After much speculation, the San Francisco 49ers have activated linebacker Kwon Alexander from injured reserve. This comes just 24 hours ahead of the team’s playoff game against the Vikings.
His return will make things that much tougher on the Minnesota offense, who already had a tough task to begin with. Alexander suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the team’s Halloween night game against the Arizona Cardinals and was placed on injured reserve a few days later.
Many assumed the linebacker would require around six months of recovery before he could return to the practice field.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and the team thought there might be an outside chance that Alexander could return in time for the NFC Championship Game. He was medically cleared earlier this week.
The fact that Alexander has never been to the playoffs is what led him to work so hard to get back on the field and contribute. Alexander signed with the 49ers in March after spending his first four seasons with the Buccaneers.
It was also reported this week that Alexander would wear a shoulder harness, much like the one that Texans defensive end J.J. Watt donned when he returned last weekend from a similar injury. The brace is to avoid re-injury with its added protection.
