Clelin Ferrell, an edge rusher for the San Francisco 49ers, sustained a knee injury during their game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. The team’s head coach, Kyle Shanahan, clarified that Ferrell’s injury does not involve his ACL or MCL, and they expect to learn more details after reviewing Ferrell’s MRI on Monday.
Although the 49ers had a week off, Shanahan revealed that Ferrell might still miss a playoff game. Toward the end of the game, Tayler Hawkins hurt his wrist. Aside from that, the 49ers emerged from a practice-like match without any injuries.
Shanahan mentioned that due to George Kittle experiencing back spasms and Dre Greenlaw dealing with Achilles tendonitis, the team chose to prioritize their safety and decided to not let them play.
Both teams held onto the ball for more than five minutes during their initial possession, consuming almost the entire first quarter. This strategy proved successful since most of the starters didn’t have to participate much afterwards.
Shanahan explained that he had discussed with Trent Williams and Nick Bosa about aiming for around 10 to 15 plays during the game on Sunday. He was pleased that the opening drive consisted of about 10 plays, which worked well for Trent. However, he found it strange that the defense only had a few plays after their initial 11-play drive, as they quickly intercepted the ball. Towards the end of the second quarter, Shanahan sent Williams and Bosa back onto the field, but they did not return after halftime.
The main concern for the 49ers in Week 18 was avoiding any major injuries. Although the status of Ferrell’s injury is uncertain, their objective was achieved. Shanahan admitted that he was constantly worried throughout the game, hoping that his players would stay injury-free. He expressed regret about Cle’s injury, but overall, the team managed to avoid significant issues.
The 49ers are transitioning into playoff mode, as stated by Shanahan during his postgame press conference. He emphasized that the team will have intense practices multiple times, with the plan consisting of two rigorous practices and one day dedicated to team conditioning this week.
