Underrated 49ers pass-rusher may finally return from season-long injury

The 49ers could reinforce their pass rush in Week 11 against the Seahawks if Yetur Gross-Matos is activated off injured reserve.

The San Francisco 49ers are horrendously thin on the outside of the defensive line, effectively having to rely solely on the trio of defensive ends Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd and Sam Okuayinonu.

Okuayinonu has been something of a revelation, going from a journeyman reservist and practice squad player who bounced around the league, ultimately finding a home with San Francisco. Yet the 49ers opted not to reinforce the outside of the D-line at the NFL trade deadline.

A primary reason? The Niners were anticipating the healthy return of fifth-year pro Yetur Gross-Matos.

Gross-Matos, whom San Francisco grabbed as a free agent during the offseason following his four-year stint with the Carolina Panthers, suffered a knee injury last preseason and hasn't seen a regular-season game with his new squad, landing on injured reserve prior to Week 1.

With the 49ers set to host the Seattle Seahawks in a vital Week 11 NFC West showdown, it appears as if Gross-Matos will make his 2024 debut.

John Lynch says the plan is to activate Yetur Gross-Matos before Seahawks game

During his weekly appearance on KNBR 680's Murph & Markus Show, general manager John Lynch revealed some promising updates on the Niners' reserve pass-rusher.

"It's looking pretty good," Lynch said on the possibility of Gross-Matos' return off IR.

Indeed, San Francisco opened up the defensive end's practice window, and Gross-Matos has been partaking in practices leading up to the game:

Gross-Matos, 26 years old, never truly caught on in Carolina, registering 13 sacks over four seasons after being selected early in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Penn State.

The 49ers hope they can turn Gross-Matos into yet another D-line reclamation story under the tutelage of defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, pairing the defender with the likes of Bosa and Floyd to deepen the rotation over the second half of the season.

Judging by Lynch's comments, it appears as if that's closer to happening.