Another tough break for 49ers defensive lineman Kentavius Street. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Street will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, and he is likely headed for season-ending IR.
Street suffered a torn ACL during a pre-draft workout with the Giants in 2018, but the 49ers still took a chance on the NC State product and nabbed him with a fourth-round pick last year. Though he was cleared for practice near the end of his rookie campaign, he ultimately did not see any game action.
He showed some flashes in the preseason this year, and in San Francisco’s preseason tilt against the Broncos on August 19, Street posted five tackles and 1.5 sacks in 43 snaps. Unfortunately, his regular season debut will have to wait at least another year.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “[h]e’s battled through his knee all year. He’s had some knee tendinitis throughout camp – a little similar to Dee Ford. He’s been trying to battle through it and get a spot here. We decided (Monday) that he can’t do it any more.”
Has to be more than arthroscopic surgery if it’s a season ender.
It seems almost inevitable that a Street would reach a crossroads.
Wow this really sucks for Street & the 49ers DL as a unit…Not to mention, new DL Coach Kris Kocurek has had nothing but great things to say about Street, and all the progress he has made this off-season.
Everyone knows what Street is capable of in the weight room, and what an amazing athlete he is. In Street, you have a 6’2″ 290lb versatile lineman that has a 40″vertical, he owns a 4.58 40 time, he squats over 700 pounds, had 28 reps at the combine, and he’s consistently just gotten stronger since joining the 49ers.
However, it was this off-season when Street was really starting to turn a corner, he was finally translating his immense power out into the field. Under the tutelage of Kris Kocurek, Street was truly starting to gain a much better understanding of how to gain leverage, proper hand techniques, he was learning new rushing moves, and he was really excelling against the run.
Street was looking like he was more than worth the wait, as he was quickly rising up the 49ers loaded depth chart.
Unfortunately, now he’s going to have to once again attack this rehab, continue studying film, and start it all back over next offseason. Even still, Street has already quickly shown he’s capable of being a more than quality depth piece. Arik Armstead is no sure thing to return next season, and I wouldn’t be all that surprised to see Lynch and Co. let Armstead go, because they have such a talent in Street waiting in the wings..