49ers add Kerry Hyder; Kinlaw feeling amazing

A name familiar to 49ers fans is returning to San Francisco.

After losing Kerry Hyder to Seattle a year ago, the 49ers are bringing Hyder back on a one-year, $1.5 million deal with $750K guaranteed and $750K available in sack incentives, according to ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates.

This signing reunites Hyder with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. Hyder’s best seasons have come while working with Kocurek. While together in Detroit and San Francisco, Hyder recorded 17.5 of his 20 career sacks.

Hyder put together the best season of his career in 2020. Starting 14 games in place of Nick Bosa, Hyder would finish with 8.5 sacks and 49 tackles. Hyder’s best game came in week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams when he finished with two sacks, hit quarterback Jared Goff four times, and recovered a fumble.

Despite losing D.J. Jones in free agency and Arden Key expected to sign elsewhere, the 49ers defensive line room is filling out nicely.

With Hyder, Charles Ohenihu, and Jordan Willis, the 49ers have three players with the ability to play along the interior or outside. This lineup provides Kocurek and defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans with several options to throw at opponents depending on the matchups.

Many who follow the 49ers expect Javon Kinlaw will step in to replace Jones at defensive tackle.

After two injury-plagued seasons to start his career in San Francisco, Kinlaw feels the best he has during his time in San Francisco.

Kinlaw discussed his health Wednesday afternoon during a podcast with Brad Graham of TheSFNiners.

“I’m feeling amazing,” said Kinlaw. “Really, honest, I’ve had nothing but ups, no downs. Knock on wood. Everything has been progressing the right way. As far as from a health standpoint, I already feel healthier than I was last year when I was on the field, so I’m just excited to really get back out there and just be able to showcase what a healthy Javon Kinlaw can do for this organization.”

During the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, 49ers general manager John Lynch told Bay Area reporters Kinlaw has been working with the same trainers who helped Nick Bosa return from a serious knee injury last season.

“All in all, the rehab process has been cool, the little things I’ve been working on, a lot of single-leg things, just a lot of bending, that type of stuff,” Kinlaw told Graham. “I already got way more knee flexibility than I ever had in my life. Hip flexibility—I’ve got more hip flexibility than I ever had in my life. The things that I do now, I’ve probably never been able to do in my life, so it’s just really exciting.”