The 49ers should have a full squad available from their roster for Saturday's playoff opener against the Vikings, whose top wide receivers are battling health issues.
SANTA CLARA — Here is the latest injury update from the 49ers ahead of Saturday’s playoff opener against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi’s Stadium:
Judging from the start of Thursday’s practice, all 49ers look available to play, including linebacker Kwon Alexander. An official status report will be issued by the 49ers later today.
Alexander first must be activated as their second and final player to come off the injured-reserve list this season; defensive tackle Kentavius Street was their first short-term designee Dec. 14.
Defensive end Dee Ford (hamstring), guard Mike Person (neck) and Street (knee) were limited but participated in all three practices this week.
Since a Nov. 17 hamstring injury, Ford has missed essentially the past six games, aside from a four-snap cameo early in the Dec. 8 win at New Orleans.
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.
#49ers final official practice is underway before Saturday #NFLPlayoffs opener vs #Vikings:
All apparently practicing (officia report due out in about an hour or two)
Dee Ford, Kwon Alexander, Jaquiski Tartt all participating and on course to return from injury pic.twitter.com/CT2PHzj6ra— ???????????? ???????????????????? (@CamInman) January 9, 2020
VIKINGS STATUS REPORT
Wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs 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. 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.”
“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.”
Cornerback Mackensie Alexander (knee) is out, and safety Jayron Kearse (toe/knee) is questionable.
