And even that is far from a certainty.
To bolster the linebacker corps, San Francisco signed veteran Kyzir White to the practice squad, officially announced ahead of Wednesday's practice. With multiple injuries impacting the unit, White could be elevated from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's playoff game.
"Whatever they need me to do," White told reporters on Wednesday. "I feel like I can play, but if they don't feel like that, then that's cool too. But I'm going to go out there and practice today, try to pick up on everything, and hopefully, I can help the team in whatever capacity I can."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan leaned on his past experience facing White when deciding to bring him to the 49ers. When asked if White's eight NFL seasons could help his case to suit up, Shanahan provided an honest response.
"I would think so," Shanahan said. "I mean, we've gotta see him out there today for the first time, but I've always had a lot of respect for his game. I've played him at a number of different places, a number of different teams."
Former 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley, now the defensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints, was also a fan of White's play.
"I remember Staley talking him up a lot last year because he was able to coach him (while with the Chargers), and it sounded just like the guy I thought we went against a lot," Shanahan said. "He was a very smart, instinctual linebacker that, no matter what scheme he was in, I always felt like he had a good beat on what you were trying to do to him."
Shanahan was reminded of his heated exchange with White during a 49ers-Chargers joint practice in 2021, when the linebacker delivered a hard hit on running back Raheem Mostert. The coach and player had to be separated by players and staff.
"It got brought up because they reminded me on my prep for you guys. But yeah, I do remember that. I'll finish that beef with him today," Shanahan joked with reporters.
White told reporters he can laugh about the moment now and said he has a great deal of respect for Shanahan.
"I just know he's a great coach," White said. "He's had a lot of success in this league. A lot of guys been banged up this year on the team, and they're still a playoff team, so he's a hell of a coach."