As a rookie last season, Aaron Lynch flashed tremendous potential.
The 6-foot-5, 249-pounder from South Florida, a fifth-round draft pick, was one of the bright spots in a disappointing 2014, earning playing time at outside linebacker and making a difference as a pass rusher, collecting six sacks in 16 games.
This season, he’s been even better.
Through nine games, Lynch already has matched his rookie sack total. His sixth sack came this past Sunday in the victory over Atlanta. He battled through injuries in that game, suffering a dislocated finger and twisted ankle, but fought through them.
Now, with a bye week, he’ll have time to recover in time to be healthy for the 49ers’ next game in Seattle on Nov. 22.
The 49ers at 3-6 may not be going anywhere this season, but Lynch continues to show he can grow into even more of an impact player than he already is.
“Aaron has come a long way, and he’s got a long way to go,” head coach Jim Tomsula told reporters this week. “He’s ascending and I think his ceiling is high. The old saying with potential, you’ve got to reach it. And he is working to it right now.”
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Lynch this week also got some attention from the NFL Network this week. Analysts and former NFL scouts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks placed Lynch among the five most improved second-year players in the NFL, along with Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, Jags linebacker Telvin Smith, Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman and Raiders QB Derek Carr.
“Part of the reason they’ve been able to make due without an Aldon Smith on the outside is because this guy has shown that he can be a premier pass rusher,” said Brooks. “I like what I’m seeing, the effort, the energy, the tenacity. Great player that is coming into his own in his second season in San Francisco.”
