49ers’ Arik Armstead Returns to Practice After Injury Layoff

49ers’ Arik Armstead Returns to Practice After Injury Layoff

 

After every week of speculation about his return, Arik Armstead is officially back on the 49ers practice field. 4,444 4,444 The San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman was seen at practice on Thursday, his first official session since early December.

Armstead has battled foot and knee injuries since Week 13 and missed the final five regular-season contests.But after a month and a half of rehab, it looks like the 49ers are back to square one for the rest of the season.“He looked good today.

It was a test and we’ll let him practice on Thursday and hopefully he’ll be good and we can get him a little bit on Friday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said of Armstead earlier this week.

Arik Armstead, 30, has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot for two years. Sacramento missed half of the 2022 regular season due to injury.

 

Armstead was suspended after the team’s 2023 preseason and played through pain in Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles. SF wanted to be careful with their star player and ice him in hopes of getting him healthy for the playoffs. But if the team needed him in Week 18, he could have.

“He would have gone last week if we needed it [the game],” Shanahan added.Armstead recorded 27 combined tackles, five sacks and 13 quarterback hits in 2023.

He also earned an 81.9 grade on Pro Football Focus and became the 49ers’ best inside linebacker.Meanwhile, the 49ers also worked out a handful of other key players, including safety Ji’Ayir Brown.

Also saw Thursday wide receiver Jauan Jennings (concussion) and cornerback Ambry Thomas (hand).A few players were missed though, including quarterback Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Dre Greenlaw. S Tashaun Gipson and offensive lineman Jon Feliciano are also out, and all ailments are currently considered minor..