49ers LB Fred Warner stops by “49ers Talk” to discuss how the team is using the bye to prepare for what could be a trip to Santa Clara next week.
After clinching the number 1 seed in the NFC and number 039 playoffs a week earlier, the 49ers bought defensive end Arik Armstead recovery time.
“He would have gone the week we needed him,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday on a conference call with Bay Area reporters. “And that’s why we were really excited to get that [No. 1 seed] so he didn’t have to go last week.
“Give him that extra week, he’s better now than he was a week ago.
With Armstead seemingly set to return, the 49ers appear to be without defensive tackle Clelin Ferrell for “a few weeks” with a knee injury, Shanahan said.
Ferrell, who has started all 17 games for the 49ers this season, is not expected to be available for the team’s first playoff game the weekend of 8-21. in January. in January.
“It’s possible to have him back in the playoffs for a while,” Shanahan said.
Defensive end Chase Young, a midseason acquisition from the Washington Commanders, will likely replace Ferrell in the starting lineup.
Second-year player Drake Jackson remains on injured reserve with a knee injury and is not ready to return, Shanahan said.
“Our goal was to come out of the game healthy and we hit some guys, but Cle is the one we’re most likely to lose at least one game,” Shanahan said. “After that, we didn’t lose anybody else in the game, and it looks like we’re going to get most of those guys back that missed the game.“
Armstead tops the list of players expected after the season opener.
He played the last five games of the regular season because of foot and knee problems. Shanahan said Armstead will return to practice Thursday after working out well Tuesday.
“He’s doing better,” Shanahan said. “He looked good today. It was a test and that’s why we’ll train him on Thursday. And hopefully it will go well and we’ll get him a little bit on Friday.“
Running back Christian McCaffrey will not practice this week with a mild calf strain, but Shanahan said he expects to be fully ready for practice next week.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who played the final three games of the regular season, has been removed from the NFL’s concussion protocol and is expected to return to the field.
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (knee) and Tashaun Gipson (groin) have a chance to return to practice this week as the 49ers look to find their first-round playoff opponent.
Cornerback Ambry Thomas had surgery last week to repair a broken arm. He will return to the training camp this week.
The 49ers could also get safety and special teams cornerback George Odum back. The 49ers will open Odum’s practice window this week after he was placed on injured reserve in late November.
Tight end George Kittle (back spasms) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles tendonitis) sat out the 49ers’ Week 18 game as a precaution and are likely to have light workloads this week. Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano is “day-to-day” with back problems.
Practice squad safety Tayler Hawkins, who was promoted to play against the Los Angeles Rams, suffered a wrist injury that will require surgery..
