Dee Ford has 50-50 chance of returning to 49ers' pass rush

SANTA CLARA

Defensive end Dee Ford’s potential return to the 49ers pass rush is officially questionable, a 50/50 status heading into Saturday’s playoff opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

Ford practiced in a limited capacity Thursday for a third straight day. Since a Nov. 17 hamstring injury, he has missed essentially the past six games, aside from a four-snap cameo early in the Dec. 8 win at New Orleans.

“We’re trying to be smarter about it - I don’t know if that’s the right word - and I think Dee is also,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s tough for athletes in these situations. They want to play no matter what.”

Shanahan said the 49ers must gauge how Ford feels before kickoff and decide whether to take the “gamble” of playing him against what should be a run-based Vikings offense. Ford experienced tightness before the Saints game, a lesson learned in case that happens again Saturday.

“He thought he could go, and the way Dee Ford comes off the ball, it was the fourth play of the game, he came off hard and tweaked his hamstring again,” Shanahan said. “Dee can learn from that and I can learn from that, too, that I hope if he feels tight, he can come tell me. Then we have to make that decision if we gamble or not.”

Ford was not available for comment all week. He quickly passed through the locker room after Thursday’s practice and headed for the training room, with his right hamstring and knee heavily wrapped in athletic tape.

Alexander to suit up

Linebacker Kwon Alexander (pectoral) will be activated from injured reserve before 1 p.m. Friday, Shanahan announced without revealing the corresponding move on who’ll come off the roster.

Alexander is not expected to play a full-time role, rather he’ll likely complement Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw when the 49ers put three linebackers on the field.

Other injury updates

The only other 49er on the injury report is defensive tackle Kentavius Street, who is questionable with a knee issue. Last week’s addition of Earl Mitchell could compensate if Street can’t play, but Sheldon Day typically starts inside with DeForest Buckner in the base defense that combats running plays.

Guard Mike Person (neck) is expected to play but Shanahan declined to say if he’ll return to the starting lineup. Person started 30 consecutive games before a lingering neck issue sidelined him and prompted Daniel Brunskill to start in his place.

Linebacker Elijah Lee (illness) was the only 49er who did not practice Thursday.

McKinnon’s inside tips

Jerick McKinnon was poached from the Minnesota Vikings two years ago to become a dynamic factor for the 49ers’ offense. A Sept. 1, 2018 knee injury wrecked the initial plan. McKinnon became a ghost, not just last season but this one.

In between those lost seasons, however, McKinnon did something that shouldn’t go unnoticed: He spurred on Jimmy Garoppolo while the two of them rehabbed from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. McKinnon, more than anyone, can appreciate Garoppolo’s ability to start every game and lead the top-seeded 49ers into Saturday’s playoff opener - against McKinnon’s former team, the Vikings.

“The work he put in, it’s showing,” McKinnon said. “Everything he’s been able to do, coming back from the injury, leading this team to the record that we have now, and be as efficient as he has, it speaks for itself.”

Garoppolo’s passed for 3,978 yards (fourth-most in 49ers history) and 27 touchdowns this season, and he pulled off fourth-quarter comebacks in four of the 49ers’ 13 wins. He has grown more confident in his rebuilt left knee with nifty scrambles, when needed.

“Somewhere along the way, he hit his groove, and once that happened, it was a wrap,” McKinnon said. “He’s been good the whole season. The preseason, that was a chance to get the butterflies out from having the year off.”

This week, McKinnon texted the 49ers running backs with advice on what to expect from the Vikings defense; almost every member of the Minnesota defense remains from the time McKinnon was there.

“He just sent us a text about how certain guys play,” 49ers leading rusher Raheem Mostert said. “He’s giving us pointers like, ‘This is what you should expect out of this guy,’ or, ‘This is how this linebacker plays.’”

Extra points

* Shanahan had high praise for the VIkings’ veteran-laden defense: “When you keep those guys and you have a good scheme, and talented guys who play together year after year, that’s why they’re the toughest defense we’ve faced this year, and I think that’s why they’re where they’re at.”

* Kicker Robbie Gould said he hasn’t had any issues with Levi’s Stadium’s grass since arriving in 2017, and he hasn’t practiced on the new turf that got installed between the hash marks after the Dec. 30 Redbox Bowl. Gould did visit the field earlier this week to admire the red-painted end zones. He will use pregame warmups to test out his footing and decide if he needs to changing cleats.

* Asked what he’s said to Garoppolo ahead of his first playoff start, Shanahan replied: “ ‘Just be you. Do the same thing you do every single day.’ I didn’t give him a big message this week. I’ve talked to him the same way I have every other week.”

* The 49ers will have to inactivate seven players 90 minutes before the 1:35 p.m. kickoff, and they’ll have to release someone to move Alexander off injured reserve. Likely candidates to not suit up are quarterback C.J. Beathard, running back Jeff Wilson Jr., wide receiver Jordan Matthews, tight end Daniel Helm and cornerback Dontae Johnson. A defensive lineman and linebacker also likely will get inactivated if Ford and Alexander return. Helm wore one of the 49ers’ scout-team-player-of-the-week shirts Thursday, presumably for his impersonation of Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph.

