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There were some questions as to whether Dee Ford would play on Saturday, but none of them were being asked by the 49ers. They had near certainty that Ford would play for the first time since re-aggravating his hamstring against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14.
No doubt Ford would play, even after mishandling Saints game
Said Robert Saleh, who was asked whether there was doubt about Ford during his brief cameo in the locker room after the 49ers’ 27-10 Divisional Round win over the Minnesota Vikings, “I don’t think so.”
Ford was even more definitive.
“I was going to play regardless,” Ford said. “You’re going to have to cart me off the field to get me to not play at this point in time.”
Earlier this week, head coach Kyle Shanahan had revealed that Ford felt tightness in his hamstring going into the Ravens game and told the team’s medical staff he was good to go.
Ford acknowledged his mistake, but said he felt exponentially better this time around
“Yeah, I did. I did. I mean, it is what it is,” Ford said. “Hamstrings are tough. I was coming upon a big stretch for our team [before the Ravens game]. And you know, for me myself, the player kicked in and I tried to push through. I wasn’t really honest with how I felt but at the end of the day, it is what it is. Hamstrings are tricky. We have a great staff and training staff, so we got hands on it and now we’re here.”
Having played for the first time in more than four weeks, Ford said he only expects to improve.
“Oh, it felt great, man,” Ford said. “I feel like next week is going to be even better for me getting some some rust knocked off.”
Kwon Alexander says he feels…legendary
There was no chance Kwon Alexander could return this season. He tore his left pectoral, a season-ending injury in just about every circumstance except his and the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt’s.
“I was just happy to be out there, just to touch the grass again with my teammates, go out there and have fun,” Alexander said. “It was crazy. It was amazing. I ain’t stepped out there. I used to fill on the sideline but today I felt it on the field and it felt amazing, legendary.”
As for how he feels, he was typically positive and in his Alexander vernacular.
“Legendary, ready to go again,” Alexander. “I’m fresh, so I’m ready to go.”
