{"id":257576,"date":"2025-12-05T13:44:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T18:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=257576"},"modified":"2025-12-05T13:44:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T18:44:48","slug":"49ers-playoff-push-kendricks-could-stabilize-linebackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/12\/05\/49ers-playoff-push-kendricks-could-stabilize-linebackers\/","title":{"rendered":"49ers Playoff Push: Kendricks Could Stabilize Linebackers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite countless injuries on both sides of the ball, the San Francisco 49ers enter their bye week at 9-4 and currently hold the NFC\u2019s seventh seed \u2014 meaning they would make the playoffs if the season ended today. As the 49ers’ playoff push continues, the team now gets a crucial week to get healthier, prepare new signee Eric Kendricks, <\/a>and rest key starters before the final stretch.<\/p>\n

49ers Playoff Push: Kendricks Could Stabilize Linebackers<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau (35) and linebacker Eric Kendricks (50) go through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Injuries Have Complicated the 49ers Playoff Push<\/h3>\n

Injuries have stretched San Francisco\u2019s depth thin, especially along the offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker group. At linebacker, the situation has gone from tough to dire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dee Winters<\/a> has been the lone healthy starter. All-Pro Fred Warner suffered a season-ending broken ankle in Week 6. \u00a0His replacement, second-year standout Tatum Bethune, sprained his ankle in Week 11. That forced the 49ers to turn to practice-squad linebacker Curtis Robinson, who has started the past two games.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teammates and coaches respect Robinson \u2014 he\u2019s the team\u2019s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee<\/a> for the second straight season \u2014 but he began the year as a third-stringer for a reason. As the 49ers enter the most critical stretch of the season, the coaching staff may need a more proven option.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Eric Kendricks Makes Sense Now<\/b><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s optimism that Bethune could return for the next matchup against the Tennessee Titans<\/a>. Kendricks would provide a more reliable option next to Winters if Bethune needs another week to fully recover.<\/span><\/p>\n

At 33, Kendricks hasn\u2019t played this season and may no longer be the player he once was. Nevertheless, he brings experience, anticipation, and a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 that still holds weight. Over 10 NFL seasons \u2014 eight of them leading the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> defense \u2014 Kendricks has totaled 1,174 tackles, 21.5 sacks, and 11 interceptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Kyle Shanahan wanted to sign him last year to start alongside Warner. Kendricks ended up signing with the Dallas Cowboys.<\/a> Kendricks could provide the steady presence the defense has been missing, even as the unit has held strong despite injuries to Warner, defensive end Nick Bosa, and others. \u00a0Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s unit has played team football to keep the opponents off the scoreboard, a big reason why the 49ers are on a three-game win streak and in playoff position.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Soft Landing Before the Schedule Toughens<\/b><\/p>\n

If activated, the 49ers could ease Kendricks into action against the one-win Titans, a low-risk opportunity to shake off rust. After that, the team’s schedule ramps up against the Chicago Bears<\/a>, Indianapolis<\/a> Colts, and divisional rival Seattle Seahawks<\/a> \u2014 all offenses with enough firepower to stress an already thin defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a tight playoff race, the 49ers need reliable linebacker play. Whether Bethune returns quickly or not, Kendricks gives San Francisco a veteran option capable of stabilizing a youthful defense that has been performing well in the face of injury adversity.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite countless injuries on both sides of the ball, the San Francisco 49ers enter their bye week at 9-4 and currently hold the NFC\u2019s seventh seed \u2014 meaning they would make the playoffs if the season ended today. As the 49ers’ playoff push continues, the team now gets a crucial week to get healthier, prepare […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5641,"featured_media":257663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[1204,33943],"class_list":["post-257576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-49ers","tag-eric-kendricks","tag-san-franciso-49ers-roster"],"modified_by":"Drew Crabtree","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5641"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257576"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":257664,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257576\/revisions\/257664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/257663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}