San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism that Ji'Ayir Brown could be healthy enough to suit up for the team's regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. However, after sustaining a knee sprain against the Baltimore Ravens, the rookie safety won't play against the Washington Commanders this weekend. The 49ers have ruled Brown out of the Week 17 matchup.
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This means recently-signed veteran Logan Ryan's snap count is about to see an uptick from the 12 defensive snaps he has taken since signing with the 49ers earlier this month. The team is confident in Ryan's ability to step in and contribute.
"Just us playing against him, he always seemed like such an aware, smart player, and a guy that had a lot of experience playing a lot of different defenses," Shanahan told reporters on Friday. "So we brought him in here when we had a few injuries. He's looked, just since he's been here, like what we hoped he was. And now that we've had those injuries, he's in that role, and he's looked exactly like we hoped he'd be."
Brown had been thrust into the starting lineup after Talanoa Hufanga suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Now, it's Ryan who will be lined up next to the team's other starting safety, Tashaun Gipson.
Shanahan added, "He's very comfortable, knows what he's doing, and the game's not too big for him."
When asked about making his first start for the 49ers, Ryan said, "It's a great opportunity. I'm super excited for it. I'm definitely prepared, and going to go let it rip. ... I've been doing this for a long time. I just kind of trust what I know and my instincts. And obviously, [I'm] a player that they wanted me to come here based on some of those instincts, so I'm going to go listen to them and go play."
Ryan noted, "I love football. I'm not here for the money. I'm here to play football. When you're competing for a championship, no role is too small."
On Friday morning, general manager John Lynch discussed the decision to sign Ryan, also expressing confidence in the veteran defender.
"And it's nice when there's a vet like Logan Ryan out there," Lynch said during an interview on Bay Area radio station KNBR. "... And Logan, it's nice to have a guy [who's] got a lot of versatility to his game, has played some nickel over the years for championship teams in New England. [He] was last in Tampa and was playing at a high level; played well against us when we last played them [last year].
"So, Logan, it's nice that if Ji'Ayir can't go, that you can turn to a guy like Logan Ryan and feel very comfortable with what you have back there."