Rehabbing linebacker Kwon Alexander sounds determined to get back on the football field and re-join his San Francisco 49ers teammates, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. The reporter recently had an opportunity to speak with Alexander, who suffered a torn pectoral muscle two months ago.
Alexander's specific injury typically requires months of healing, rehab, and then work to get back into football shape. The linebacker has his sights set on the NFC Championship Game.
An early return is not out of the question. San Francisco can bring back one more player from the injured reserve list.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan even acknowledged that Alexander returning remains a possibility, assuming the 49ers win their first playoff game on Saturday, January 11.
"He's coming along," Shanahan told reporters this week. "There's definitely going to be a chance. I don't think that will be this week, but if we're fortunate enough to win our first game, I think he could have a chance after that. We're still holding out hope for that, but we'll see how it goes over these next couple of weeks."
Alexander, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining San Francisco, has never played in a playoff game. He doesn't want to let the opportunity escape.
"Playoffs are hard to get to for anyone," Alexander told Barrows. "I think anyone, if they had a chance to come back, they'd want to come back. Because I never played in the playoffs in all my life. So that's one of the big goals of mine. So I'm just working hard and trying to get there, man. I hope I'm going to get there, and they clear me — hopefully."
Alexander finished the regular season with 34 combined tackles, 0.5 sacks, four passes defensed, an interception, and a forced fumble through eight starts before landing on injured reserve.
Click here to read Barrows' entire feature at The Athletic.