Javon Kinlaw's second NFL season didn't go as planned in 2021.
The 49ers young defensive tackle played in just four games after having reconstructive ACL surgery. But Kinlaw says his rehab is going well and everything is trending in the right direction as he looks forward to the 2022 season.
"I'm feeling amazing," Kinlaw told Brad Graham of TheSFNiners (h/t 49ers Webzone). "Really, honest, I've had nothing but ups, no downs. Knock on wood. Everything has been progressing the right way. As far as from a health standpoint, I already feel healthier than I was last year when I was on the field, so I'm just excited to really get back out there and just be able to really showcase what a healthy Javon Kinlaw can do for this organization."
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After trying to play hurt through the early part of last season, Kinlaw finally underwent surgery and is already noticing the benefits of having a fully healthy knee.
"All in all, the rehab process has been cool, the little things I've been working on, a lot of single-leg things, just a lot of bending, that type of stuff," Kinlaw told Graham. "I already got way more knee [flexibility] than I ever had in my life. Hip flexibility -- I've got more hip flexibility than I ever had in my life. The things that I do now, I've probably never been able to do in my life, so it's just really exciting."
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Kinlaw had a procedure last offseason that was supposed to help alleviate the issue, but complications and fluid build-up in the knee led to his season ending early.
San Francisco 49ers
Now, the South Carolina product is ready to finally play a major role for the 49ers and show everyone what he is capable of.
"People, I don't know, it just don't register to people that, 'F--k, I can't play,'" Kinlaw shared. "And when you're out there, and you're trying to do the best you can, they're like, 'Aw, he sucks. This guy sucks. That guy sucks.' Let somebody get healthy before you judge them."
The 49ers hope Kinlaw can be an important piece of a defensive line rotation that is 10 deep after the addition of Kerry Hyder Jr. on Thursday.
If he is the healthiest he has ever been, the 49ers could have another game-changing weapon upfront.