"Their young, patchwork defense so glaringly lacks playoff experience that defensive coordinator Robert Saleh recently summoned a couple of veterans to explain the playoff mindset that's required going forth. Safety Ji'Ayir Brown spoke up, having intercepted Patrick Mahomes as a rookie in the Super Bowl two seasons ago (spoiler alert: the 49ers lost). Veteran Clelin Ferrell also talked, having reached last season's NFC Championship Game with Washington but also having missed the 2023 49ers' postseason because of a knee injury in the regular-season finale."
"The only active 49ers defenders to ever start a playoff game in their careers are Brown and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. Disclaimer: Fred Warner has started 12, and no one is officially ruling out a comeback next month while he rehabilitates from October's right-ankle surgery. "I'm really just stressing to the guys we have to be desperate, because in the playoffs, ain't nobody going to lay down for us," Lenoir said."
The 49ers have clinched a playoff berth but enter the postseason with a largely inexperienced defense. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh convened veteran players Ji'Ayir Brown and Clelin Ferrell to convey the playoff mindset. Brown has prior Super Bowl interception experience; Ferrell reached an NFC Championship with Washington but missed the 2023 postseason due to a knee injury. Only Brown and Deommodore Lenoir have previously started playoff games, while Fred Warner has 12 starts though he is rehabbing an ankle with a possible comeback. Saleh calmed the unit after early Colts touchdowns, and Dee Winters sealed a 48-27 win with his first career interception.
Read at The Mercury News
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