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Reinforcement is on the way.
The San Francisco 49ers are set to receive reinforcement at the defensive line this week. Kalia Davis is having his 21-day practice window open up on Wednesday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that on a conference call on Monday.
Now, it has become a reality. Davis has been on Injured Reserve ever since he injured his knee in the first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. It was never revealed the exact specifics of what he injured aside from the fact that he needed surgery.
Davis was estimated to return by the middle of the regular season. So, for him to have his practice window opened up now gives him a chance to return sooner than that. That means he is making an amazing recovery, which is great. Davis is a fantastic reinforcement for the 49ers.
Prominent starting defensive lineman Javon Hargrave suffered a torn tricep in the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Hargrave will miss the rest of 2024 because of it with a feint chance of returning should the 49ers make a deep playoff run. Hargrave's absence makes the defensive line thin and hurts their chances of generating pressure with four-man rushes.
That is why the 49ers blitzed the New England Patriots on a third of their defensive plays, their highest blitz rate this season. They needed to generate pressure that way since Hargrave left a massive hole in the interior. Well, Davis has a prime opportunity to shrink some of that hole.
Davis has been a player that the 49ers were hyped about entering 2024. He looked solid in training camp and against the Titans. The arrow was pointing up for Davis until his injury. Now, he has a chance to rekindle that momentum and step up for the 49ers at a time when they desperately need it.
The 49ers will give him a chance to play in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals but will be in no rush. It depends on how strong he looks. It is probably best for the 49ers to bring him along slowly so that they can get the best version of him. Keep an eye on his practice status as the week progresses.
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Raiders rookie WR showing he could be steal of 2025 draft
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Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
Red Sox Aren't Getting Standout Back Anytime Soon
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LA Lakers have inside track to sign 2x All-Star in new buyout deal, it would complete their roster
The Los Angeles Lakers could make yet another addition to their roster this offseason. After a poor postseason run, the Los Angeles Lakers have been active this summer in hopes of bolstering their roster. In fact, general manager Rob Pelinka has already made some key additions to the roster, including Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart. Signing an elite center was arguably the most important task for Pelinka this offseason, and he fulfilled it with the arrival of Ayton. However, one could argue that the Lakers still need a quality backup center. Luka Doncic could recruit Nikola Vucevic to the Los Angeles Lakers While the Lakers re-signed Jaxson Hayes, a player of Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic’s caliber would undoubtedly be a major upgrade. Moreover, with Vucevic being on the Lakers’ radar for years, it means that the organization rates him highly. Previously, the Bulls didn’t indulge in a trade with the Purple and Gold around Vucevic. It has led to Vucevic’s trade value diminishing so much that he is expected to complete a contract buyout with the Bulls. The Laker Nation would love to sign the 34-year-old, and Luka Doncic can help in this quest. How? Well, Doncic and Vucevic share the same agent in Bill Duffy. This means that if Vucevic completes a buyout, the Lakers could have the upper hand in negotiations. The 2x NBA All-Star has given the last five and a half seasons of his career to the Bulls, but it’s obvious that their time together is about to end sooner rather than later. Adding fuel to the fire were former Orlando Magic star Evan Fournier’s comments. Fournier ridiculed the Bulls while taking a shot at Vucevic after the latter called out his move overseas. Luka Doncic has already proven he can recruit stars Ahead of his first full season with the Lakers, Doncic is doing everything in his power to bring back the glory days for the Lakers. He has already undergone a massive transformation to silence his critics. Additionally, Doncic has been actively involved in recruiting players for the Lakers. Smart admitted Doncic was a huge reason behind his decision to sign with the Lakers. Ayton also acknowledged Luka’s role in his decision to join the Purple and Gold. Let’s not forget Ayton also has the same agent as the Slovenian superstar. So, Doncic has already given the inside track for one star; there’s no reason to doubt he would do the same in Vucevic’s case.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
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