Sad News: 49ers in a sad mode as reports indicates team set to loose excellent player to long duration injury…

With just 3.5 sacks this season, Ferrell is one of the few 49ers starters who isn’t a Pro Bowler or a Pro Bowl alternate.

In a week and a half, the 49ers will begin their postseason run, but not at full strength.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan says Clelin Ferrell will miss at least one game and maybe a few due to a knee issue. Ferrell’s potential comeback during the playoffs is mentioned, but it’s not a given.

Early in the 49ers’ meaningless season finale versus the Rams, Ferrell hurt his knee. In order to ensure that his starters wouldn’t be rusty for the playoffs, head coach Kyle Shanahan started the opening quarter of play. This was a wise move, but it also carried some risk because football is a brutal sport. Ferrell was the starter who was most likely to sustain an injury.

With just 3.5 sacks this season, Ferrell is one of the few 49ers starters who isn’t a Pro Bowler or a Pro Bowl alternate. However, during 17 games during the regular season, he was incredibly dependable and steady versus the run.

Ferrell is among the top run stoppers on the 49ers. He may be their best edge-setter, surpassing even Chase Young and Nick Bosa, who prioritize pass rush over run defense. Ferrell’s absence might therefore be detrimental to the 49ers if they play a team like the Rams or the Lions that excels at running the ball.

The 49ers’ second-leading rusher in the NFL, Kyren Williams, is a strong candidate to start against the Rams after their first-round bye week. While the 49ers’ interior run defense would undoubtedly benefit from Armstead’s return from plantar fasciitis, Williams also attacks around the edges, where Ferrell would be.

It will be interesting to see how the defense responds to the loss of their least-heralded defensive end.