SANTA CLARA — The most star-driven team in the NFL will go heavy on the supporting cast.
The 49ers (12-4) will host the Los Angeles Rams (9-7) in the regular-season finale Sunday, with both teams cognizant that what lies ahead is more important than anything that happens on the grass at Levi’s Stadium.
While the game plans from coaches Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay will have a vanilla preseason flavor, the 49ers and Rams don’t have 90-man exhibition rosters and there is no junior varsity. The 49ers won’t have the capability to sit their nine Pro Bowl players or 12 alternates.
And while Shanahan has already decided to rest quarterback Brock Purdy in favor of Sam Darnold and sit running back Christian McCaffrey with a mild calf strain, rest assured a number of other front-line players will make cameo appearances for a series or three and then take the rest of the afternoon off.
Running backs Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason are relatively familiar and will step in for McCaffrey, with Ty Davis-Price a potential practice squad activation.
Among those who can expect a reduced workload: left tackle Trent Williams, tight end George Kittle, wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, edge rusher Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir.
Here’s the deal — with only 48 players active and seven already designated as inactive due to injury (or in Purdy’s case rest) — some front-line players will have to assume some injury risk.
Both Warner and Bosa said it’s important to play as they always do and that trying to avoid injury is no way to play football.
“It is going to be a challenge with some of those guys,” Shanahan said. “It’s not like I want Trent and a number of people out there for a while. So we’ve got to balance it out right. But those guys got to get their minds right, ready to play.”
It’s valuable time for veterans who joined the 49ers in-season such to further familiarize themselves with the system and be better prepared for a role in a playoff run.
It’s also a rare opportunity to get full-speed work for young veterans or rookies who have had minimal playing time.
“It’s going to be great, just to be able to see those guys come in and perform as they did the latter part of the Commanders game,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “The one thing that I enjoy is seeing that the standard didn’t change, doesn’t matter who’s in there. So, definitely looking forward to whoever’s out there still playing the 49ers way.”
A roll call of who to watch Sunday in no particular order:
Strong safety Logan Ryan: Played all 46 snaps against Washington and has impressed Wilks with his professionalism and communication. With free safety Tashaun Gipson out with a quad injury, Ryan may not come off the field and Isaiah Oliver, a slot corner, could be pressed into some safety duty.
Defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day: Arik Armstead will his his fifth game with a foot injury and it’s hard to tell if returning for the playoffs is possible or wishful thinking. Joseph-Day was a starter with the Rams and this season with the Chargers and is adjusting to the 49ers’ reactionary scheme rather than the more deliberate two-gap scheme he’s played in the past. He played 11 snaps against Washington in his debut.
“It was definitely different, but I like it a lot,” Joseph-Day said. “It lets me use my athletic ability a lot more and be more aggressive than usual.”
Tight end Charlie Woerner: Has played 265 snaps and has been thrown two passes. He caught both for 12 yards. A strong blocker and tied with George Odum for the lead with 10 special teams tackles. Woerner caught 34 passes in four seasons at Georgia and hopes to prove himself someday in the passing game.
“Everyone wants to be a starter, but that’s not my role here,” Woerner said. “I love playing special teams. You can be wild and free and tackle guys and I take it very seriously.”
Brayden Willis, a rookie seventh-round draft pick out of Louisville, has played 23 snaps in six games at tight end and awaits his first NFL reception.
Left tackle Jaylon Moore: Started two games when Williams was injured and was respectable although replacing a probable Hall of Famer is a tough deal. Moore was cleared after missing two games with a concussion. Matt Pryor has experience with Philadelphia and Indianapolis, can play both sides and has played on special teams this season.
Wide receiver Ronnie Bell: Bell has five receptions for 63 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season, which has encompassed 145 snaps. If Jauan Jennings isn’t cleared from concussion protocol, taking speedster Danny Gray off the injured list becomes a possibility. Ray-Ray McCloud, who will be activated and is expected to reassume his spot as punt return specialist from Bell, could also get a lot of work.
Guard/center Ben Bartch: Signed by the 49ers after he was released by Jacksonville following eight games and three starts with 20 starts over three seasons. A tackle and guard with the Jaguars, the 49ers like Bartch as a potential center and he could spell starter Jake Brendel, whose 979 snaps this season are second only to Colton McKivitz at 995.
Linebacker Dee Winters: A sixth-round draft pick from TCU, has played 46 snaps on defense in 14 games with 212 on special teams while Jalen Graham, taken a round later out of Purdue, has been active three times and played 45 special teams snaps. Both fit the 49ers’ sideline-to-sideline prototype of incumbent Dre Greenlaw. Veterans Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Oren Burks will also help pick up the slack.
Defensive end Robert Beal Jr.: It’s a perfect opportunity to see what Beal can do as an edge rusher. A fifth-round draft pick out of Georgia, Beal has played in three games since coming off the injured list with just 15 snaps.
Cornerback Darrell Luter: A fifth-round draft pick from South Alabama, Luter started the season on the injured list with a bone bruise and has played 20 snaps in six games. He should exceed that snap count Sunday with Ambry Thomas out and Ward not expected to play much. Same goes for Samuel Womack II, a second-year player who has just 26 snaps on defense after 126 as a rookie.