When the 49ers traded a second-round pick to the Chiefs to acquire Dee Ford and signed him to a five-year, $85 million deal, it was a sign of their seriousness to contend in the short term.
And Ford was a crucial component of that success in 2019, though he played in just 14 of a possible 19 games. After missing all of the 2020 season with a back injury, he managed to work his way back to play at the start of this season. When he was on the field, he was productive, picking up three sacks in six games.
But Ford may well have played his last down with the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Ford, who had his injured reserve practice window opened November 24, is unlikely to be activated by the 21-day deadline on Thursday.
In all likelihood, that could mean the end of Ford’s time with the 49ers, who could save roughly $2 million by cutting him outright, or $7 million by waiting until June 1 of next year to cut him, per OverTheCap. It’s not a definite end to his time, but it gets tougher and tougher to imagine him returning after playing just 21 of a possible 48 games in three years.
Shanahan was also less than optimistic about any potential return for Dre Greenlaw, at least in the short term. Greenlaw, he indicated, re-aggravated the core/groin injury that knocked him out from Week 2 until Week 12.
“He has a chance but it’s been bothering him all year,” Shanahan said. “We got two games here in the next 10 days, so we’ll see what he does on the field today and tomorrow and got a chance to get into practice this week, [if he does], then he will have a chance. I’m not counting on it, but I hope it does happen.”
There is somewhat positive news with regards to the other pillars of the linebacking corps. Fred Warner sustained an ankle sprain, but avoided a high ankle sprain and played through it on Sunday.
Because of that, Shanahan said he’s “expecting him to be fine” and play this weekend.
Azeez Al-Shaair also appears to have avoided a serious injury. He left Sunday’s game with an elbow sprain and did not return, but Shanahan described him as “day-to-day” indicating that he has a chance to play this week.
The remaining injury note was Ambry Thomas, who is in the concussion protocol. Shanahan said he was impressed by his press coverage ability, and wasn’t too upset by the penalties that came from him being physical at the line of scrimmage.