Niner Noise
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5 biggest concerns facing 49ers entering 2020 NFL playoffs

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles against the defense of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles against the defense of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Dee Ford, Chiefs
Linebacker Dee Ford #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

No. 5: EDGE Dee Ford Isn’t Back Yet

While the 49ers have received plenty of good news on the injury front, one of the names conspicuously absent from the team’s practice report on Jan. 2 was EDGE Dee Ford.

Ford, of course, has missed the last three games with both quad and hamstring injuries, and he was also absent between Weeks 12 and 13 before re-aggravating the hamstring in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints.

Since Week 13, paralleling the time Ford has been out the most, the 49ers registered a combined four sacks in those five games — a stark contrast from the 43 the Niners managed, previously.

Simply put, Ford provides a massive impact, preventing teams from double teaming fellow EDGE Nick Bosa, while also lessening the loads on defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead.

Getting Ford back will be a bonus. But the concern is if he’ll be able to return at 100 percent, hopefully not re-injure the hamstring or another part of his body, which tends to happen when favoring an injury and if there are going to be any periods of proverbially “catching up to game speed” after Ford hits the field.

Again, it’s premature to feel doomed about this. But getting Ford back would be so much a massive boost, the though of him not being available is worrying enough.