Patrick Willis talks about toe injury and injured reserve

The San Francisco 49ers had player availability on Tuesday, and Patrick Willis was among the players who met with the media. The availability came after the team announced Willis was placed on injured reserve, so Willis spoke to the beat writers.

It turns out Willis has been dealing with toe problems for multiple years now. He said that is one reason some might have viewed him as a bit slower last season. He aggravated the injury against the Rams, and has finally decided to get it fixed up. There are no guarantees what to expect when he completes his rehab, but Willis is optimistic he still has five or six great years of football in front of him.

Here are a few of the quotations of note:

Patrick Willis said this toe injury has bothered him for years, said it's why some people observed previously that he had lost a step.

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) November 11, 2014

Patrick Willis said his toe injury is "like trying to grab without a thumb."

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 11, 2014

Willis: "When I hurt (toe) in the Rams game it kind of made a me a little nervous because I knew what I had been feeling all these years."

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) November 11, 2014

Willis says wants to be smart, so doing surgery now. Compared lingering toe injury to worn out tire. "It was getting to me"

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 11, 2014

Patrick Willis: "I like to say I'm one of the hardest working men on this universe. I hope to be back sooner than I'm supposed to."

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 11, 2014

#49ers LB @PatrickWillis52: "I feel like I have 5 or 6 great years of football left in my body."

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 11, 2014

#49ers @PatrickWillis52 "I have to think big picture. They may miss me a little but when I come back I'll be better than ever"

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) November 11, 2014