49ers DT Javon Kinlaw officially ACTIVE for Week 16 vs. Commanders

Dec 24, 2022, 11:23 AM | Updated: 12:07 pm

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Javon Kinlaw #99 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the field prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

Activated off the injured reserve Friday, third-year defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw will make his return to the field in Week 16.

Kinlaw, 25, has officially been listed as active for the San Francisco 49ers’ Christmas Eve clash with the Washington Commanders. The South Carolina standout has been on the sidelines since Week 4, suffering complications in his surgically-repaired knee that landed in on IR almost three months ago. Now finally healthy, the team, and fans alike, are excited to see the other half of their starting interior back in the fold.

“Yeah, I expect him to be up,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday. “He had a real good Thursday practice that was on a Wednesday and everything was light today, but he had a good week, no setbacks and I’m real excited to see him out there.”

Kinlaw back out on the practice field 👀 pic.twitter.com/u23sC5djT7

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 22, 2022

The 49ers may look to keep him on a pitch count Saturday, working back into the lineup gradually so that Javon Kinlaw doesn’t suffer another setback.

“There’s a high level that he can play, but that’s the whole thing with what he’s been going through with his knee,” Shanahan explained. It’s can he do it without it flaring up and having setbacks on it? And that’s what we’ve been very patient with in the rehab, he’s been extremely consistent with it and we’ve been able to do it for a while here without any setbacks and we’ve done as much as we can. The only thing left for him to do is put pads on and go out there and play, so there’s always a risk of it, but we’re at the point, he’s at the point, where it’s time to find out.”

In other news, cornerback Charvarius Ward will suit up for Week 16, progressing through the concussion protocol to be cleared for Saturday. He’ll likely take the matchup of Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, hoping to contain Washington’s star the best he can.