Raheem Morris doesn’t sound like a coordinator worried about thin air up front. If anything, his latest read on the 49ers’ defensive line points to a group with more depth than the outside noise suggests - and that’s especially encouraging for Nick Bosa as he works back from a torn ACL and a 2025 season that kept him on the shelf for most of the year.
Morris said the initial 53-man cut left him with plenty to work with, even after San Francisco had to part with a few bodies.
“I feel pretty deep there. Obviously, we had a bunch of guys, got a couple of guys claimed. Well, one guy claimed in particular, but we have some young guys we brought in here this year,” Morris said.
He then laid out the names that give the unit its shape, pointing to the draft class and a few returning pieces as the foundation of the group.
“The guys that we drafted throughout the process, whether it's been AC, whether it's been Wes, whether it's been Halton coming back off injury, Osa. All of those guys having a chance, James Thompson got sharper at camp, being able to go out there and make the team.
I think all those things have been really well. I like the inside interior people and what they've been able to do, particularly with some of the vision of some of those guys flexing down.
We talked about Keion White or Mykel when he gets back. You got a bunch of different people in it that can play, give you some good rotational pieces to do some good things.”
Morris was also asked whether he already has the alignment and usage mapped out along the line. His answer was yes, even if he didn’t want to spill the whole blueprint.
49ers DC Raheem Morris says they’re deep at the DT position next to Osa Odighizuwa pic.twitter.com/9O3J4ywuwX
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) September 1, 2026
“Obviously, AC and CJ played a significant role last year. James and Osa are our new guys.
Osa's been brought here to solidify that 3-technique for us and do some really good things,” Morris said. “So I got a really good idea on what it's gonna look like.
Now we gotta go out there and do it.”
The broader picture matters here, too. San Francisco got very little to go right in 2024, but the 2025 version of the defense has already shown real life despite the injuries to Mykel Williams, Bosa, and Fred Warner. Robert Saleh’s unit finished 13th in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed while piecing things together with a mismatched roster.
Now, with the defense healthier, Morris has a real chance to push that group another step forward. Put that together with Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and the 49ers suddenly have the kind of upside that can make life miserable for the rest of the NFC West.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Have A Bigger Brandon Aiyuk Problem Than Ever
The 49ers moved to settle their roster on Tuesday, but Brandon Aiyuk remained the name hanging over the room. General manager John Lynch confirmed the wide receiver is not currently on the active roster after San Francisco left him off the final 53-man roster and placed him on the reserve/left squad list, a move that underlined just how unusual this situation has become for a player who has been one of the offenses biggest pieces.
Aiyuk also has not taken part in offseason workouts or training camp, which has only added to the uncertainty around his future in Santa Clara. Public chatter has linked him to the Washington Commanders, but no official move has followed, leaving the 49ers with a high-profile issue still unresolved as the season picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Need Immediate Week 1 Help From Unexpected Veterans
The 49ers are already looking past the initial roster trim and into Week 1 depth planning, with defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge reportedly joining the practice squad. It is the kind of early-season move that says as much about health as it does about talent, especially with San Francisco getting ready for its opener against the Los Angeles Rams and needing enough reliable bodies to cover important snaps on both sides of the ball.
Okoronkwo and Hodge bring the sort of veteran experience that can matter quickly if the 49ers have to shuffle pieces before the opener, and both could end up on the game day roster right away because of injury concerns at their positions. Undrafted players Wesley Grimes and Khalil Dinkins were also mentioned in the mix, giving San Francisco a little more flexibility as it tries to get through the first week with its depth chart still settling into place. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Add Under-The-Radar Depth With One Week 1 Question
The 49ers kept adding to their depth picture after the opening roster decisions, turning to a practice squad group that brings a mix of experience and upside. Ogbo Okoronkwo gives San Francisco a veteran edge presence with seven years in the league, while Khalil Dinkins and Wesley Grimes arrive as recent undrafted free agents looking to carve out a foothold in the organization.
KhaDarel Hodge is the most familiar name in the group for fans who follow special teams and receiver depth, since he has already spent time with the Falcons. For a team that always has to manage the grind of a long season, these are the kinds of low-profile additions that can matter quickly, even if the bigger question around the Week 1 roster is still only beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]