In this Friday edition of Niners Daily, we end the week with some encouraging news on a star player who is sidelined for the rest of the season.
Willis Begins Recovery
A week and a half after being placed on the Injured Reserve List, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Joe Staley said on Friday that the surgery on his nagging left big toe "went well."
Willis, who previously stated that the injury had bothered him for several seasons, reinjured the toe in the team's Week 6 win in St. Louis. He rehabbed for four weeks with the hope of returning this year, but the toe never healed.
Willis hopes to be ready for the start of the 2015 season.
Borland Honored Again
While Willis is on the mend, his replacement, rookie linebacker Chris Borland, keeps racking up the accolades. After being named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, Borland took home Pepsi's Rookie of the Week honors on Friday for the second consecutive week.
Borland recorded 12 tackles, including two for a loss, and two interceptions in the 49ers victory over the New York Giants last week.
#49ers rookie LB Chris Borland has been named @pepsi @nfl Rookie of Week 11. That's back-to-back #ROTW wins. pic.twitter.com/dUICT3U2Aa — San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 21, 2014
Lattimore's Post-career Plan
Retired 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore appears to be doing great things in life after football.
In the video below, which shows his foundation building a playground for kids in South Carolina, Lattimore talks about his future goals.
The big takeway from the interview is this: "My vision is to help as many high school athletes that I can who have severe injuries like I had... Eventually (I want to) build a whole rehabilitation center. That's 10 years down the road, but that's my vision."
This is a good time to mention again that Lattimore was loved by those around him at every point in his career.
Words for Vernon
You heard the man.
