The San Francisco 49ers are exploring additional defensive-line options ahead of Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Veteran pass rusher Nick Bosa has been ruled out with a calf injury and is expected to miss additional time. Moreover, rookie EDGE Romello Height will also miss Sunday's game after suffering a hand injury versus the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. With both players unavailable, Khalid Kareem is set to start at defensive end opposite Keion White.
The 49ers worked out four players on Saturday, according to the NFL transaction report: linebackers Matt Judon and Jamin Davis, along with defensive ends Julian Okwara and Dawuane Smoot.
Judon appeared in 13 games for the Dolphins and one for the Buffalo Bills this past season. He finished the year without a sack after recording 72 sacks during his first nine NFL seasons. Smoot recorded two sacks for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, while Davis played in two games for the Las Vegas Raiders. Okwara had been out of the league after the Cleveland Browns released him in August.
San Francisco also made several roster moves involving its defensive line. The team promoted Viliami Fehoko to the 53-man roster and elevated Kevin Givens and Sebastian Valdez from the practice squad for the Week 3 matchup.
Fehoko, a 2023 fourth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys, has spent time with Dallas, the Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts. He played at San Jose State, accumulating 191 tackles, 46 tackles for loss and 23 sacks in 48 games. The 49ers signed him to their practice squad earlier this week, and Sunday will mark his first NFL appearance.
Givens has played 70 games with 14 starts for San Francisco since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has 92 tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble.
Valdez spent his rookie season on the 49ers' practice squad after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2025. With the Commanders, he played 51 games and recorded 103 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.