Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) reacts after a play against the Baltimore Ravens in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium.
Staying healthy is one of the major challenges to success in the NFL and when listing the reasons why the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers are clashing in the Divisional Round playoffs, the health of both teams is certainly a factor as they remain in good shape when looking at the Packers vs 49ers injury reports.
Not surprisingly following a bye week and a Week 18 game in which several starters were rested, the 49ers are showing just one starter with an injury designation. That would be WLB Dre Greenlaw. He’s questionable due to an Achilles injury.
San Francisco RB Christian McCaffrey (quad), who shared the NFL regular-season lead with 21 TDs, is good to go, the team is reporting.
As for Green Bay, the only starter of concern is LCB Jaire Alexander. He’s showing on the Packers injury report as questionable due to an ankle injury.
San Francisco is the 9.5-point home chalk over Green Bay in the Packers vs 49ers odds. The Niners are 3-0-1 against the spread in the last four postseason games against Green Bay.
So far in the Packers vs 49ers public betting splits, Green Bay is getting 54% of ATS bets, while San Francisco is pulling 82% of moneyline betting action.
While the Packers were taking part in their final run-through on Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s game, Alexander was nowhere to be seen. He’s battling a left ankle injury. Alexander turned the ankle during a Green Bay practice a week ago Wednesday.
However, if last week’s game is any indication, expect Alexander to be playing a role. He also was missing for the last two days of practice prior to the Dallas game. Nonetheless, Alexander was in the starting lineup, recording seven tackles and an interception. He participated in 55% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps.
RB AJ Dillon, out the past two games with a stinger, returned to practice this week. He’s also listed as questionable.
Backup LB Kingsley Enagbare (knee) is out. Punter Daniel Whelan (illness) is listed as questionable.
Given two weeks to rest his ailing calf, NFL rushing leader McCaffrey was declared healthy and saw his injury designation removed. Likewise DT Arik Armstead (foot) was removed from the injury list is good to go.
Greenlaw is being held out of practice, but that is merely a precautionary measure. The team is assuring all that Greenlaw’s injury is not considered serious and he’ll be playing on Saturday.
On defense, backup DE Clelin Farrell (knee) has been ruled out of the game. WR Danny Gray’s 21-day window to be activated from IR has passed, meaning his shoulder injury will be keeping him out for the season.
Enagbare’s absence might not seem significant, but it might be. The Packers like to alternate Enagbare and 2023 first-round draft pick Lukas Van Ness at OLB with starters Preston Smith and Rashad Gary. If Green Bay wants to maintain this rotation plan, the only available LB is undrafted rookie Brenton Cox. He’s appeared in just four games and none since November.
Last week, Whelan became the first Irish-born player to appear in an NFL playoff game in over four decades. Packers coach Matt LaFleur is confident that Wagner’s illness won’t prevent him from punting on Saturday.
Farrell is a regular in the 49ers defensive line rotation, but with so much depth along the defensive front, his absence won’t be creating any issues. San Francisco will be activating safety George Odum (biceps) from IR. A full participant in practice all week, Odum has seen action in seven games this season, accounting for 12 t
