Injury Epidemic Strikes 49ers: Team’s Depth Tested as Multiple Key Players Hit the Sidelines

Injury Epidemic Strikes 49ers: Team’s Depth Tested as Multiple Key Players Hit the Sidelines

Clelin Ferrell left 49ersand#039; 21-20 loss to Rams due to knee injury and did not return.Later, head coach Kyle Shanahan said the injury is not an ACL or MCL injury, which is good news.

In the locker room, Ferrell told reporters that leaving the game was a precaution and that he expects to play for the 49ersand#039; first postseason in two weeks.Shanahan will provide the media with an accurate diagnosis of the injury on Tuesday when he addresses the media during his weekly conference call.Ferrell is one of the unsung heroes of the 49ers defense – they absolutely need him in the playoffs because good#039; is one of their best defenders.

Good#039; not much of a pass rusher, but he sets the edge nicely against the run, meaning he doesn’t let rushers or rushers get past him and run to the perimeter.

 

He forces them back between the cloaks.Of all the 49ers’ backs, Ferrell is their best edge rusher — far better than Nick Bosa, Chase Young and Randy Gregory.

Those three are pass rush specialists. Setting the edge is secondary to them. In many cases, they give up coverage on running plays because they rush the quarterback who is waiting for the pass.One 49ersand#039; The only weakness is their run defense – statistically worse with Ferrell on the field. A bad run defense will get worse without him.The 49ers need Ferrell for the playoffs and it looks like they’re going to get him. They could dodge a bullet..