step in kind of where he was

[GoldfishLord]

And even though he's been away for a while from the sport, I think he's going to be able to come back and step in kind of where he was.

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/betting-ufc-288-preview-171358108.html

---

What's the difference in meaning between "step in kind of where he was" and "step in the kind of where he was" and "step in a kind of where he was".

 

[5jj]

'Kind of' is a fairly meaningless filler in the original. The versions with articles don't work.

 

[Barque]

and step in kind of where he was.

You seem to be parsing it wrongly.

I think he's going to be able to come back and step in kind of where he was.

[I think he's going to be able to come back] [and step in] [kind of where he was.]

"Kind of" describes "where he was". It means he will come back and step in again, more or less where he was before, or approximately in the same position he was in before.