DeForest Buckner is set to make his return for the San Francisco 49ers against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, and it is exactly the kind of reinforcement that matters when a defensive line is still being reshuffled. After a period of rotation, position movement and a pass rush hit by injuries, the 49ers will welcome back a veteran who can help steady things quickly.
Buckner last played in a San Francisco uniform in the 2019 Super Bowl, and now the 32-year-old is back in a game that gives the 49ers another reliable option up front. The challenge for San Francisco has been obvious over the past few weeks without Nick Bosa, with the pass rush struggling to find the same level of disruption.
Raheem Morris: why Buckner changes the picture
Raheem Morris has already made clear why a player like Buckner is so useful in this kind of situation. “We’ve done so many different things, moved people around,” he said, pointing to the variety of roles the 49ers have had to use on the defensive front.
That flexibility is central to what Buckner brings. Morris said the lineman has “the ability to play three-technique,” “the ability to play nose,” “the ability to play four-eye,” and even “the ability to play on the edge.” In other words, San Francisco are not just getting a name back, they are getting a piece who can fit almost anywhere the game demands.
At 6'7 and coming off this season’s top five snap count among defensive tackles with the Indianapolis Colts, Buckner arrives with no shortage of workload behind him. That matters for a 49ers team coming off a bye week, because the return of a player with that level of experience should help the rotation as much as the headline number.
Why the pass rush needs him now
The bigger question is what Buckner’s return means for the pass rush. The answer is simple enough: it gives San Francisco another chance to restore pressure and structure at the same time.
Morris called him “a guy with supreme talent” and added, “Buck’s done it at a very high level for such a long time.” He also said, “I don’t know when it would be a bad time to get a guy like Buck,” which is about as clear a verdict as you can get on the value of the move.
Buckner will not solve every issue on his own, but he should give the 49ers more ways to line up and more confidence in the front. With Nick Bosa having been out a few weeks and the defense already forced into adjustments, this is the sort of return that can help San Francisco settle into a more natural rhythm.
Against the Raiders, the 49ers are not just bringing back a former cornerstone. They are also getting a veteran who can help them rotate more cleanly, move more people into the right spots and give the pass rush a better chance to function as a unit again.
