49ers Receive Surprise Injury Update on Rookie Defender

Getty Kalia Davis' UCF defense before he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers surprised their fans on December 20 by opening the 21-day window on draftee Kalia Davis, the team’s 2022 sixth-round pick out of the University of Central Florida.

The news comes in conjunction with the Niners’ officially opening the practice window on Javon Kinlaw, the team’s 2020 first-round pick. Head coach Kyle Shanahan had hinted during his media availability heading into Week 14 that the decision to open the window on Kinlaw would be coming soon, and then Richard Sherman played spoiler with the news on the December 18 episode of his titular podcast.

The decision doesn’t necessarily mean Kinlaw, who hasn’t played since Week 3, will be back on the field in time for the Niners’ Week 16 game against the Washington Commanders, but it does open the runway for Kinlaw to return to the active roster before the regular season is over.

Davis has not played a down yet in the NFL. He was, however, a three-year contributor for UCF, one of the best teams in the American Athletic Conference. He appeared in just five games during his redshirt senior season in 2021 before suffering a torn ACL that prevented him from appearing in any other game or doing any pre-draft athletic testing. Still, the 49ers liked what they saw from Davis’ college tape and drafted him even with his 2022 prospects far from guaranteed.

2022 Was Always Going to Be a Redshirt Year for Kalia Davis

Discussing the prospects of Davis as a rookie prospect, general manager John Lynch preached patience with the player he selected 220th overall knowing Davis’ ACL injury would limit his ability to contribute right out of the gate.

“Kalia Davis, he’s a guy we see a lot of D.J. Jones in,” John Lynch said, according to an April 30 story by 49ers Webzone. “That type of explosion. Had an ACL injury. We’re going to take our time to make sure Kalia is right, so I’m not sure if he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season.

“He could be a [physically unable to perform] guy, but [we] really just love [him]. He fits exactly who we want to be as a defensive tackle, and we became very fond of him through the process.”

Ultimately, Davis began the season on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list and has been held out of all on-field activities as a result. If Davis is able to prove he can physically perform at a high enough level to join defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans’ rotation, he might be able to replace Hassan Ridgeway, who just landed on IR with a pec injury. Considering Kinlaw could return soon, that could wind up being beneficial down the stretch.

Davis’ Draft Profile Should Intrigue 49ers Fans

Though Davis hasn’t played for the 49ers in camp, the preseason or the regular season just yet, it’s not hard to imagine how he will fit into Ryans’ scheme based on the draft profile Lance Zierlein wrote heading into the draft.

“One-gapping three-technique with terrific snap quickness that creates early advantages with the potential to become full-scale disruptions,” Zierlein wrote. “Davis is a former linebacker with above-average bend, foot quickness and athleticism to create mismatches for lumbering guards. He needs more schooling and refinement as both a run defender and pass rusher to become capable of competing against the spectrum of talent he will see on the next level. He hasn’t played much football over the last two seasons, but his explosive flashes could foreshadow a bright upside as a disruptive, upfield talent.”

Afforded a “Rounds 5-7 grade” and a professional comp to Trysten Hill, a former second-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys who is currently a rotation player for the Arizona Cardinals, Davis’ projection as a one-gapping three technique could make for a very interesting fit in the 49ers’ base defense, where Ridgeway and Kevin Givens have the places of Kinlaw and Arik Armstead as they recovered from injuries. If Davis can provide a D.J. Jones-esque presence on the defensive line, as Lynch suggested after the draft, the 49ers will be very happy with his late-season contributions.