"He'll be practicing today," Kelly said. "He'll be back at training today." Kelly explained that Lynch gets a roster exemption for now as he returns from his suspension. He has been unable to practice with the team since the start of the regular season.
"(The training staff) has said that he's done a really great job working," Kelly said. "We're excited to get him back and get a chance to start working with him again as coaches. He's been available to do everything except be on the field with us so he's been around and we get to see him. And according to [Mark Uyeyama] and the guys in the strength and conditioning room, he's done a great job in his workouts with them. So he'll be a welcome addition today."
"We'll see," Kelley answered when asked if Lynch is expected to play Thursday. "Again, I haven't seen him. But from what they've said, he's worked extremely hard so we're hoping we can get him on the field on Thursday."
When asked what the coaching staff needs to see from Lynch, Kelly said, "Just how good his conditioning is and how he feels. Kind of figure out, if he is ready to play, how many plays can he play. Kind of just see where he is. But he's in tune. One thing about him, he's a really intelligent football player so from a mental standpoint, I don't think that will be an issue. But obviously, the speed of the game and things like that I think obviously – you know, something that you can't simulate when you're out. So he's got to catch back up to that."
"Obviously he's a very talented player," said Kelly of what he brings to the defense. "The ability to set the edge and to rush a passer from the outside is I think something that we'll need as we continue to more forward here. I think those are the two things that we are really looking forward to."
Last season, Lynch had 6.5 sacks last season through 14 games, tying with fellow outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks, and accounted for nearly a quarter of the team's sack total. That was a big jump from the 16-percent he accounted for during his rookie campaign. He has 12.5 sacks in his two competed seasons with the 49ers.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers injury update: John Lynch addresses George Kittle's status for Bears game
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Friday. He discussed the status of tight end George Kittle, who is recovering from an ankle injury suffered Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts. The setback has put Kittle's... -
49ers injury update: John Lynch doesn't rule out Fred Warner's playoff return
The San Francisco 49ers aren't ruling out the possibility that star linebacker Fred Warner could return this postseason. Warner suffered a dislocated and fractured right ankle in Week 6, and early expectations were that he wouldn't play again until next year. Now, that timeline... -
John Lynch: 49ers plan to make it 'very attractive' for Robert Saleh to stay
The San Francisco 49ers are focused on closing out the regular season strong and positioning themselves for a deep playoff run. Still, one offseason storyline is already drawing attention—and could surface even before the postseason ends. What happens with defensive... -
John Lynch: 49ers locked in on Colts, not Aiyuk saga or playoff seeding
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Friday morning and was asked to reflect on the ongoing Brandon Aiyuk saga. The team recently placed the wide receiver on the reserve/left squad list, officially ending his chances of returning...