The San Francisco 49ers got a huge boost for their Christmas Day game with the Baltimore Ravens as defensive tackle Javon Hargrave returned to practice on Friday.

Hargrave missed the 49ers' NFC West-clinching win over the Arizona Cardinals because of a hamstring injury, the absence of both him and fellow starting defensive tackle Arik Armstead a contributing factor in the Niners giving up 234 yards on the ground.

While Javon Kinlaw was able to provide some consistent pocket push up the middle, for the most part the 49ers' interior pass rush was lacking without both Hargrave and Armstead, and being without each of them for a second successive game figured to be a massive concern for San Francisco against Baltimore's dynamic ground game.

Hargrave and Armstead each missed practice on Thursday, but the former was seen taking part in the part of Friday's session open to media, indicating he is on track to make his return.

Armstead again missing out increases the likelihood of him being absent for a third straight game with knee and foot injuries.

Hargrave has six sacks for the 49ers after signing a blockbuster four-year, $84million deal in free agency. Armstead has five to his name, with the pair revitalizing an interior pass rush that was conspicuous by its absence last year. Hargrave has the third-highest pass rush grade among interior defensive linemen, per Pro Football Focus. Armstead is seventh.

Prior to the win over the Cardinals, the 49ers had not allowed more than 88 yards rushing in any game since their Week 9 bye. While head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested their downturn in that regard against Arizona was not solely a product of missing both of their starting defensive tackles, Hargrave's return to action should improve their hopes of keeping a potent Ravens ground game in check.

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