As the San Francisco 49ers gear up for another run at a Super Bowl title, they find themselves with some unexpected holes to fill.
All season, the 49ers' roster has been decimated by injuries, from All-Pro stars like Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel to role players like linebacker Curtis Robinson. But perhaps no injury has affected San Francisco's depth quite like that of Javon Hargrave.
Hargrave, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, suffered a torn triceps in Week 3. Then, on Sunday, another defensive tackle, Jordan Elliott, suffered an ankle injury. That leaves the defensive interior in flux for San Francisco, and an additional signing may be forthcoming.
With that weakness in mind, Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department recently predicted that the 49ers will reunite with eight-year veteran Hassan Ridgeway, who played 12 games for San Francisco in 2022.
Javon Hargrave is likely out for the rest of the season, which leaves the 49ers with a big hole in the middle of their defense," the authors said.
"While Ridgeway won't be able to replace what Hargrave brings to the table, he was a productive rotational player for the 49ers a couple of years ago with 28 tackles, three (tackles for loss) and four quarterback hits while playing in 12 games with just seven starts."
Ridgeway, 29, remains unsigned after playing in just three games for the Houston Texans in 2023. He suffered a season-ending Achilles tear last November, so the 49ers would need an assurance that he's back to game speed before inking him to a deal.
When a team is in a pinch like the 49ers currently are, familiarity can be a saving grace of sorts. Compared to other emergency signings, Ridgeway wouldn't need to learn much new material. He's been a part of San Francisco's system before, albeit under a different coordinator in DeMeco Ryans.
If the 49ers were to sign Ridgeway, they could breathe easier knowing their defensive interior was in veteran hands. And who knows whether one big run stop could be the difference between a Lombardi Trophy and another heartbreaking close call.
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