Unexpected Setback: 49ers’ Super Bowl Hopes Dim as Defensive Anchor Faces Suspension
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Clelin Ferrell suffered a knee injury in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Ferrell’s injury was not an ACL or MCL injury, and the team will have details on Ferrell’s MRI on Monday.
Despite the 49ers having a good week, Shanahan said Ferrell could miss the playoffs. Tayler Hawkins hurt his wrist late in the game. Otherwise, the 49ers emerged unscathed from the vaunted contest.Shanahan said the team went a certain way with tight end George Kittle and linebacker Dre Greenlaw:”No, they really tried to go, but Kittle had back spasms. So when it happened in the pregame, we shut him down. Drel had Achilles tendinitis, so it affected a little more before the game.
We heard about it, and when we heard it, we were safe with him.”Each offense controlled the ball for more than five minutes in the opening kickoff. It ate up all but two minutes of the first quarter. It worked well because the other starters didn’t have to play much after that.Shanahan explained his Sunday plan to players like Nick Bosa and Trent Williams:”No, I told Trent and Nick we were going to try to go about 10-15. That was perfect, the starting drive was about 10 plays. . So it was great for Trent. The defense was weird, I felt like they had an 11-play opening and then I think we got the first pick.
There were only about 12 plays left in those two minutes when they tried to get Puka [Nacua] the ball. But when it did, I got them out at the end of the second quarter and nobody came back after halftime.The 49ers’ biggest concern was getting through Week 18 without major injuries. Ferrell has yet to be determined, but mission accomplished. Shanahan said he spent most of the game holding his breath, hoping to avoid injury:”The whole game.
You want to win, but you also want to be sure of it. Too bad it’s with Cle. However, most everything else went completely smoothly.»49ers flip the switch to playoff mode. In his postgame press conference this week, Shanahan said the team has been practicing “really hard” several times. This week there are two hard training sessions and one day of teamwork..