Javon Kinlaw’s Struggles Continue in Washington, Echoing His 49ers Tenure
When the San Francisco 49ers selected Javon Kinlaw in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the expectation was clear: anchor the interior of a defensive line that had just lost DeForest Buckner and help keep one of the league’s most feared units intact. Kinlaw had the tools-size, power, flashes of explosiveness-but over four seasons in the Bay Area, those flashes never quite turned into a consistent fire.
Now, five years later, the Washington Commanders are experiencing a similar reality.
After a brief stint with the New York Jets in 2024, Kinlaw inked a three-year, $45 million deal with Washington this past offseason, a move that reunited him with general manager Adam Peters-formerly of the 49ers front office. On paper, it made sense.
Washington was coming off a 12-5 season and an NFC Championship Game appearance. The defense was aging, yes, but still talented.
Kinlaw was brought in to be a key piece of the next phase.
But the production just hasn’t followed.
Let’s be clear: when Kinlaw is healthy, he’s a solid contributor. He can clog lanes, hold his ground, and occasionally flash that first-round talent.
But that’s just it-it’s only occasional. The Commanders, much like the 49ers before them, are learning that Kinlaw isn’t the kind of player who consistently tilts the field.
Through this season, Kinlaw has yet to record a sack. He’s posted just three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. For a player brought in to help stabilize the defensive front and provide interior pressure, those numbers tell a story of unmet expectations.
This isn’t about effort. Kinlaw plays hard.
It’s not about potential-that’s always been there. It’s about impact.
And right now, that impact is falling short of what Washington needs, especially on a team that has managed just three wins and is staring down a crucial 2026 offseason filled with roster questions and an aging defensive core.
The frustrating part? Kinlaw always feels like he’s one game away.
One dominant performance from turning the corner. That was the narrative in San Francisco.
That’s the narrative now in Washington. The tools are there.
The breakout just never seems to arrive.
For the Commanders, the hope was that a change of scenery-and a familiar face in the front office-might unlock something new. Instead, they’re finding themselves in the same cycle the 49ers lived through: waiting for Kinlaw to become the player they believed he could be.
And so far, they’re still waiting.