The San Francisco 49ers won’t be with Christian McCaffrey when they play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18 due to a calf injury. However, don’t expect Deebo Samuel and the rest of the starters to sit out despite having nothing left to play for.
Samuel revealed as much when speaking with Kay Adams of the Up & Adams show, highlighting that it’s not even a question whether they will play or not. If they are healthy, it’s “hands on deck” for the 49ers.
“You definitely want to keep the flow going but you also want to give your body a rest. So I feel like we’ll play this game for a good bit just to keep the groove going and not take too much time off. I feel like we’ll be going this week, just practicing hard and continuing to do the things we do,” Samuel said when asked whether the 49ers starters will play or sit out on Sunday for the regular-season finale.
"There's no negotiation … it's all-hands on deck."
Despite the @49ers locking up the no. 1 seed, @19problemz says himself and the starters will play on Sunday.@heykayadams pic.twitter.com/8AknZxcpmL
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) January 2, 2024
While some fans would probably want Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers starters to just rest, it’s important to note that the veteran wide receiver did note that they will only play for a “good bit.” Perhaps they’ll only feature in the first quarter or first half just to keep them in good shape for the postseason.
Sure enough, it’s unlikely Kyle Shanahan will put his players in danger of getting injured. With that said, fans shouldn’t expect the starters to play for long. If things do seem to be getting out of hand, the Niners could hit the showers earlier.
Why Can Deebo Samuel, San Francsico 49ers Relax in Week 18?
It’s understandable why San Francisco 49ers fans don’t want Deebo Samuel and the starting unit to play in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams. As mentioned, they have nothing left to play for.
The Niners have already secured the top seed in the NFC with a 12-4 record through Week 17. Even if they lose against the Rams and both the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions win in Week 18 to get a 12-5 record, San Francisco will still be able to hold onto the top seed.
With that said, fans view the playing of the starters as an unnecessary risk. After all, no one could predict when an injury will happen. Considering the highly physical nature of the game, it’s just hard to avoid injuries.
On the other hand, though, Samuel does make a good point about playing and keeping the momentum going. Since the 49ers will have a first-round bye after winning the conference, they will have to wait for some time before playing again.
Considering that, Samuel simply didn’t want to be rusty when they take the field again in the divisional round.
It’s up to Shanahan to manage his players’ minutes come gameday. Hopefully, they just don’t overdo it.
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