49ers’ Patrick Willis is ready despite hand fracture

After just five weeks since breaking a bone in his right hand, San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis is ready for action this Sunday against conference rival Green Bay.

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Willis spoke about the injury and his readiness for Sunday afternoon:

“They say it takes eight weeks for a bone to heal great, and this will be five weeks since my surgery, and the doctor says it looks good,” Willis said.

Willis missed the entire preseason with the injury, but has been preparing in practice for the season opener.  The All-Pro linebacker has missed only 4 games in his NFL career, despite breaking bones in his hands three previous times.

“I really feel if I’m on the field, I can’t let it affect my play. No excuses,” Willis told Mercury News reporter Can Inman.

The hand was originally injured in a blocking drill five weeks ago.  So far the linebacker has been wearing a glove over the hand, and not a cast, as many do, with bone breaks — for further protection.

Willis and the rest of the 49ers will have their hands full, indeed, with the Packers Aaron Rodgers and rookie running back Eddie Lacy on Sunday.