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The San Francisco 49ers’ season was mired in injury issues. One of their several losses along the defensive front was defensive end Dee Ford. While there’s optimism defensive end Nick Bosa will return at full strength from his Week 2 ACL tear, there’s a more pessimistic tone around Ford’s return from a back injury that sidelined him for the final 15 games of the season.
General manager John Lynch on Monday spoke with the media in a video conference and offered an update on Ford that didn’t offer much in the way of hope for Ford’s return in 2021.
“I can’t tell you with great (certainty) that, yeah, he’s going to be ready,” Lynch said via the San Francisco Chronicle. “We’re working hard – and he is working hard – to try to get there.”
Ford had back issues prior to arriving in San Francisco. He played in just three games of the 2011 college season because of a back issue that required surgery, and he missed 10 games for the Chiefs in 2017 for another back surgery.
The 49ers originally described Ford’s injury as a neck issue, but it’s since been reclassified as a back injury.
“When you’re dealing with a part of your body – the back – sometimes these things take more time,” Lynch said via the Chronicle. “I think Dee tries to stay encouraged. But I think it’s been a struggle for him. And we try to stay encouraged, as well.”
San Francisco acquired Ford for a second-round pick in a trade with the Chiefs before the 2019 season. Knee, quad and hamstring issues limited him to only 11 games in his first year with the club. He had offseason knee surgery to fix a tendinitis issue in his knee, but only got to play one game this season before the back injury cropped up.
Ford restructured his contract before the 2020 season and is due for a $20.785 million cap hit next year should he stay with the 49ers.