Over two months ago, Arik Armstead, defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, sustained a meniscus tear in his right knee during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The injury occurred early in the game on December 3rd, but Armstead continued to play despite not feeling fully recovered. However, he was sidelined until January 20th, when the Niners faced the Green Bay Packers in an NFC divisional-round matchup.
During his absence, Armstead was listed on the injury report with knee and foot issues, with the focus initially on plantar fasciitis in his foot. However, Armstead clarified that the meniscus tear was the primary concern.
“I thought my season was over with after the Philly game. I tore my meniscus and didn’t know if I was going to be able to come back and put in a lot of hard work to get back for the playoffs.”
Despite the injury, Armstead displayed resilience in the postseason, playing 148 snaps and contributing significantly with 11 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and seven quarterback pressures.
Armstead will undergo offseason surgery in the coming days, with a lengthy recovery period expected. He aims to return to full strength around late July or August, in time for training camp.
“We’ll see. The time window should be around then for training camp, so we’ll see how it goes. But that’s what I was dealing with and I wouldn’t have missed this run for anything. I’m glad I was able to get back and help my team get to the Super Bowl and try to win one. Like I said, our team is too special and I wouldn’t have missed that for anything.”
As the longest-serving player on the team, Armstead is contracted for the upcoming season with a cap charge exceeding $28.3 million. This will mark his 10th season with the 49ers, having been drafted by the team in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Additionally, it was revealed by 49ers general manager John Lynch that Armstead wasn’t the only defensive tackle playing through injury at the end of the season, as Javon Hargrave also battled through a torn ligament in his thumb.
Want the latest NFL and NCAA Football analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
