Pass rusher Dee Ford is among the players the San Francisco 49ers have been careful with this offseason. The veteran defender is entering his third season with the team. However, his time with the Niners has been riddled with injuries. Ford missed all but one game last season due to a back injury. Some even wondered whether or not the pass rusher would step onto a football field again.
Ford, 30, has reportedly looked good during his limited training-camp reps and the coaching staff expects him to continue harassing opposing quarterbacks again in 2021. Ford isn't expecting to be an every-down player, though.
"Like any injury, we're going to start with a pitch count, a standard for any injury," Ford told reporters after today's practice. "My role is to do what they brought me here to do—make big plays."
A healthy Ford creates a problem for opposing offenses. He and Nick Bosa, who also missed most of the 2020 season, are expected to bookend a deep defensive line designed to frustrate signal-callers, making things easier for defensive teammates behind them.
Added Ford: "I feel good. Progressing every day. We're not really trying to reinvent the wheel and throw too much volume at one time. Everything has been pretty good."
Last season wasn't Ford's first time dealing with a back injury. He dealt with similar—but less severe—issues during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ford was asked if there was any thought to pushing his way through the injury and getting back on the field last season.
"Ironically, that happened last time. I hurt my back too," Ford explained. "I tried to tough it out. That's just something that's a positive for me that really turned into a negative because really, you really want to keep trying. You only make it worse. So I put myself in a bad situation instead of handling it. Trying to push through it, it kind of worked in reverse. Unfortunately, I tried to push through it, but spines don't work that way. It's good to be back here, though."
Ford said he doesn't really think about his snap count. The depth along the defensive line allows the 49ers to roll out whatever game plan is required against a specific opponent. He knows there is a lot of talent along the defensive front.
In 2019, San Francisco surrendered a second-round draft pick to the Chiefs for Ford. The pass rusher has since appeared in just 12 total games with the team but proved he could be a valuable asset when he racked up 6.5 sacks during his limited playing time in 2019.