Kemoko

Turay

Turay last played an NFL game in 2022 for the 49ers. He began as a second-round pick of the Colts, playing 38 games in four seasons for them before playing three games for the 49ers. A big pass-rusher, Turay has 12 career sacks in five NFL seasons. He last signed with the Falcons for 2023, but was released in September. Turay is working out this offseason and is expected to get interest from multiple NFL teams.

The five-year veteran has appeared in 41 games during his career but has made only three starts as a member of the Colts and 49ers. The Falcons managed just 21 sacks a season ago, second fewest in the league. Turay, along with new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, will look to increase that number in 2023, even with Turay likeliest to operate in a situational role in the front seven.

The second-year back will be out at least a few more weeks with the injury. Once he’s healthy he can work on trying to get some run behind Jeff Wilson in the 49ers backfield. Also inactive for the 49ers are TE Tyler Kroft (knee0, OL Daniel Brunskill (hamstring), DE Arik Armstead (foot), DE Kemoko Turay, and OL Nick Zakelj.

Turay had a career-high 5.5 sacks with the Colts last year, but the 49ers defensive line room is deep and didn’t have much in the way of injuries to open up a spot. Turay should get some looks around the NFL on Wednesday. Only 27, he could still be a rotational defensive lineman somewhere.

Turay spent 2021 with the Colts and recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks. He was drafted by Indianapolis in the second round in 2018 and had an injury-marred four-year stint with the Colts. Turning 27 in July, Turay has played just 38 career games. Still, if healthy he should provide a boost to the 49ers’ pass rush. Although the contract terms are not yet known, this looks like a low-risk, high-reward signing for San Francisco.

Turay, coming off a career-best 5.5 sacks last season for the Colts, visited the Falcons last week and should latch on somewhere in the near future. The former second-round pick’s issue has been staying healthy as a pro.

Turay turns 27 this summer and is a former second-round pick at No. 52 overall by the Colts in 2018. He’s yet to play a full season in the big leagues due to injuries and has just 12 sacks in 38 career games, though he is coming off a career-best 5.5 last year. It would be a nice flier for a Falcons defense lacking talent.

Turay had offseason surgery in early February. He’ll sit out OTAs as the Colts look to keep him healthy after missing 21 games the past two seasons. Barring setbacks, Turay should be ready for the start of camp.

Turay missed 12 games in 2019 with his ankle injury and spent the first nine games on the reserve/PUP list last year. Teams held him to one sack and three QB Hits on 95 snaps when he returned. The Colts are hoping another surgery and a full offseason to recover can get Turay back to pre-injury form. A 2018 second-round pick, Turay is in the final year of his rookie contract.

DT Sheldon Day was waived in a corresponding roster move. The No. 52 overall pick of the 2018 draft, Turay has not played since Oct. 6, 2019. That is one serious ankle injury, especially since the Colts talked in the offseason like he might be ready for Week 1. He missed nine games instead. Turay did have the looks of a disruptor before going down last season. He will be eased back in but the Colts will be open to the possibility of him claiming more snaps along their crowded defensive line.