49ers analysis

Breaking down San Francisco’s units; 2020 roster; 2019 statistics.

Dee Ford had offseason knee surgery, which made it unclear if he would be ready to suit up when the 49ers opened training camp last month.

On Aug. 13, two days before their first practice, the Pro Bowl pass rusher was asked if he would be a full participant.

“I will definitely be a full participant all season,” Ford said. “That’s my goal.”

You catch that? Ford started with a guarantee before dialing it back.

Of course, no NFL player can be assured of staying healthy. And Ford has more reason than most to hedge his bets after undergoing back surgery, knee surgery, and dealing with groin, hamstring and calf injuries since 2017.

His medical file is part of a tension that exists as the 49ers prepare to defend their NFC championship, a title they wouldn’t have captured without their potent pass rush.

Their ability to pressure quarterbacks took a hit when they traded AllPro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Colts in March. But Buckner’s absence could be offset if Ford can stay on the field far more than he did in 2019.

Ford, 29, played just 226 regularseason snaps partly because he spent 2019 dogged by knee tendinitis, an issue he’s likened to playing on a “blown tire.” Despite playing at less than full strength, however, he had 6.5 sacks and elevated the NFL’s secondranked defense.

Consider: The 49ers had 39 sacks and allowed 15.5 points per game in their first 10 games with Ford. They had nine sacks and allowed 25.8 points per game in their final six games when Ford played just four snaps because of a hamstring injury.

Right tackle Mike McGlinchey, one of Ford’s frequent training camp combatants, said his teammate known for his explosive first step “unlocks the rest of the pass rush.”

“Having a guy with that kind of getoff — that can create that kind of spacing for the other three or four or five guys that (we) have rushing — is a huge, huge part of what we do on defense,” McGlinchey said.

A defense with two elite edge rushers can dominate. But when there’s just one, even if it’s Nick Bosa, last year’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, it can slip to ordinary. The 49ers had 24 sacks on 164 snaps when Bosa and Ford played together in the regular season, according to ESPN. They had 24 sacks on their other 801 snaps.

“Dee Ford is a big piece of the puzzle,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “His speed has got to be accounted for when he’s out there. It just kind of opens it up for everybody else on that front. And by opening it up, it just stretches the offensive line and the way they’ve got to protect.”

The 49ers have replaced Buckner with rookie Javon Kinlaw, the No. 14 overall pick who is a workinprogress pass rusher. In fact, it’s possible the 49ers will take Kinlaw off the field in passing situations this season, possibly often replacing him with Solomon Thomas.

Thomas isn’t Buckner. But he’d be part of a passrushing foursome that includes Arik Armstead, Bosa and Ford — if Ford can stay healthy.

When asked about his goals for 2020, Ford made availability a big part of his answer.

“A successful season for me would be every play being the best that I can be and being available every play,” Ford said. “That’s a successful season. The numbers will always take care of itself. Because we all know what type of player that I am. …

“It’s just about showing up every down, every play, every game. That’s my goal. If I’m out on the field — I know what happens when I’m out on that field. But if I’m not on the field, it’s null and void.”

Ford has had two back surgeries to repair a herniated disk, the last in 2017. However, his legs have been the issue since he played a whopping 1,022 snaps, the most among NFL edge defenders, in 2018 (his last season with the Chiefs).

After last year’s knee and hamstring issues, Ford suffered what general manager John Lynch described as an “Achilles tweak” on Aug. 23 and was sidelined until he returned to practice Sept. 2.

Does Saleh think Ford can be counted on to play far more regularly this season?

“There is optimism,” Saleh said. “That was the goal last year and it’s the same thing this year. To get him out there. When he’s out there, he is an asset to this football team and … a problem for all offenses.”