The 49ers’ Thursday injury report revealed that a key defensive lineman was listed as Did Not Participate, but this time, the reason had nothing to do with his hand injury or conditioning. It was something far more profound — a moment of sacrifice that went beyond football.

According to team sources, the player missed practice after donating blood to help his mother undergo an emergency heart procedure earlier this week. The team fully excused his absence, calling it an act that reflected the very spirit of family and courage that defines the San Francisco 49ers organization.

Kalia Davis, born on October 2, 1998, in Pensacola, Florida, has played six games (five starts) through the first six weeks of the 2025 NFL season, recording 5 solo tackles, 2 assists, and 7 combined tackles

. While he hasn’t logged a sack or forced turnover this year, he’s been a steady force inside — typically playing 25–30 snaps per game — before sustaining a hand injury in Week 6.

With a PFF grade of 44.4 (ranked 160th out of 186 DTs), Davis has room to improve statistically, but coaches continue to praise his discipline and strength in run defense. He’s expected to return in

Week 7 against the Falcons (October 19), likely wearing a protective club on his injured hand.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed deep respect for his player’s actions, saying, “Kalia’s always been one of those guys who gives everything — to his team, to his family, to life. What he did this week says more about his character than any stat line ever could.”

For 49ers fans, the gesture is a reminder that even warriors built for Sundays carry battles far more personal than those fought between the hash marks. His decision to put family first — even at the cost of practice time — speaks volumes about the heart beneath the helmet.

And when he steps back onto the field in Week 7, wearing that protective club, it won’t just symbolize recovery. It will stand as a quiet badge of love, sacrifice, and the kind of strength that no stat sheet could ever measure.