Why LB Kendricks spurned 49ers to mark with Cowboys at the origin seemed on NBC Sports Bay Region
What precisely resulted in damaged-down linebacker Eric Kendricks’ possibility to mark with the Dallas Cowboys after reportedly agreeing to phrases with the 49ers?
In talking to The Athletic’s Jon Machota, Kendricks explained why the opportunity to play a extra integral role in Dallas by hook or by crook drove his possibility to spurn San Francisco and mark with the Cowboys. (h/t 49ers Webzone)
“I feel I may well’ve taken extra of a reserved role [in San Francisco], whereas I in truth feel I enjoy plenty left to offer, and I desired to be here and be middle linebacker,” Kendricks instructed Machota. “I desired to fragment my skills with the team, fragment my leadership abilities, and show that huddle.”
With Fred Warner entrenched as the 49ers’ starting middle linebacker, the percentages of Kendricks getting the opportunity to play mighty snaps at the role in San Francisco enjoy been slim.
The nine-year NFL damaged-down spent the 2023 campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers after serving as a key share of the Minnesota Vikings‘ protection for the principle eight seasons of his knowledgeable football occupation. Kendricks became named First-Crew All-Expert in 2019 below head coach Mike Zimmer, who now serves as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.
Between the probability to land a extra mighty role in Dallas and the opportunity to reunite with Zimmer, Kendricks’ possibility to forego signing with San Francisco is understandable.
With Dre Greenlaw‘s return timetable from a ruptured Achilles smooth unclear, the 49ers pivoted to mark one other stale All-Expert linebacker in the wake of Kendricks’ swap to the Cowboys, bringing in stale Inexperienced Bay Packers standout De’Vondre Campbell on a one-year contract.
While Kendricks opted to no longer mark with the 49ers, he smooth can enjoy the probability to play at Levi’s Stadium with San Francisco situation to host Dallas in a residence sport in 2024, with the date and time to be definite when the NFL releases its agenda on Might perhaps perchance also merely 9.
