The 49ers have nothing to play for at the end of the season. They clinched the #1 seed and the Rams have already clinched a playoff spot, so they don’t really have a spoiler angle to lean on.
With their seeding locked up, San Francisco would be wise to give some starters some extra time to finish the year. Even with a first-round playoff bye, the extra week off could pay dividends for some of the team’s starters who have suffered this year.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already announced that quarterback Christian McCaffrey is out with a calf strain. Defensive Tackle Arik Armstead is also out with knee and foot injuries. It wouldn’t be surprising if a handful of other players dealing with injuries, like safety Ji’Ayir Brown and tight end Ross Dwelly, aren’t thrust into action in Week 18.
There are still a handful of players who could get a week off in the season finale or at least see significantly reduced roles. While the 49ers consider their home game against the Rams a pregame, here are some players who could (or should) miss the game:.
