Things need to get turned around quickly for the San Francisco 49ers, and they'll get two key weapons back going into Week 9 that they hope will help spark something special. The team announced Saturday that it has activated All-Pro tight end George Kittle and Pro Bowl pass rusher Dee Ford from injured reserve, and their readdition to the roster couldn't come at a better time, as the Niners gear up for a critical NFC West clash with the Arizona Cardinals.
Having lost four of their last five outings, San Francisco sits at 3-4 on the season and is losing ground to the Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams -- both of whom are 7-1 on the year.
Kittle is easily the most dangerous weapon on the entire 49ers roster, and both Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie first-round pick Trey Lance will benefit from his return. Although he's a tight end, he plays like a receiver, and that's why he has two 1,000-yard seasons since entering the league in 2017, and entered the 2021 season having reeled in 3,579 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Defensively, adding Ford back into the mix can only help a Niners team that's currently ranked 25th in the league in points allowed (23.9), a stat that puts a tremendous amount of pressure on an offense that was only able to muster 20.7 points per game (20th) in the absence of Kittle. With the Cardinals and Rams coming up in Week 9 and Week 10, respectively, the sooner Kittle and Ford can shake off their rust, the better chance the 49ers will have at hoping to gain some ground in the division.
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