On Tuesday night, Pro Football Talk reported that San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Dee Ford was telling his teammates that he expected the Niners to release him as early as Wednesday. Through a text to NFL reporter Mike Silver, Ford denied the report, clarifying that he was simply taking some time away from the team to rehab his chronic back issues and get back onto the football field.
"The articles saying I told my teammates I expected to be released are false," read Ford's text to Silver. "I'm going to be getting rehab and taking the time needed to get back and I was saying goodbye to the boys because I wouldn't be in the building. We are still rolling. We're just taking the time needed."
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters before Wednesday's practice and offered some clarification on the Dee Ford situation.
"Yeah, he's not going to be back this year," Shanahan said. "... He had to be good by today, and he's not, so we're shutting him down."
That doesn't mean the team is parting ways with Ford—at least, not at the moment. But, financially, it may not make sense for the 49ers to do so under the defensive end's current contract.
"No, we're not doing that (releasing him) now," Shanahan said. "I mean, it's always a possibility (down the road) but no, that's not something we've discussed yet or decided on."
Shanahan added that Ford would return to his home in Kansas City since he won't contribute further this season. That's where he will continue his rehab. The coach acknowledged that there might not be much that can be done with rehab because it is a chronic issue. Retirement could be an issue for Ford, but that is up to him.
Ford landed on injured reserve on November 6 due to his back issues. The 49ers opened Ford's practice window on November 25 and had until Wednesday to activate the veteran defender off the injured reserve list.