SANTA CLARA – Of the 53 players who made the 49ers roster Saturday, nine entered the NFL undrafted, and only one of them broke through this year: linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Al-Shaair beat out a couple veterans who walked away with guaranteed millions, all so the 49ers could reward an undrafted rookie who came from unheralded Florida Atlantic with a knee fresh off a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Sure, his ACL comeback ties in nicely with this year’s team theme. And his return is going as smooth as those of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and linebacker Kwon Alexander, as opposed to the sad states encountered by running back Jerick McKinnon and defensive end Kentavius Street.