49ers are Starting to see Javon Kinlaw Become an Impact Player

2023 is the best start to Javon Kinlaw's career since he was drafted by the 49ers.

One player on the 49ers who is stepping up this season is Javon Kinlaw.

You won't find the impact he is making on the stat sheet as he doesn't have any sacks or forced turnovers. However, he's already registered 10 quarterback pressures through three games this season, per Pro Football Focus. To put things into perspective, he had 11 pressures total going into this season.

2023 is the best start to Kinlaw's career. Him stepping up has never been due to poor performances. Rather, it's been due to a lack of performance. Injuries have cost him countless games dating back to 2020 when the 49ers played the Cowboys. He's never been right since. That's all changed this year. Kinlaw made some changes in the offseason that has led him to find "superior confidence" in himself.

And so far, he's playing like it.

The 49ers are starting to see Kinlaw become an impact player. They desperately needed him to be after several key defensive lineman left via free agency. It was time for Kinlaw to step up and be that key role player. He's been that and more through three games.

"This was the first offseason, we've saw him feel right to where he was able to get himself in complete football shape," said Kyle Shanahan. "And be ready to go for practices before they even started, which was the first time that allowed him to get through practices. So, he got better at football this offseason with training camp and everything. Really happy for him because he is put the work in and it's showing up on the film.”

Now it's all about Kinlaw sustaining it. First and foremost is his health. Will he be able to continue to remain upright? And will his performance continue to make an impact?

A handful more games will need to be played to answer that question, but I think I would side with Kinlaw being able to stay healthy and continue to be a key role player. The wave right now that Kinlaw is on by getting through a training camp without any hiccups is something that shouldn't be taken for granted. Momentum feels like it's on his side.

Should that momentum continue throughout the season, then Kinlaw will have achieved a great accomplishment. He will have turned a career heading into the abyss, to one that is staring at a decent contract offer in the offseason