49ers get great news on injured pass-rusher who left game vs. Rams
By Peter Panacy
42. 49ers-Rams final. 10-7. 51. Final. 12-5
It didn't look good for 49ers edge Clelin Ferrell, who was carted off to the locker room early in Week 18 against the Rams.
During his postgame press conference, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that one of the San Francisco 49ers' top goals for what was essentially a meaningless Week 18 game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams was to stay healthy and avoid getting anyone hurt.
In the first half of that game, which had zero bearing on either team's playoff seeding and saw both teams start their backup quarterbacks, it appeared as if the Niners were going to lose at least one of their key backup pass-rushers.
The play wasn't shown on Fox Sports' broadcast. But veteran edge Clelin Ferrell exited the game to the sideline and later was carted off to the locker room.
San Francisco subsequently ruled him OUT not long thereafter, suggesting he suffered some sort of serious injury like a torn ACL:
#LARvsSF @DignityHealth injury update: Clelin Ferrell (knee) is OUT.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 7, 2024
Sure, Ferrell isn't as important an edge rusher as the 49ers' two starters, Nick Bosa and Chase Young. But Ferrell is a vital part of the rotation, having registered 28 tackles, six of which were for a loss, 13 quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks entering Sunday's contest.
Losing Ferrell to a season-ending injury would have been a significant blow.
49ers get good news regarding Clelin Ferrell injury, defender says leaving game was 'a precaution'
Immediately after the Niners' 21-20 defeat to close out the regular season, The Athletic's Matt Barrows caught up with Ferrell down in San Francisco's locker room and reported that there was no serious injury:
Just spoke to Clelin Ferrell. He said he left the game largely as a precaution. He said he’s optimistic about playing in two weeks. He’s walking around without a limp in the 49ers locker room.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 8, 2024
Excellent news.
Shanahan also confirmed Barrows' report by saying it wasn't an MCL or ACL injury, although everyone will know more on Monday.
Ferrell, and several of other 49ers players who are dealing with injuries, will have two weeks to rest and recover by way of the Niners securing the top seed in the NFC playoff picture and getting a first-round bye during Wild Card weekend, which begins next week.
While Ferrell and Co. will have to wait until Monday to confirm whatever extent of the injury, it certainly appears as if he'll be out there when San Francisco returns to action in the divisional round of the playoffs.
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