Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and the San Francisco 49ers defense are preparing for the Minnesota Vikings in the team's first playoff game since the 2013 season. The goal remains the Super Bowl, but this weekend's matchup at Levi's Stadium is not being overlooked.
The 49ers are getting healthy. Every player on the active roster practiced on Tuesday with just guard Mike Person (neck) and defensive linemen Dee Ford (quadricep, hamstring) and Kentavius Street (knee) being limited.
Ford (hamstring) was inactive for the 49ers' final three games of the season. Safety Jaquiski Tartt (ribs) has been inactive for four games. Linebacker Kwon Alexander remains on injured reserve after suffering a torn pectoral muscle on October 31, 2019.
All three could be available on Saturday, providing a significant boost for an already impressive defensive unit. Alexander has been practicing since last week and could be activated off of injured reserve before Saturday.
Bucker joined KNBR on Tuesday and shared what it would mean to get those players back on the football field for the playoffs.
"Obviously, those guys have played key roles in our defense," Buckner told Greg Papa and John Lund. "You saw early on in the year, we were really rolling. And to have those guys back is going to be really, really big for our defense.
"Obviously, Kwon, he's a big-energy guy. He makes plays all over the field. Jaquiski back there, he's a big play-maker. And also Dee, coming off the line of scrimmage on third downs.
"All those guys play a big key role. They're all leaders on our defense, and having them back at the right time helps a lot."
Buckner was voted to his first All-Pro team after this season's performance. He racked up 4.5 fewer sacks compared to 2018 but considers this season a step forward in his growth as a defender.
TWO forced fumbles leads to the @DeForestBuckner TOUCHDOWNNNNN. #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/pu5FOmv5Qo
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 12, 2019
"I think, obviously, number-wise, with sacks and everything, were a little down from last year," Buckner explained. "But I think getting the ball -- I forced two fumbles this year, and recovered four, got a defensive touchdown. So little things like that, where I didn't do anything like that last year, came up in this year's game of mine.
"Obviously, occupying two guys a lot more this year to free up other guys, and still trying to be productive with that. It wasn't a step back. I think it was another step forward for me, personally."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Buckner below.