The San Francisco 49ers defensive line has been one of best in the NFL all season and will get it’s first taste of playoff football Saturday against the Green Bay Packers but will be without one of their defensive linemen.
The team will be without a defensive starter after lineman Clelin Ferrell landed on injured reserve with a knee injury he suffered in Week 18, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The #49ers place DL Clelin Ferrell on IR because of a knee injury, ending his season. They activated S George Odum off IR.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2024
Ferrell’s loss isn’t great, but the 49ers have a solid collection that can fill in nicely in his absence between Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Randy Gregory, and Chase Young.
All six are starter-quality players who have wreaked havoc all season long against opposing offensive linemen.
The 49ers defense has stars at all levels as well with Fred Warner at linebacker and Charvarius Ward in the secondary.
They’ll face off against one of the most up-and-coming offenses in the Green Bay Packers, led by first-time starter Jordan Love.
Love and company put up 48 points against the Dallas Cowboys’ defense a week ago with a punishing running game and a high-flying passing game with a ton of first-and second-year players.
Love is the key to all, though, meaning the 49ers will need to get pressure on him early and often to throw him off his game.
The defensive line will be crucial in that mentality, but now will have to do it without Ferrell for this game and for the rest of the season if the 49ers advance in the postseason.
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