The 49ers could be without Arik Armstead for their primetime Week 3 clash with the Denver Broncos because of a foot injury and, with the interior the weakest part of their stacked defensive line, there’s some concern that his absence could be a critical one.
But San Francisco still has talent up the middle to fill the void should Armstead be unable to play, with Kevin Givens likely to take on an increased role if the Niners are without the former Oregon Duck.
Givens has been a consistent feature of the 49ers’ defensive line rotation after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
Though he only has one sack in his NFL career, Givens has continually excelled as a penetrator on the defensive front with his quickness and hand usage, allowing him to create interior pressure and make plays in the backfield against the run.
Kevin Givens (#90) remains an extremely underrated player. He’ll be very important on Sunday if Armstead can’t go. pic.twitter.com/Vlk56UsKsY
— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) September 23, 2022
Givens can hold his ground at the point of attack and even stand firm against double teams. He also has the ability to quickly disengage from blocks and find the ball carrier.
This play might exemplify just how much the 49ers have gotten out of their DL depth in the second half of the year.
Kevin Givens whips Austin Corbett and Jordan Willis puts Andrew Whitworth on skates. Whitworth recovers but Bosa helps ensure it’s chaos for Stafford. pic.twitter.com/EQzyhowqKl
— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) January 15, 2022
There may be more of an onus on Javon Kinlaw and Charles Omenihu to deliver interior pass rush if Armstead is out. Kinlaw has had success pushing the pocket in the first two games but more will be expected of the 2020 first-round pick, while Omenihu was excellent playing inside and out in the 49ers’ Week 2 win over the Seahawks.
Hassan Ridgeway will see snaps at nose tackle, while Kerry Hyder Jr. could also be moved inside to compensate for a potential Armstead absence.
But Beyond Armstead and Kinlaw, Givens is the only primary interior player the 49ers have on the active roster whom they can keep on the field on both run and passing downs and expect to make an impact in defending both facets of opposing offenses.
The 49ers will obviously hope Armstead is ready to play on Sunday but, if he isn’t, Givens will likely see a significant bump in snaps and his previous performances suggest one of the more underrated players on this excellent defense will deliver a reminder of his value.
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