What It Means:

Dockett, now 34, was just signed in April to a two-year, $7.5 million contract that included $2 million guaranteed. He was supposed to ease the loss of star defensive lineman Justin Smith, who retired this year, but clearly has lost a step in his recovery from a torn ACL last season.

This is yet another sad chapter in the saga of the 2015 offseason for the 49ers. The defensive unit has struggled since losing star linebackers Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, and Aldon Smith, and defensive lineman Justin Smith. This won't help. The 49ers' 13th-place finish in schedule-adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points from 2014 is looking like an unrealistically optimistic goal for this season.