49ers place Kendricks on IR, cut four to reach 80-player limit

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On this episode of 49ers Talk Matt Maiocco and Laura Britt discuss their takeaways from Trey Lance’s second preseason game against the Chargers.

The 49ers on Tuesday placed linebacker Mychal Kendricks on injured reserve as one of the roster moves to reach the NFL's 80-player limit.

Kendricks, a nine-year veteran, signed with the 49ers on Aug. 16. He sustained a hyperextended toe -- known as turf toe -- on his only play on special teams Sunday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 49ers also made the following cuts on Tuesday. 

Coach Kyle Shanahan said on Monday that Kendricks would be out of action for at least a month.

If the 49ers had waited to place Kendricks on IR following next week's initial cuts to 53 players, he would have been eligible to return to action after a minimum of three weeks. The timing of the roster move effectively ends Kendricks' time with the 49ers.

Kendricks started 91 of the 104 career games in which he appeared over his nine NFL seasons after playing college football at Cal. Kendricks played his first six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before moving on to the Seattle Seahawks in 2018 and '19.

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He was a free agent this offseason after appearing in one game with Washington last season after he sustained a torn ACL late in the 2019 season.

The 49ers appear to be set up well at the backup linebacker spots behind starters Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Azeez Al-Shaair. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Marcell Harris,  Jonas Griffith, Justin Hilliard and Elijah Sullivan are in solid competition for roster spots.

RELATED: Too hot to handle? 49ers QB Lance working on throw velocity

The 49ers close out the preseason on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers' regular-season opener is Sunday, Sept. 12, at the Detroit Lions.

All teams must reach the regular-season limit of 53 players by Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. PT.

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