The 49ers don’t have anything to play for in their season finale. They’ve locked up the No. 1 seed, and the Rams have already clinched a playoff spot so there’s not really a spoiler angle they can lean on.
With their seeding locked in, it would make sense for San Francisco to give some of their starters an extra week of rest to close the year. Even with the first-round playoff bye, an additional week off could pay dividends for some of the team’s starters who have been banged up this year.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already announced that running back Christian McCaffrey is out with a calf strain. Defensive tackle Arik Armstead will also remain out with knee and foot injuries. It wouldn’t be a surprise if a handful of other players dealing with injuries like safety Ji’Ayir Brown and tight end Ross Dwelley aren’t pushed into action in Week 18.
There are a handful of other players who could get the week off in the season finale, or at least see substantially reduced roles. If the 49ers treat their home bout with the Rams as a preseason game, here are some players who could (or should) miss the game:
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