San Francisco 49ers Unlikely To Pick Up Defensive Tackle's Fifth-Year Option

It's not looking like they'll be bringing him back.

The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly unlikely to pick up defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw's fifth-year option in May.

Javon Kinlaw has played in 13 out of a possible 40 games over the past 2 seasons due to knee issues. The #49ers should NOT pickup his 10.4M 5th-year option pic.twitter.com/tvx2TtNDTy

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 8, 2023

Since coming off an ACL reconstruction in 2021, Kinlaw has started just 10 regular season games in the last two years.

Over his three-year career, the twenty-five-year-old has 45 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.

It's possible that he bounces back in 2023 when he's fully healthy, but the 49ers have a good reason to not want to give him more money based off this start to his career.

Kinlaw was the 49ers' first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports