The 49ers took to the waiver wire to help their ailing defensive ends. With Nick Bosa, Dee Ford and Ronald Blair all nursing injuries, and Jonathan Kongbo recently waived/injured, San Francisco claimed James Lockhart from Pittsburgh.
Lockhart was an undrafted free agent signee by the Steelers following this year’s draft. He played his college football at Texas A&M and the University of Baylor. He was relatively unproductive in two years with the Aggies before transferring. Lockhart posted six of his seven career sacks last season as a senior.
Kongbo was waived/injured and officially cleared waivers Saturday. Since he was waived with an injury designation, he reverts to the 49ers’ Injured Reserve and will spend the season there unless he reaches an injury settlement and is granted his release. He’s a project with good physical tools, so the team may want to keep him stashed on IR where he can be around the facility.