What Javon Kinlaw did in the Offseason to Find "Superior Confidence" in Himself

One thing that has gone unnoticed with the San Francisco 49ers since training camp started is the health of Javon Kinlaw.

Training camp started a little over a few weeks ago, yet Kinlaw is still going strong and reportedly performing well. That is a tremendous sign and a win for Kinlaw. Every training camp before this, Kinlaw has needed to be limited drastically or sustained a sudden injury. It is still early, but the signs so far are pointing in the right direction for him.

So, what gives? Why is Kinlaw suddenly finding great luck with his health? Well, he started doing something different in the offseason to put his body in the optimal state for the tumultuous grind of football.

"I focused on a lot of mobility, a lot of stability, and a lot of body mechanics," said Kinlaw. "Just trying to make myself a better athlete as a whole and it's paying off."

Even his diet has changed this year.

"I was dieting last year a lot, but I dove deeper into it. Lots of less carbs, a lot of vegetables, a lot of protein. Those types of things. Not really eating as much, cutting it off at around 7:30 at night."

Seems like Kinlaw has made some wholesale changes with caring for his body. It needed to happen. Whatever he was doing before this wasn't working. Suddenly, he is seeing improvement both in performance and availability. So, what are the performance improvements that Kinlaw is benefitting from with his change?

"Leverage, getting off the ball, being able to take a bigger first step if need be. Just playing way more explosive, more violent. Just everything. When the pad level comes down I don't believe no one can stop me. "

I get the sense that his "pad level" comment was based on the several plays in the NFC Championship game where he was pushed around like a sled. Either way, this is looking sweet for Kinlaw. He needed to make improvements. His career up until now has been unfortunate in every way possible. Now that Kinlaw is healthy with no lingering issues with his knee, along with the improvements he's made, it's given him a "bunch" of confidence as he enters this season.

"Playing with one and a half legs is no good. You think about it every snap versus you got two good legs, your body is improving as a whole. Just able to do some things I've never been able to do, so it gives me superior confidence."

And that confidence he has right now will be needed desperately for him. 2023 is a career defining year for Kinlaw. The 49ers did not pick up his fifth-year option on his deal, so he enters a contract year. It's time for Kinlaw to show up and show out. If he proves to be incapable of staying healthy again, he is going to struggle immensely to find a suitor in free agency.

But if his health is going strong for the majority of the year and he proves to be a solid rotational player, then he will find himself enacting a new version of himself that salvages his career. Kinlaw is turning the page and isn't worried about the past with his knee. He's putting that mess behind him. That will not be lingering in his mind as he believes in the work he has put in this year will propel him forward.

"I work at it everyday. When you work at something everyday you get superior confidence over it you know. It's all mind over matter and right now I'm in a great mental space and nothing's gonna stop my knee because I work at it every single day. It's a must. I don't go a day without working on it."

There are still games to be played and more practices to be had before really believing that Kinlaw will remain healthy this season. But this is the first time Kinlaw has cited a bunch of changes he has made and how that has benefited him. He went back to the drawing board to see how he can get his career back on track. Perhaps now these changes will be enough for him to finally show out.

"I'm really a freak bro. The world is gonna see. Point blank period."