© Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
A week of rest is a wonderful thing in the NFL. Thanks to the 49ers’ first-round bye, they took a week(ish) off other than going through walkthroughs on Thursday and Friday of last week. It provided reprieve and potential returns in all three layers of the 49ers’ defense.
Alexander’s astounding, risky return nears as he’s ‘a week ahead of schedule’
As Kwon Alexander told KNBR last week before a report by Adam Schefter that he could play in the Divisional Round, his pectoral tear is indeed the most common type (pectoral tearing off sternum). He said he was not focused on the risk of returning and that he’d already regained his strength. That is despite the risk of returning and re-tearing his pectoral, which is significant and would make another recovery much more difficult.
Despite that risk, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Alexander is “a week ahead of schedule” and has already been cleared by the 49ers’ medical staff. He was active in a blue non-contact jersey on Tuesday and has “a good chance” of playing on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s now “a coaching decision,” rather than a medical one.
Shanahan said that it would be game time decision to decide, if activated, whether he’d start at the weak side WILL spot, where Dre Greenlaw has started in his stead, or be eased in at the strong side SAM spot. That SAM spot is used somewhat sparingly on the 49ers’ 4-3 sets, though could see increased use against a run-heavy Vikings team.
Jaquiski Tartt back to full practice, “needed that extra week”
Since Jaquiski Tartt fractured his rib against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13, the 49ers’ secondary has languished in his absence, with Marcell Harris replacing him. Harris has improved over the last four weeks, but the drop off between Tartt and Harris, while not significant in the run game (where Harris excels), has been evident in coverage.
Tartt was active for the 49ers’ two practices last week, but in a blue, non-contact uniform. Tuesday was his first time participating in full contact since the week leading up to his rib fracture on December 1. He told KNBR that the 49ers’ bye was a necessity for him to get back to full health.
“Oh, it came at the perfect time,” Tartt said. “I needed that extra week to try and get as healthy as I can.”
Asked whether it was about pain tolerance or physiological healing of the rib, Tartt said it was “a little bit of both.”
Shanahan still optimistic about Dee Ford
Also returning to practice was Dee Ford, for the first time since the 49ers’ game against the New Orleans Saints on December 8, when Ford re-aggravated his hamstring strain. He’s been working back on the team’s side fields, but Tuesday was the first time he got back to pads since that re-aggravation. He will be limited in practice, per Shanahan, who said that he remains optimistic that Ford will play on Saturday.
Dee Ford back at #49ers practice pic.twitter.com/lvpd5JF59Z
— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) January 7, 2020
- Final note: Kentavius Street was limited in practice with an injury that will be revealed later on Tuesday on the 49ers’ practice report