San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh spoke with reporters after Wednesday's practice and was asked about Kwon Alexander. The team's new linebacker is rehabbing from an ACL injury that he suffered during Week 7 of the 2018 season while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Saleh was asked about the timetable for Alexander's return, and the defensive coordinator believes training camp might be a possibility.
"My understanding is training camp," Saleh said. "But that probably would be a question for Kyle (Shanahan) and John (Lynch)."
Keep in mind that Alexander suffered his injury four weeks after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's and seven weeks after running back Jerick McKinnon's. The hope is that Garoppolo can be medically cleared to be a full participant in training camp and McKinnon will likely be worked in around that time too. With McKinnon, though, the 49ers might be more cautious given the nature of playing running back, which involves more contact and on-field cuts during runs.
Alexander being ready for training camp, or any time before the start of the regular season, can certainly be viewed as good news on his recovery. San Francisco's decision-makers believed in him so much that they signed him in March to a four-year deal worth up to $54 million.
Alexander recorded 45 combined tackles, a sack, two passes defensed, and two forced fumbles through six games last year before suffering his season-ending injury.
Comments