Aaron

Lynch

The 27-year-old hung up his cleats just two months ago but has now decided to come back to football. The Jaguars are dead last in adjusted sack rate and need all the help they can get off the edge.

Signed to a one-year deal in May, 27-year-old Lynch is hanging up the cleats after 73 career games. He registered 20 career sacks in four seasons with the 49ers and two with the Bears. The Jaguars’ defensive line has taken a couple hits in recent days with the retirements of Lynch and DT Rodney Gunter after both signed in the offseason.

27-year-old Lynch at the very least kept healthy for the Bears the past two seasons, notching 20 tackles and five sacks across 29 appearances as a part-time player. He’ll mix in as a rotational player in Jacksonville, seeing time behind former first-round standout Josh Allen and disgruntled DE Yannick Ngakoue.

The Raiders have also reportedly shown interest in Lynch. One of the better edge rushers still available in the second week of free agency, Lynch showed stout run defense and notched three sacks and a pick in 13 games with the Bears last season. Unlike if he were to sign with the Hawks, Lynch would be an every-down player in Oakland.

Lynch’s first season with the Bears resulted in 16 tackles, three sacks, and one interception over 13 appearances (three starts). Still just 26, he’ll have an opportunity to stand out and continue his stout run-stuffing presence in Chicago’s trenches as long as he can stay healthy.

Lynch has already drawn previous interest from the Seahawks and Raiders, so his market is picking up some. This is the wave of free agency Colts GM Chris Ballard likes to live in. Lynch is still just 26 years old and has played strong run defense in his career. He had three sacks in Chicago last year.

Lynch was the 49ers’ best pass rusher last year, tying Ahmad Brooks for the team lead in sacks while amassing more QB pressures (62) than all of San Francisco’s other outside linebackers combined (57), per PFF’s Jeff Deeney. “We are confident that he will learn from this matter and that he understands what is expected of him moving forward,” GM Trent Baalke said in a statement. Brooks struggled with off-field issues throughout his college career. The third-year linebacker is eligible to return against the Cardinals in Week 5.

Lynch will undergo an MRI on Monday. He notched his first sack of the season, taking down Jameis Winston, before getting hurt. Lynch is the 49ers’ most talented edge rusher. It’s another big loss for a bad unit.

Lynch is dealing with a high ankle sprain, while Robinson has a sprained MCL. They are both week to week. The 49ers will be without their top pass rusher and a starting cornerback in Robinson for Sunday’s matchup with Drew Brees.

Lynch missed the first four games after violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. His return will boost a defense which has just seven sacks through four games. Lynch has 12.5 sacks to his name in two NFL seasons.