San Francisco Chronicle

Much on line for Ansah, Jordan

Newcomers may have big roles for 49ers on Sunday

- By Ron Kroichick

In the timehonore­d, everurgent pursuit to pressure, harass and torment opposing quarterbac­ks, the 49ers now will seek help from two pass rushers once deemed worthy of topfive overall draft choices.

The caveat: That draft was seven years ago.

But the 49ers are in fullscramb­le mode after losing Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas to seasonendi­ng torn ACLs, and with Dee Ford sidelined because of a back injury. So into the void, theoretica­lly, will step Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah and Dion Jordan, two men trying to revitalize their careers.

Ansah signed a oneyear contract, worth $3 million per NFL Network, and Jordan was promoted from the practice squad. They will provide depth, at least, even if it might be unrealisti­c to expect immediate contributi­ons Sunday against the New York Giants.

Still, Ansah (6foot5, 275 pounds) made a striking first impression on 49ers defensive coordinato­r Robert Saleh when they met this week at the team’s temporary practice site in West Virginia.

“He’s a very large human,” Saleh said Thursday. “I was surprised when I first saw him. I was like, ‘Geez, almighty, he’s big.’ He hasn’t played in a little while … but he looks good. He’s big and powerful, and it looks like he’s in really good shape.”

Ansah, born and raised in Ghana and a college standout at BYU, was the No. 5 overall pick in 2013, by Detroit. He had some productive seasons

with the Lions, most notably earning Pro Bowl honors in 2015 (141⁄2 sacks) and again playing well in ’17 (12 sacks).

But then, slowed by shoulder, ankle and neck injuries, Ansah managed only 61⁄2 sacks the past two years combined. He played in seven games with Detroit in 2018, and ultimately needed shoulder surgery, and mostly was quiet in 11 games last season with Seattle.

Also worth noting: Ansah is 31 now, semiancien­t by NFL standards. Saleh played up Ansah’s size in Thursday’s video call, but Saleh tamped down expectatio­ns in noting Ansah must adjust to the way the 49ers play defense.

“We’re a much different scheme than he’s been a part of, so there’s still a learning curve,” Saleh said. “In that alone, you’re going to have some limitation­s.”

Even so, Ansah could join Kerry Hyder Jr. as a starting defensive end in San Francisco’s patchwork lineup. Hyder and Ansah were teammates for three seasons in Detroit, where their defensive line coach was Kris Kocurek, who now holds the same position with the 49ers.

As for Jordan, he was the No. 3 overall pick in ’13 by Miami — from Oregon, where he was teammates for one season (2012) with Arik Armstead. Jordan has since bounced from the Dolphins to the Seahawks, Raiders and now 49ers in a career marked by two empty years. He missed the 2015 season when he violated the NFL’s substancea­buse policy, and he spent 2016 on the nonfootbal­l injury list.

Jordan, 30, has made only four starts and collected just 101⁄2 sacks in his career. He came to training camp this summer with the 49ers, didn’t make the 53man roster, was signed to the practice squad and then landed on the roster after Sunday’s injuries to Bosa and Thomas, plus Ford’s lingering absence.

“I’m just excited to get back to ball, really,” Jordan said. “It has been a long road.”

Asked if he expects to fill Ford’s role, as a rushthequa­rterback specialist on obvious passing downs, Jordan seemed openminded. He also distilled a defensive player’s duties to their fundamenta­l, singlemind­ed essence.

“I’m up for anything,” he said. “I don’t know what exactly my role will be, but I just know I’m going to be chasing the ball. I’m going to find the ball and get to it as fast as I can.”

 ?? Duane Burleson / Associated Press 2015 ?? Defensive end Ziggy Ansah (94) was a Pro Bowler for Detroit in 2015. At 31, the 49ers hope he still can be a factor up front.
Duane Burleson / Associated Press 2015 Defensive end Ziggy Ansah (94) was a Pro Bowler for Detroit in 2015. At 31, the 49ers hope he still can be a factor up front.

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