Kwon Alexander is looking forward to getting back on the field for the first time since October

It’s been over ten months since San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander was on an NFL field. He tore his ACL on October 21 of last year. Tonight, he returns to the field for the first time. Alexander spoke to NBC Sports’ Jennifer Lee Chan earlier this week, and said this when asked if it was tough to look ahead to the Week 1 matchup against his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

“It’s hard, it’s hard. But you know, I take it one day at a time. Try to make sure my team is straight and I’m straight so once we get there it’s time.”

Alexander also talked about different players’ recovery timetables and how it’s been a long road back. He knew he was ready, “Once I got my speed. Once I could hit it going really fast, being able to cut and everything and be able to adjust. Now I’m ready to go.”

Here is Kwon on the importance of getting back out there, and what it was like being away from the game for so long:

“It’s a big thing for me. I haven’t played since a minute now so I’m happy to be back out there. I just think playing instead of practicing, playing in a real game, you know it’s better to be ready for the first game, so you get your feet wet, since I ain’t played so I’m ready to go out there and show what I can do. I put a lot on it. Just for me, ball can be gone away from you very fast. So it just made me be more humble, and just work harder and harder, and now I’m here.”

As a player, you have to be careful with rushing back from injury. That’s how setbacks happen, and setbacks lead to long term damage.

One area that Alexander has already made his presence felt is with his energy. He’s brought a side out of Fred Warner that we have yet to see. Alexander spoke highly of Warner and his potential:

“He’s very smart, intelligent, he’s going to be nice. I need to keep his name out there alive, he’s going to be a great middle linebacker. I’ve already seen it. This is his second year, too. I remember my first two years and he’s way ahead of me so he’s going to be a great player.”

Alexander and Warner make for an exciting pair. You won’t find a better challenge than the Chiefs, so I’m excited to see how they look.