You heard the chatter earlier this week that indicated there is a possibility that Kwon Alexander could return to the team for the playoffs, and that the San Francisco 49ers linebacker is working his way toward that goal. That chatter started when wide receiver Kendrick Bourne mentioned the possibility via an Instagram video.
Returning earlier and better than expected is nothing new for the star linebacker. Alexander was ready to go and play at a high level for Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL in October of 2018. In fact, he was full-go during training camp at the end of July.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan cautioned against any comeback predictions for the playoffs, calling Alexander's return a "long shot." He did, however, confirm that the team is allowed to activate Alexander off of injured reserve for the playoffs.
"It would be awesome if he could," Shanahan continued, "but it's a really big injury, and that would be down the road. So there would be an outside chance at it, but we haven't ruled it out."
Bourne joined 95.7 The Game on Thursday morning and discussed the storyline he helped ignite.
"We were hanging out with him at his house, and he was just like, 'Man, it's a possibility. If we get all the way there, it's a high chance,'" Bourne shared on the "Joe, Lo and Dibs" show. "But he's going off the doctors and stuff like that. That's just word from me to everybody out there. That's what he said to me."
The question is, does "all the way there" mean the playoffs or a Super Bowl appearance? Regardless of the answer, either would be an impressive goal.
Could Alexander come back from a serious injury he suffered just seven weeks ago? Richard Sherman sustained a Grade 2 hamstring strain, an injury that typically sidelines players for multiple weeks, during Week 14, and plans to play on Saturday against the Rams. That will mean the veteran cornerback will have missed just one game due to the injury.
"Kwon, he's the same as Sherm," Shanahan continued. "Kwon thought he could have come back the next week. They're made of the right stuff, and when you think that way, even though it's your mind, sometimes your body will follow. So we won't rule it out, but it's a long shot, and it's not any time soon."
Bourne isn't counting out the possibility that Alexander could rejoin his teammates during the playoffs.
"I believe in him," Bourne said. "He came off the ACL (injury) looking amazing, and he came off the ACL pretty early, as they say. [This injury] is just a pectoral (tear), so I feel like if you can get through an ACL, I know he can get through a pec and play."
You can listen to the conversation with Bourne below.