A New Chapter for Keion White
Keion White is experiencing a whirlwind of a week as he transitions from the New England Patriots to the San Francisco 49ers. The trade happened on Tuesday, and by the next day, he was flying coast-to-coast to join his new team. Since then, he has been actively participating in practice, with the 49ers hoping that he can bring much-needed energy to their struggling pass rush.
“I compare football to corporate America,” White said before his second practice with the Niners. “You just got a new job, and I’m going to another office where I’m learning the system.”
The 49ers are counting on White to quickly adapt to their system and make an impact when they face the New York Giants on Sunday. Their pass rush has been underperforming recently, with no sacks and only two quarterback hits in a loss against Houston. In the past six games, they have recorded only five sacks, ranking last in the NFL.
This situation led the team to acquire a player described by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as an “elite athlete.” Saleh highlighted White’s attributes, stating, “He’s got great length, size and speed. His short-area quickness, his ability to rush the passer on the inside again as another interior pass rusher, adding more depth to that. He kind of fits into that role we have. ... So, we’re looking forward to getting him out there.”
White, a second-round pick in 2023, showed promise during his first season but fell out of favor this year under the new coaching staff led by Mike Vrabel. He started only one game and was a healthy scratch in the recent win against Cleveland.
“No knock to the guys over there,” White said. “They had a system and everything like that where I was outside. I could have been better on the outside rushing, and just roll with what I could have done better.”
Despite his struggles, White brings versatility to the 49ers' defensive line, capable of playing both inside and outside. The team is hopeful that defensive line coach Kris Kocurek can help him reach his potential, similar to how he has helped other players in the past.
“I’m not really too focused on what’s expected for me,” White said. “I’m just trying to do my job and just earn a role. Expectations really get you nowhere. You’ve got to earn everything.”
The 49ers also received some positive news regarding their defensive line. Yetur Gross-Matos practiced on a limited basis for the first time since injuring his hamstring in Week 5. Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) and defensive tackle Alfred Collins (shoulder) were also back at practice, and Bryce Huff is expected to return next week from a hamstring injury.
The team may still look to add more help before the trade deadline, with coach Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch considering options in the coming days.
“It’s a young group that’s continuing to evolve and get better,” Saleh said about the current group. “The adding part, that’s more for John and Kyle to answer, but I’ll never say no if you’re listening, John.”
Additional Notes
- Linebacker Dee Winters (knee) returned to practice after missing Wednesday.
- Offensive lineman Drew Moss was claimed off waivers by the Titans.
- The 49ers signed offensive lineman Brandon Parker to the practice squad and cut Andre Dillard from the practice squad two days after making the opposite move.