Armstead underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus earlier in the offseason, something that did not get in the way of him signing a three-year, $51 million contract with the Jaguars. The timing and nature of the active Physically Unable to Perform means Armstead can be activated at any time and still counts towards the 90-man offseason roster. All signs continue to point to Armstead being ready for the start of the 2024 NFL season.

Armstead was let go by the 49ers earlier this month after he declined to restructure his deal. Now expected to land in Jacksonville, the former first-round pick will join forces with EDGE Josh Allen and third-year pass rusher Travon Walker as the Jaguars work to improve on a defense that allowed the 11th-most yards per game last season. Armstead totaled 27 tackles, four TFLs, and five sacks last season with the 49ers and has 33.5 career sacks to his name.

Armstead has spent his entire nine-year career in San Francisco but has never been a three-down player. Injury has limited him to fewer than 1,000 snaps over the past two seasons combined. Designating him as a post-June 1 release would clear $18.039 million in cap space, but the 49ers wouldn’t see any of that relief until the summer. On the wrong side of 30 with an increasingly lengthy injury history, Armstead nevertheless still performed well when on the field in 2023.

Armstead will miss most, if not all, of the 49ers’ offseason work programs but should be good to go come training camp. The veteran defensive tackle, who played in all three of the 49ers’ postseason contests, said he suffered the injury in Week 13 against the Eagles. Armstead totaled 27 tackles and five sacks this season and also recorded a sack of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.