49ers inactives vs. Packers: Arik Armstead, other starters return for playoffs
In fact, San Francisco will be awfully healthy for the divisional round of the playoffs with the Packers coming to town.
By Peter Panacy
Fox. 42. 49ers -9.5. 8 p.m. ET. 9-8. 49. Saturday, Jan. 20. Packers-49ers opening. 12-5
The 49ers have been banged up by injuries to close out the regular season, but they'll have plenty of starters back for Round 1 of the playoffs.
Defensive tackle Arik Armstead didn't want to miss a marquee matchup earlier in the regular season when the San Francisco 49ers were visiting a 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles squad.
Despite dealing with a foot injury, Armstead vowed to play in that game.
He did, except he reaggravated the injury and had to exit halfway through what turned into a one-sided Niners victory that helped propel Philly on its now-infamous downward spiral. And Armstead missed the following five games to close out the regular season.
Plenty of other injuries plagued San Francisco during that stretch, too, which meant the team's first-round bye during Wild Card weekend after having secured the top seed in the conference would be a welcomed break to rest and get healthy.
The 49ers are almost fully healthy now as they prepare to host the surging Green Bay Packers for the divisional round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Levi's Stadium.
Armstead is returning from his foot and knee injuries, while defensive backs George Odum (biceps), Ji'Ayir Brown (knee), Tashaun Gipson (quad) and Ambry Thomas (hand) all return after missing time with their respective injuries.
Getting Brown and Gipson, the Niners' two starters at safety, could be vital in stopping Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
Running back Christian McCaffrey, who suffered a calf injury in Week 17 against the Washington Commanders and was also benched to rest in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams, is fully set to go and reclaim his starting bid for head coach Kyle Shanahan.
The only two names appearing on the Niners' divisional-round injury report are edge Clelin Ferrell (knee), who has been ruled out (and was subsequently placed on injured reserve to make roster space available for Odum, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), who is questionable.
49ers inactives for NFL playoff game vs. Packers
Greenlaw is active, while these players are not:
- OL Matt Pryor
- QB Brandon Allen
- WR Ronnie Bell
- LB Jalen Graham
- CB Samuel Womack
- DL Alex Barrett
- DL T.Y. McGill
The Niners kick off against the Packers at 8:15 p.m. ET.
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