The 49ers defensive line may get a big reprieve with Lions offensive line issues.
The San Francisco 49ers’ upcoming NFC Championship matchup against the Lions has been heavily focused on their ability to run the ball. However, injuries to left guard Jonah Jackson (knee) and center Frank Ragnow (ankle/toe/back/knee) may hinder the Lions’ run game. Ragnow returned to practice on Friday and is no longer on the injury report. Jackson is likely to miss Sunday’s game due to a minor knee surge.
Ragnow said he felt better than expected and practiced fully on Friday, so he will play. He clearly won’t be at 100%, giving the interior a bit of a leg up.
This bodes well for the 49ers’ defensive line, which struggled to generate pressure against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. Nick Bosa made it into the backfield, but Jordan Love’s mobility was crucial in avoiding the costly sacks that come with it. Chase Young was basically invisible, and Arik Armstead was working off the rust after not playing in a few weeks. One of the keys to victory will be to make Lions quarterback Jared Goff uncomfortable, and he’s not near as mobile as Love.
Losing a guard an
d having a center on one leg could be the difference in the power battle, with the 49ers defense stuffing gaps. While the numbers show that the Packers were able to run all over the 49ers, a lot of that success came from Aaron Jones’ 53-yard run.
