49ers-Falcons pregame report: Playoff scenarios, Goodwin surgery
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ five-year playoff drought could be over by sunset, the most controllable path being a victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
What about other scenarios for them and the rest of the burgeoning NFC field, outside of the New Orleans Saints already winning the NFC South (and falling behind the 49ers in the NFC No. 1-seed race after last Sunday’s result)?
Let’s break it down, because we pretty much know the 49ers’ inactives ahead of their noon post time):
For the NFC-leading 49ers (11-2) to clinch a playoff berth:
1. Defeat or tie the Falcons, OR
2. Rams lose or tie the host Cowboys, OR
3. Vikings lose to host Chargers AND Packers lose at home to Bears.
For the Packers (10-3) to clinch a playoff berth:
1. Packers beat the visiting Bears, PLUS Rams lose or tie OR
2. Packers tie and Rams lose
For the Seahawks (10-3) to clinch a playoff berth:
1.Seahawks win at Panthers AND Rams lose or tie OR
2. Seahawks win AND Vikings lose OR
3. Seahawks win AND Packers lose AND Vikings tie OR
4. Seahawks tie AND Rams lose
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MARQUISE GOODWIN SURGERY
So what exactly happened to wide receiver Marquise Goodwin that prompted the 49ers to put him on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday? Goodwin explained it on his YouTube channel as he went in for surgery last week at Stanford Hospital.
Goodwin underwent procedures on his right toe and right knee. Specifically, he revealed he was having a platelet-rich-plasma injection into his toe and a bone-marrow transplant from his hip to his knee, which has tissue and cartilage damage “from playing sports for so long.”
“It may take away from football for a little bit. I might have to be absent for a few weeks, but I will be fixed,” said Goodwin.
He can’t return to play this season — injured reserve requires a minimum, eight-week stay — and he will be away from the team at least temporarily to prevent a post-surgical infection.
He did not play in three of the past six games, and he finished the season with just 12 receptions for 186 yards and one touchdown. He started the 49ers’ first six games, then fell down the depth chart once Emmanuel Sanders arrived in an Oct. 22 trade.
“I’m just using this as some time to get myself right so I can come back and be ready for the playoffs and ready for the stretch of the season,” Goodwin said. “As you can see, we’ve been doing our thing as a team. All the naysayers, all of the haters, we ain’t even going to give you all attention. We’re just going to continue to thank our supporters.”
Goodwin’s rehabilitation plan: stationary bike and elliptical machine the first two weeks, then pool running a month later, and sprints after six weeks. He’s expressed hopes of competing in the 2020 Olympics long jump.
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The 49ers on Friday ruled out five players: defensive end Dee Ford, cornerbacks Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams, strong safety Jaquiski Tartt and defensive tackle Jullian Taylor. Nose tackle D.J. Jones went on injured reserve Saturday while defensive tackle Kentavius Street was activated as one of the 49ers’ two allotted short-term IR players.
Ford won’t return until the playoffs and, despite a NFL Network report Friday, Sherman’s status is viewed more of a week-to-week scenario.
Ford initially hurt his hamstring Nov. 17, sat out two games, then aggravated it early in his return last Sunday at New Orleans, When Ford was asked Friday if his hamstring was in the “same boat” as Sherman’s, Ford replied: “Sherm’s on a different boat. Sherm is going to Greece. I’m going to Africa. Sherm thinks he’s going to be back tomorrow if he could.”
Also expected out for the 49ers today is quarterback C.J. Beathard, who’s been inactive every game this season behind backup quarterback Nick Mullens.
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