In what has already been an active season for the San Francisco 49ers' medical staff, the team announced a slew of medical updates on Saturday afternoon.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 49ers are moving defensive lineman Dee Ford and tight-end Jordan Reed to the injured reserve list, all while activating wide receiver Deebo Samuels.
Two weeks after a slew of injuries at MetLife Stadium, versus the New York Jets, threatened to torpedo their season, San Francisco enters Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles at 2-1 and in a three-way tie for second place in the tough NFC West
Looking for an offensive boost with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and running back Raheem Mostert expected to miss the game, the 49ers are expected to employ the second-year Samuel in the starting lineup as he returns from an offseason foot surgery. Drafted in the second-round of the 2019 NFL draft by San Francisco, the receiver had 57 receptions and three touchdowns in his rookie year, which helped propel the team to the Superbowl.
As for Dee Ford, the move to the injured reserve list will not only force the lineman to miss a minimum of three games, but it has also ramped up speculation that the seventh-year player could be forced to retire because of the injury. Sustaining a back injury during Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, the Auburn product later complained of neck stiffness related to the ailment.
Concerns over his back have come up before, as Ford was forced to miss 10 games during the 2017 season for a similar issue. Ford was signed by San Francisco to a five-year deal worth $85 million in 2019 following his acquisition from the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade for a second-round pick.