Dee

Ford

On Tuesday, 49ers GM John Lynch said there were still some things to work out between Ford, the league, and the NFLPA before the team could release the oft-injured pass rusher, but he made it clear it was just a matter of time. Acquired for a second-round pick in 2019 and given a five-year, $85.5 million deal, Ford managed just 9.5 sacks across 18 games in three years with the 49ers. If healthy, Ford could theoretically provide some pass-rushing snaps for a contender, but that is a major if.

Ford’s 31-year-old back has completely derailed his time in San Francisco, and the Niners are going to release him at some point this offseason. Lynch said the timing of that is still being worked out with Ford rehabbing his latest setback. Acquired from the Chiefs ahead of the 2019 season, Ford played in just 18 of a possible 49 games since the trade, and only seven over the last two years. Ford can likely still contribute off the edge if healthy, but that’s a big “if.”

Ford needed to be activated by Wednesday or spend the rest of the season in injured reserve. It appears as if the latter will be his fate. Ford has now played just 18 games in three seasons since joining the 49ers. San Francisco can save just over $2 million against the cap by cutting Ford in the spring and $7 million if they designated him a June-1 cut.

Shanahan is hopeful Ford will be ready to play against the Vikings on Sunday. Ford was limited by a back injury during the offseason, and he was only able to make it six limited games before landing on injured reserve with the same issue. If he is healthy, Ford’s return will be a boost for the defense.

Ford dealt with a back injury during the offseason too. The veteran edge rusher has played sparingly for the 49ers this season, never topping a 32% snap share in a single game. He hasn’t played since Week 7.

It’s ‘free money’ for San Francisco’s defense in Week 1 since the 30-year-old wasn’t expected to play to begin with. Riddled with injuries the past two seasons, Ford has appeared in just 12 games with the Niners in that time. He’ll likely be limited to a handful of passing downs opposite Jared Goff.

The defensive lineman is expected to avoid the active/PUP list to begin training camp after playing only one game last season. Ford took a pay cut in March. “There was no additional procedure,” GM John Lynch said of Ford’s offseason. “That’s been the challenge. It has been a moving target, and that’s not abnormal when dealing with the core of your body and your spine. We feel we have a good handle on it but it’s a cautiously optimistic approach.” A shell of his Chiefs self his two years in San Francisco, 30-year-old Ford has entered “believe it when you see it” territory when it comes to him contributing in the Bay Area.

Ford will make $24 million over the next two seasons. Previously, Ford had base salaries of $15.2 and $16.2 million for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, so it’s a paycut for the injured veteran. It’s still a bad contract all-around, but the 49ers figured out a way to lower his cap hit for now. The 30-year-old has appeared in just 12 games across two years in San Francisco. He’s currently rehabbing a back injury.

Ford collects it if he’s released with injury before April 1, and it becomes fully guaranteed money if he remains on the roster April 1. In other words, the 49ers need Ford to be fully recovered from the back injury that limited him to one 2020 appearance by April 1. If Ford can pass his physical, he will be a no-brainer cut after two injury-ruined years in the Bay Area. Ford’s healthy release would clear $5.7 million in cap space, a number that jumps to $15.2 million if he’s designated a post-June 1 cut.

“It’s not looking like it,” was Shanahan’s response when asked if Ford would suit up for any of the team’s final five games. It could end Ford’s disastrous tenure with the team, one that has included 47 snaps this season and 330 between the regular season and playoffs in 2019. The ex-Chief has battled one marathon injury after another since arriving via trade in March 2019. As NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal points out, Ford’s acquisition was one reason the Niners had to end up trading DeForest Buckner. That hasn’t gone according to plan, to put it mildly. Going on 28, Ford’s release would create $16 million in cap space if he is designated a post-June 1 cut. Perhaps he will be amenable to a pay cut instead.