Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks becoming comfortable in new role with 49ers

SANTA CLARA — He signed with the 49ers late in the season, and now he finds himself in an important spot as the playoffs begin.Linebacker Eric Kendricks did not know what to expect when he came to the 49ers in November. He wanted an opportunity to make a contribution to a postseason team.And that is exactly what will happen, as he takes over at middle linebacker against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in the first round of the NFC playoffs.“I don’t know what I envisioned,” Kendricks said on Wednesday. “I took a leap of faith, as far as the organization was concerned. I just had a gut feeling. I didn’t want to jump on anything too early that didn’t feel quite right.“I didn’t play for a whole, so nothing really felt right. I got this opportunity, and it felt right.”Kendricks appeared in the past three games for the 49ers after signing with the team’s practice squad on Nov. 26. On Wednesday, the 49ers activated him to the 53-man roster and placed Tatum Bethune on injured reserve with a groin injury.“This team is super-unselfish,” Kendricks said. “You can see it through all position groups. So...