I asked earlier today if we might see a new role for Tank Carradine on Sunday, and we are getting more information from Jim Tomsula. The San Francisco 49ers head coach told the media on Monday that Tank is down into the 280s, and indicated he would be losing a bit more weight. Tomsula said the team would be looking at him in more of an edge rusher role when they go into their four-man fronts on passing downs.
Tomsula previously said the team was re-working his role, and the weight loss might explain why Tank was inactive this past week. Tank is listed at 295 pounds in the 49ers media guide, but if he is dropping upwards of 15 or 20 pounds, it makes sense to give him the two weeks of the Falcons game and the bye to get settled in his new weight. Maybe that means he plays on Sunday, or maybe the team gives it one more week.
We don't know exactly when Tank started losing weight, but it seems likely it happened around the time leading up to the Falcons game. Whatever the case, we'll see if he is able to get back some of his speed, and bring the pressure that boosted his draft stock three years ago. It could give the 49ers pass rush another option to rotate in with Aaron Lynch, Ahmad Brooks, Eli Harold, and Corey Lemonier.