The San Francisco 49ers have an injury crisis at defensive end and rookie Jaden Dugger may be one of their keys to fixing it.
Injuries on the D-line stabilized a bit Monday with rookie Romello Height back in the mix, but limited reps for Nick Bosa along with absences of Mykel Williams, Cam Sample and Keion White still left the club short at the position.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner pointed out in a post-practice recap that Dugger, a fifth-round rookie linebacker, was getting some individual reps with the edge group.
Spotted during individual drills: LB Jaden Dugger doing some work with the defensive line group. The Niners liked Dugger's versatility coming out and seem to want to explore all the ways that can be used, though it doesn't hurt that they're short on bodies at that spot right now because of injuries.
Dugger throughout his positional change at Louisiana did some work pass rushing off the edge so it's not a completely foreign concept. He also has the measurables to play DE in the NFL. He measured in at 6-4, 240 pounds with 35-inch arms and a wingspan wider than seven feet. He started his college career as a safety before moving to linebacker where he's expected to play in San Francisco. However, without a starting linebacker spot vacant, there's an opening for Dugger to carve out a short-term role on the edge if he gets more opportunities to step in while the team struggles with injuries.
#rookie
Injuries on the D-line stabilized a bit Monday with rookie Romello Height back in the mix, but limited reps for Nick Bosa along with absences of Mykel Williams, Cam Sample and Keion White still left the club short at the position.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner pointed out in a post-practice recap that Dugger, a fifth-round rookie linebacker, was getting some individual reps with the edge group.
Spotted during individual drills: LB Jaden Dugger doing some work with the defensive line group. The Niners liked Dugger's versatility coming out and seem to want to explore all the ways that can be used, though it doesn't hurt that they're short on bodies at that spot right now because of injuries.
Dugger throughout his positional change at Louisiana did some work pass rushing off the edge so it's not a completely foreign concept. He also has the measurables to play DE in the NFL. He measured in at 6-4, 240 pounds with 35-inch arms and a wingspan wider than seven feet. He started his college career as a safety before moving to linebacker where he's expected to play in San Francisco. However, without a starting linebacker spot vacant, there's an opening for Dugger to carve out a short-term role on the edge if he gets more opportunities to step in while the team struggles with injuries.
#rookie
2 hours ago
