NFC Championship Injury Report: Bulaga Returns

Bryan Bulaga is past the illness that kept him out of the playoff game against Seattle; George Kittle did not practice for the 49ers.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – After missing Sunday’s playoff game against Seattle due to illness, right tackle Bryan Bulaga was on the practice field as the Green Bay Packers kicked off their on-field preparation for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at San Francisco.

“It was super-unfortunate timing,” Bulaga said on Wednesday. “I woke up at 3 a.m. on Sunday and it was downhill from there. It sucked to miss that one. It looked fun watching it from the inside the training room. But, unfortunately, we did everything we possibly could to try to get my body back for the game and it just wasn’t happening. Went through a lot of IVs. I wasn’t able to eat anything. It just wasn’t possible.”

Everything Bulaga ate “was coming back up,” he said. He was added to the injury report about 5 hours before kickoff and couldn't make it through pregame warm-ups.

Bulaga’s past the illness now – as well as the finger injury that kept him out of most of the Nov. 24 loss at San Francisco – though receiver Geronimo Allison was the latest stricken. He was kept out of practice.

“There’s been a bunch of illnesses going around the locker room,” Bulaga said. “I’m going to blame it on someone in here. I don’t know who. I’m not blaming it on my kids because they didn’t get sick. I can’t blame it on them. They didn’t do it. Normally, when the kids are sick, it’s an easy scapegoat but it wasn’t them. So, it’s just one of those deals that was just unfortunate.”

For the 49ers, tight end George Kittle and defensive end Dee Ford did not practice. In the video associated with this story, Packers coach Matt LaFleur talked about the return of Ford and linebacker Kwon Alexander to San Francisco's defense. Ford (inactive) and Alexander (injured reserve) did not play in the first matchup.

PACKERS INJURY REPORT

Did not participate: WR Geronimo Allison (illness), TE Jimmy Graham (rest), WR Ryan Grant (personal).

Limited: RT Bryan Bulaga (rest), DT Kenny Clark (back), WR Allen Lazard (ankle), TE Marcedes Lewis (rest), OLB Preston Smith (ankle), RG Billy Turner (ankle), FB Danny Vitale (knee), CB Tramon Williams (rest).

Full: S Adrian Amos (chest), ILB Blake Martinez (hand)

49ERS INJURY REPORT

Did not participate: DE Dee Ford (quad/hamstring), TE George Kittle (ankle).

Limited: LB Kwon Alexander (pectoral).

Full: RB Tevin Coleman (elbow), RB Raheem Mostert (calf).