In the waning minutes of their 19-16 preseason loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night, news broke that the 49ers reportedly are adding another linebacker.
San Francisco is signing free-agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday night, citing a source. Kendricks had visited the 49ers earlier in the week.
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SIGN UP HERE The timing of the report was a bit odd, as the 49ers were in the middle of a game. But after it was over, coach Kyle Shanahan explained why they're signing the veteran linebacker.
"I've played against Mychal for a long time," Shanahan said. "Going back to when I was in the NFC East, going against him in Philly all the time. He's done a hell of a job in Seattle these last couple years. We've gotten banged up a little bit at linebacker and he was out there. We were hoping to bring him in and have some competition, and hopefully add some depth, too."
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Kendricks, 30, has appeared in 104 games (91 starts) throughout his nine-year NFL career, having spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and, most recently, one game with the Washington Football Team last season. A second-round pick in the 2012 draft, Kendricks was a defensive star at University of California, Berkeley.
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With both Azeez Al-Shaair and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles currently on the mend from respective injuries, the 49ers have been a bit short at linebacker. At the very least, Kendricks should provide additional depth, and possibly even more.