Vikings status report

Wide receivers Adam Thielen (ankle) and Stefon Diggs (illness) are intent on playing despite health issues this week.

Thielen is questionable after sustaining an ankle in Wednesday’s practice and requiring stitches to close an unspecified wound from getting “tangled up” with a teammate. He did not practice Thursday.

“I’m just focused on today right now,” Thielen told reporters after practice Thursday. “We’ll see how it goes. But I got a couple days so I’m going to take it one day at a time to try to be out there on Saturday and try to help my teammates.”

The Vikings upset the Saints with large help from Thielen, who had seven catches for 129 yards and made a 43-yard reception in overtime to set up the winning score.

Diggs is expected to play despite missing practice this week because of the flu, though he returned for Thursday’s session.

“Even if was 30 percent, I’d be out there,” Diggs said, per Vikings.com. “It’s football and it’s that time of the year. Nothing is going to be perfect, and a lot of guys have bumps and bruises. I won’t let a little flu keep me from the game.”

Cornerback Mackensie Alexander (knee) is out, and safety Jayron Kearse (toe/knee) is questionable.

SANTA CLARA ­- Defensive end Dee Ford’s potential return to the 49ers pass rush is officially questionable, a 50/50 status heading into Saturday’s divisional playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Ford practiced in a limited capacity Thursday for a third straight day. Since a Nov. 17 hamstring injury, he has missed essentially the past six games, aside from a four-snap cameo early in the Dec. 8 win at New Orleans.

“We’re trying to be smarter about it - I don’t know if that’s the right word - and I think Dee is also,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s tough for athletes in these situations. They want to play no matter what.”

Shanahan said the 49ers must gauge how Ford feels before kickoff and decide whether to take the “gamble” of playing him against what should be a run-based Vikings offense. Ford experienced tightness before the Saints game, a lesson learned in case that happens again Saturday.

“He thought he could go, and the way Dee Ford comes off the ball, it was the fourth play of the game, he came off hard and tweaked his hamstring again,” Shanahan said. “Dee can learn from that and I can learn from that, too, that I hope if he feels tight, he can come tell me. Then we have to make that decision if we gamble or not.”

Ford was not available for comment all week. He quickly passed through the locker room after Thursday’s practice and headed for the training room, with his right hamstring and knee heavily wrapped in athletic tape.

Alexander to suit up

Linebacker Kwon Alexander (pectoral) will be activated from injured reserve, Shanahan announced without revealing the corresponding move on who’ll come off the roster.

Alexander is not expected to play a full-time role, rather he’ll likely complement Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw when the 49ers put three linebackers on the field.

Other injury updates

The only other 49er on the injury report is defensive tackle Kentavius Street, who is questionable with a knee issue. Last week’s addition of Earl Mitchell could compensate if Street can’t play, but Sheldon Day typically starts inside with DeForest Buckner in the base defense that combats running plays.

Guard Mike Person (neck) is expected to play, but Shanahan declined to say if he’ll return to the starting lineup. Person started 30 consecutive games before a lingering neck issue sidelined him and prompted Daniel Brunskill to start in his place.

Linebacker Elijah Lee (illness) was the only 49er who did not practice Thursday.

McKinnon’s inside tips

Jerick McKinnon was poached from the Minnesota Vikings two years ago to become a dynamic factor for the 49ers’ offense. A Sept. 1, 2018 knee injury wrecked the initial plan. McKinnon became a ghost, not just last season but this one.

In between those lost seasons, McKinnon did something that shouldn’t go unnoticed: He spurred on Jimmy Garoppolo while the two of them rehabbed from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. McKinnon, more than anyone, can appreciate Garoppolo’s ability to start every game and lead the top-seeded 49ers into Saturday’s playoff opener - against McKinnon’s former team, the Vikings.

“The work he put in, it’s showing,” McKinnon said. “Everything he’s been able to do, coming back from the injury, leading this team to the record that we have now, and be as efficient as he has, it speaks for itself.”

Garoppolo passed for 3,978 yards (fourth-most in 49ers history) and 27 touchdowns this season, and he pulled off fourth-quarter comebacks in four of the 49ers’ 13 wins. He has grown more confident in his rebuilt left knee with nifty scrambles, when needed.

“Somewhere along the way, he hit his groove, and once that happened, it was a wrap,” McKinnon said. “He’s been good the whole season. The preseason, that was a chance to get the butterflies out from having the year off.”

This week, McKinnon texted the 49ers running backs with advice on what to expect from the Vikings defense; almost every member of the Minnesota defense remains from the time McKinnon was there.

Extra points

Shanahan had high praise for the Vikings’ veteran-laden defense: “When you keep those guys and you have a good scheme, and talented guys who play together year after year, that’s why they’re the toughest defense we’ve faced this year, and I think that’s why they’re where they’re at.”

Vikings status report

Wide receivers Adam Thielen (ankle) and Stefon Diggs (illness) are intent on playing despite health issues this week.

Thielen is questionable after sustaining an ankle injury in Wednesday’s practice and requiring stitches to close an unspecified wound from getting “tangled up” with a teammate. He did not practice Thursday.

“I’m just focused on today right now,” Thielen told reporters after practice Thursday. “We’ll see how it goes.”