49ers defensive end Justin Smith tore his left triceps tendon in Week Fifteen and missed the final two regular season games. He put a brace on the arm for the playoffs and was an impact run defender in San Francisco’s first two postseason wins, racking up nine tackles.
Smith told Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee that the triceps tear is getting better.
“I can do more stuff every week,” Smith said. “I think it heals up, obviously, as more time goes by and it’s feeling better.”
The brace prevents full range of motion in the arm, but Smith feels he can play “with more abandon” in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Ravens.
“I know how many games I have left now -- four more quarters,” he said.
Smith will require post-season surgery, likely costing him all offseason activities.
He probably isn’t thinking about the offseason right now.