The Mercury News

Niners’ Ford will miss at least another game

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The 49ers, facing two season-ending injuries on their defensive line, will have to wait at least another week for internal reinforcem­ents.

Dee Ford won’t be returning to save the Niners this week from their depth issues created by ACL tears to fellow defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas, according to the NFL Network.

Ford will miss Sunday’s return trip to MetLife Stadium for a date with the Giants after he was ruled out for the Niners’ win against the New York Jets late last week with neck spasms.

After medical evaluation­s, it turned out Ford’s issue was in his back rather than his neck. Reporter Tom Pelissero noted that the Niners hope Ford’s injury “settles down, but it may take some time,” which doesn’t bode particular­ly well for a team scrambling for immediate options to rush the passer.

The Niners signed former Lions and Seahawks defensive end Ziggy Ansah on Monday to fill the vacancy left by Bosa, the reigning defensive rookie of the year. What was a deep defensive line filled with pass rushing threats just two weeks ago is now missing three starters in Bosa, Ford and Solomon Thomas, who also tore his ACL Sunday.

There’s no indication at this point whether Ford could see time on the shortened three-game injured list, but that would be an option to open up a roster spot for a free agent or practice squad player.

In Ford’s absence, Ansah will work on the edge with Arik Armstead and freeagent signee Kerry Hyder Jr., who has been a pleasant surprise for 49ers fans early this season, playing 80 percent of snaps in Sunday’s win over the Jets.

BORTLES JOINS BANGED-UP BRONCOS >> Blake Bortles is joining the Denver Broncos as a backup to Jeff Driskel at quarterbac­k. Bortles, according to published reports in Denver, was in the COVID-19 testing protocol at team headquarte­rs on Tuesday. He cannot officially sign a contract until he meets all testing specificat­ions and might not be on the field with the team until Friday. Driskel entered Denver’s Week 2 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers following a shoulder injury to starter Drew Lock. Lock has a rotator cuff injury that could keep him out “3, 4, 5 weeks,” coach Vic Fangio said Monday.

GIANTS TO SIGN RB FREEMAN; BARKLEY PUT ON IR >> The New York Giants are expected to sign Devonta Freeman to a contract, provided the free agent running back passes his COVID-19 test, the NFL Network reported Tuesday. Freeman has been a free agent since being cut by the Atlanta Falcons on March 16.

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