49ers inactives: Dee Ford back from hamstring strain, Thielen available for Vikings
Defensive end Dee Ford will be back in the 49ers’ lineup Saturday for the Divisional Round playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings after entering the weekend questionable to play with a hamstring injury, the team announced.
Ford missed five the final six regular season games with a hamstring strain against the Arizona Cardinals in November. He aggravated it just four snaps into the victory over the Saints Dec. 8 and hasn’t played since. He returned to practice this week for the first time since New Orleans.
Ford recorded 6.5 sacks in limited playing time over 11 games while dealing with knee tendinitis and a quadriceps injury he sustained during training camp. San Francisco’s top-ranked passing defense averaged four sacks over the first 11 games, and then had four over the final five games combined with Ford mostly absent due to the balky hamstring.
How much Ford plays remains to be seen. Kyle Shanahan said this week the team hoped to be smarter with Ford to avoid any long-term injury as the team has designs on a long playoff run. It’s likely Ford will be on the field for third-down pass rushing situations. The 49ers were one of three teams in the NFL with four or more players to have 6.5 sacks, joining Arik Armstead (10.0), Nick Bosa (9.0) and DeForest Buckner (7.5).
Meanwhile, the 49ers will also get another starter back along the offensive line. Right guard Mike Person will be back after missing the final two regular season games with a neck injury. Person was replaced against the Rams and Seahawks by second-year pro Daneil Brunskill, who filled in admirably in his stead after playing tackle earlier in the season when Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey were dealing with injuries.
The 49ers other inactives against Minnesota are quarterback C.J. Beathard, running back Jeff Wilson Jr., receiver Jordan Matthews, defensive lineman Kevin Givens, cornerback Dontae Johnson, tight end Daniel Helm and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Lee will be replaced by Kwon Alexander, who was activated off injured reserve on Friday following his torn pectoral suffered on Halloween in Arizona.
On the other side, the Vikings will have receiver Adam Thielen available despite being questionable after getting his ankle gashed during practice on Wednesday. He received stitches to close the cut.
Thielen had seven catches for 129 yards in the Wild Card round upset over the Saints last week, including a 43-yarder from Kirk Cousins to set up the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Minnesota’s inactives: receiver Alexander Hollins, safety Jayron Kearse, Hercules Mata’afa, defensive end Eddie Yarbrough, guard Dru Samia, tackle Oli Udoh and tackle Aviante Collins.