SANTA CLARA — The hope was defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who had a knee injury in the regular season finale, would be able to return for the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl should the 49ers get that far.
That won’t happen. Ferrell was placed on injured reserve Saturday, which carries a four-game minimum absence and means the 17-game starter won’t play again this season.
Ferrell was placed on IR in advance of a divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers in order to activate safety and special teams player George Odum, who missed the last six games of the season on the injured list after a torn biceps.