Happy New Year 49ers fans! Before everyone heads out, here are a few updates on the Niners as they get ready for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.
- As The Athletic’s Matt Barrows first reported, the 49ers are bringing back nose tackle Earl Mitchell, who spent two seasons with the team before being released in January 2017. Mitchell should help bolster a defensive line that has missed D.J. Jones that last several weeks.
- Regarding the availability of safety Jaquiski Tartt and defense lineman Dee Ford for the Divisional round, head coach Kyle Shanahan said yesterday, “I’m hoping for it and I am feeling optimistic about it. You never know with how those things go with the ribs and with the hamstring, but that was the goal. We knew there could be a slight chance this week if we were playing this week, so getting this Bye week should make it an even better chance then.”
- And what about LB Kwon Alexander? “He’s coming along,” Shanahan said. “There’s definitely going to be a chance. I don’t think that will be this week, but if we’re fortunate enough to win our first game, I think he could have a chance after that. We’re still holding out hope for that, but we’ll see how it goes over these next couple weeks.”
