Ambry Thomas has played a significant role for the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of the season, one that he should be able to retain in the playoffs despite head coach Kyle Shanahan revealing the cornerback will undergo surgery ahead of their regular-season finale. 

Thomas is to have surgery on a hand injury, Shanahan said in his Monday conference call following the Week 17 win over the Washington Commanders.

That would be a much bigger blow if the 49ers needed to beat the Los Angeles Rams to clinch the one seed in Week 18. However, with a first-round bye and homefield advantage secured on Sunday, Thomas has three weeks to get ready for the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs.

Asked how much time Thomas would miss with the surgery, Shanahan replied: "It would only be this week. 

"I think they even told me before the Washington game that he would get surgery this Tuesday and there could still be an outside chance to play this Sunday. 

"So, I doubt that we would risk that now in this situation that we're in, but that makes me feel pretty confident for our next game he will be available."

Thomas, having filled the same role in the opening week of the season prior to an injury, stepped in as a starting outside corner on nickel downs after the 49ers' Week 9 bye, allowing Deommodore Lenoir to shift to the slot in place of Isaiah Oliver.

Since his promotion, Thomas is tied 10th among cornerbacks with at least 100 coverage snaps in Pro Football Focus coverage grade.

Playing across from a potential All-Pro in Charvarius Ward, the 2021 third-round pick will likely be the corner opposing offenses test on nickel downs in the postseason. 

However, considering the play he has produced in the second half of the season and the struggles Oliver endured in the slot prior to the bye, San Francisco's secondary will be in a much better position to help the 49ers claim the two wins they need to make the Super Bowl if Thomas is fully recovered and able to reprise a role he has definitively made his own in an unexpectedly strong third year.

49ers get the news they expected on Christian McCaffrey

He won’t be out there in Week 18.