SANTA CLARA -- Linebacker Patrick Willis has not sustained any setbacks and said it's fair to say he's made "significant progress" after sustaining a right hamstring strain on Dec. 4.Willis continues to work closely with 49ers head athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson and Mark Uyeyama, the 49ers' head strength and conditioning coach. Willis ran at three-quarters speed as part of his rehab Monday night before the 49ers' 20-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Candlestick Park.He said there is a chance he can play Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks."I'm certainly hoping so. I'll just continue to do what 'Ferg,' our head trainer, asks me to do," Willis said on Tuesday. "And each day has been great. I most certainly hope to get back soon."
The 49ers want to be cautious with Willis to guard against any aggravation of the injury."Honestly, these last couple weeks, I've done everything that the trainers have asked me to do and worked with (Uyeyama) and (Ferguson) and our whole training staff," Willis said. "And we're just taking it one day at a time and being smart. Each day, my whole mindset is to get better with no setbacks. We've certainly done that. So we continue to work and when the pull the chains off, come back just as strong as I left off -- if not better."Larry Grant has stepped in and played well in Willis' position. But Willis said he remains just as eager to get back into the lineup."If I looked at it like that, I feel like I wouldn't be giving myself a chance to get better," Willis said. "I feel like I wouldn't be me. Larry has stepped in and done a remarkable job."
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