The 49ers will go into their divisional playoff game against the Vikings with a fully healthy slate of defenders according to Steve Wyche of the NFL Network.
Wyche reported Saturday morning before the game that Ford, along with linebacker Kwon Alexander, would be used in San Francisco’s first playoff game since the 2013 season.
The 49ers didn’t express a lot of optimism during the week that Ford would play after he missed the final four games of the year with a hamstring injury. He was limited in practice all week and officially listed as ‘questionable’ on the team’s injury report.
Wyche said defensive coordinator Robert Saleh indicated Ford would only be used as a pass-rush specialist in passing situations. That should limit his snaps and allow him to be as effective as possible while ensuring he’s healthy for any additional playoff games the 49ers might play.
Alexander’s inclusion in Wyche’s report isn’t a huge surprise after the team activated him Friday off Injured Reserve. They likely would’ve kept him on IR if they had any doubts about his ability to give them snaps Saturday.
If Ford does play, it’s a huge plus for a 49ers pass rush that’s struggled without him. Numbers indicate his presence on the edge turned San Francisco’s good pass rush into an elite unit. They’ll need that Saturday and throughout the playoffs if they’re going to have success against the group of quarterbacks they’ll see en route to a championship.
