49ers DE Ford set to play Sunday at New Orleans

San Francisco defensive end Dee Ford will be back in the lineup this Sunday vs. the New Orleans Saints, head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday. Ford has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and was a limited participant in practice this week, but Shanahan said the six-year veteran was on pace to play this weekend in New Orleans.

"We were tempted to put him in last week just because he was close," Shanahan said in a radio interview Friday morning. "But any time you've got a hamstring (injury), it's way too risky. It was hard to keep him out last week, but he's looked good in practice this week. "We still have one more (practice) today, so hopefully, he'll go out there today and continue that. If he does, he looks on track to play, and I'm expecting him to have a big game."

A 2018 Pro Bowl selection with Kansas City, Ford has recorded 14 tackles, 6.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in 10 games in his first season with the 49ers. He played his first five seasons in the league with the Chiefs, who traded Ford to the 49ers last March. 

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