Niner Noise
FanSided

3 ways 49ers manage to overcome Dee Ford injury

By Ezechiel Dezine

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Dee Ford #55 and Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a sack of the quarterback against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Dee Ford #55 and Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a sack of the quarterback against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled by defensive end Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers. Ford was penalized for the horse collar tackle during the first quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled by defensive end Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers. Ford was penalized for the horse collar tackle during the first quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

With San Francisco 49ers EDGE Dee Ford set to miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, Niner Noise examines how the defense will adjust down the stretch.

The motto for the 2019 San Francisco 49ers has arguably been, “next man up!”

The team has suffered injuries to key contributors such as offensive tackles Mike McGlinchey and Joe Staley, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and tight end George Kittle. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk missed time with an MCL sprain, and running back Matt Breida is banged up with an ankle issue.

Now, EDGE Dee Ford could be the next on the list, as NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported after San Francisco’s Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals:

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has kept the team rolling like a well-oiled machine to the tune of a 9-1 record, which remains the best in the NFC.

And this will need to be the case again in Ford’s absence. After all, the return on investment the Niners have received for their second-round NFL Draft pick, which was was traded to acquire Ford from the Kansas City Chiefs, has been extraordinary.

Ford is tied for the team lead with two force fumbles, third in sacks with 6.5 and has earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 85.1 through 10 games. With Ford set to miss a couple of weeks, Niner Noise examines how the 49ers defense will adjust and respond.