49ers Rest Starters for Regular-Season Finale
SANTA CLARA – With the top seed in the NFC playoffs already clinched, Brock Purdy will sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale and Sam Darnold will start against the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday. At this point, Purdy is the 49ers’ only healthy linebacker for a game that won’t affect the 49ers (12-4) playoff run.
Meanwhile, the Rams, who already have a wild card spot, will waive their No. 1 quarterback Matthew Stafford and go with Carson Wentz, NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo first reported. “Brock is definitely the one guy I’m not going to play,” Shanahan said, before he changed that, noting that injured players will also sit out this game and benefit more from next week’s wild card bonus.
The 49ers can host the Rams two weeks later in the divisional round, so Shanahan expects both sides to implement “vanilla” game plans, although he noted how well each side knows the other’s scheme. The 49ers won their last nine regular season games; In 2021, the Rams won their NFC Championship Game en route to the Super Bowl.
Shanahan spent most of his press conference explaining why he can’t rest all the regular starters, which boils down to the fact that they have to fit 48 players and once all their stars are in place, role players and the team as a whole. can be negative. influenced “What you don’t want is two weeks off,” Shanahan said.
“We got our money’s worth next week (in the opening round of the playoffs). We have to make sure we get something out of this week. … Guys need to be in a good mood this week. Wednesday’s practice will be held as usual for the second half of this season, which means half speed, no cushion speed. Shanahan appeared to defend whether that applied to 35-year-old left tackle Trent Williams, then added, “I saw Trent after three weeks (out) and it wasn’t good. His mindset this week has to be that he has to. get ready to play.
“I expect to play and play the whole game until I’m told otherwise,” linebacker Fred Warner said. McCAFFREY FOR SPEED Manager Christian McCaffrey said in September that an NFL championship means a lot to him because it reflects the team’s success, and that’s exactly what it looks like. He finishes with 1,459 yards in 16 games and will not play Sunday with a mild calf strain.
He said he won’t rule him out when the playoffs open this week. “The award is great for me personally because the run is really a testament to everyone on the field,” McCaffrey said. “It’s not just the O-line, but obviously it starts with them and they’re the foundation. But the quarterback gets the right calls, has an explosive passing game to open up some running plays, tight ends that tackle with extreme effort. , the most best fullback on the planet and then receivers who pride themselves on their rebounding. “That rushing title, I think it’s a team award that I’m proud of and I’m proud to be part of a group like that,” McCaffrey added.
“The receivers when they clog up the field that springs big runs, 15 and 20-plus runs, often when you get back to the first and second level. We are proud of our boys and I hope we can continue to develop. McCaffrey has a 315-yard lead over fellow running back Kyren Williams, who visits Levi’s Stadium on Sunday with the Rams. HEALTHY NEW Safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (quad) and guard Jon Feliciano (back) were placed on the injury report, but neither issue threatens their playoff spot.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings and offensive lineman Jaylon Moore have progressed enough through the NFL’s concussion protocol to continue practicing. Guard Aaron Banks (toe) was cleared to participate fully after missing Sunday’s start.
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