The San Francisco 49ers are looking for reinforcements on the defensive line.
In the week of their first preseason game they lost defensive end Drake Jackson for the year, and defensive tackle Kalia Davis for at least half the season. Now they’re working out a trio of defensive lineman according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston.
Abdullah Anderson, Marquise Copeland and Nicholas Williams all worked out for the 49ers on Tuesday during the team’s off day.
Anderson, 28, has been on five teams in five seasons. He entered the league with the Bears before joining the Vikings, Packers, Falcons and Commanders. Anderson has eight starts in 33 NFL games with 54 tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Copeland is a four-year NFL veteran who debuted as an undrafted rookie with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. That was the year 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley was the defensive coordinator in LA. Copeland had nine starts in 26 games across his four years with the Rams. His most productive season was in 2022 when got all nine of his starts. That year he had 31 tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks.
Williams is the oldest and most experienced of the bunch at age 34. He’s been in the NFL since 2014 and has 97 games played with 48 starts for the Chiefs, Dolphins, Bears, Lions, Giants and Chargers. He was with the Chargers last year when Staley was the head coach. He posted a sack and seven tackles for loss in 14 games (six starts).
All three play along the interior which is where the 49ers are particularly thin for now. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they went with a player like Copeland, though since his frame suggests he could also play some outside where San Francisco may also need some assistance.
Update
Chase Daniel, Williams’ former teammate, reported Williams will sign with the 49ers. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan confirmed the report.
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