SANTA CLARA – The logistics of playing on Christmas night are not the most family-friendly for the 49ers and Monday’s guests, the Baltimore Ravens.
They’ll spend Christmas Eve holed up in their respective team hotel, then wake up Christmas morning waiting and waiting and waiting to open up the NFL’s marquee game this regular season.
“Whenever those guys get up, they do have time to go home and see people real quick,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Saturday. “If they have some young kids and want to do that, that’s fine.”
Cornerback Charvarius Ward plans on opening gifts with his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joi, on Sunday morning, then have a family dinner postgame Monday. He doesn’t mind bunkering in with his teammates Sunday night, saying: “I’ve got to work. That’s how I feed the family.”
Left guard Aaron Banks, who also became a father last year, has no qualms with team protocol regarding a Christmas Eve sequestering, and he’s excited to see his son, Koa, on the sideline pregame for the first time Monday night.
“We’re trying to win the Super Bowl and trying to get the first seed,” Banks said. “We’ve sacrificed a lot this year and this is another sacrifice. What’s one more?”
The 49ers (11-3) spent Thanksgiving night beating the Seahawks 31-13 in Seattle, and New Year’s Eve will have the 49ers on the road against the Washington Commanders, on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT.
The 49ers’ only previous Christmas game came 30 years ago, when they lost 10-7 at Candlestick Park against the then-Houston Oilers. Mike Shanahan was the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, and his son, Kyle, was an eighth-grader in Saratoga.
Kyle Shanahan, now is in his seventh season as the 49ers’ coach, vividly recalled having to take a group photo before that game, saying: “I was extremely embarrassed about it because I was one of the older kids. I think I was in the eighth grade so I wanted to look cool, and I was with young kids, so I didn’t feel cool at the time. That’s what my kids do now when I make them hang out with me.”
While the 49ers have become America’s holiday team, the Ravens (11-3) are coming cross country, after winning last Sunday night in Jacksonville.
“They understand this is a big part of how it works, they’re excited to go play in a game like this,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “The other side of that is you get an opportunity to play in a real big game on a big stage with a lot of people watching in one of those games that you’re going to remember as part of your career for the rest of your life.”
HARGRAVE QUESTIONABLE; JENNINGS OUT
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (concussion), defensive tackle Arik Armstead (foot, knee), linebacker Oren Burks (knee) and tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle) were ruled out. None practiced during the week. Jennings, in an encouraging sign, was seen walking out toward practice as Saturday’s brief media window closed. Armstead’s bigger problem is his foot pain that is believed to be similar to the plantar fasciitis he battled last season.
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (hamstring) practiced a second straight day and is questionable to play Sunday; he missed last Sunday’s 45-29 win in Arizona. Linebacker Elijah Mitchell (knee) also is questionable.
VERRETT EARNS HONOR
Two weeks into his comeback, cornerback Jason Verrett earned a scout-team player-of-the-week honor, as did tight end Jake Tonges and safety Erik Harris.
“I’m moving around good, my body is feeling good,” said Verrett, who practiced with the Houston Texans for about three weeks before requesting his release a month ago.
Verrett batted down several passes during the past week. He’s never played nickel back but his experience and savviness could make him an option there. Said Shanahan: “He’s looking good. He’ shad two good weeks here and am pumped to have him in our building.”
Verrett has not appeared in a game since the 2021 opener in Detroit, where he tore an anterior cruciate ligament; he ruptured an Achilles tendon in a November 2022 practice during his ACL comeback. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said of Verrett: “We’ll see whether or not he’s going to have the opportunity to be up and if so, how many reps he’ll get.”
The 49ers can wait until Monday to elevate two players from the practice squad.
FOUR YEARS LATER
Both teams have significantly changed their starting lineups since their last meeting in 2019, a 20-17 Ravens’ victory in Baltimore on Justin Tucker’s last-second, 49-yard field goal.
The 49ers’ remaining starters: Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk and Mitch Wishnowsky.
The Ravens’: Lamar Jackson, Ronnie Stanley, Patrick Richard, Michael Pierce, Marlon Humphrey, and, Tucker.
Wide receiver Willie Snead IV started that 2019 game for the Ravens (one catch, 12 yards), and he’s a candidate to get called up from the 49ers’ practice squad for Monday’s game.
RAVENS INJURIES
Wide receiver Zay Flowers (foot) and linebacker Malik Hamm (ankle) are questionable for the Ravens, who ruled out reserve cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion) and Arthur Maulet (knee).