The 49ers have locked up the NFC’s top seed, making their regular season finale a game with no impact on the standings. That is a welcomed development given the team’s injury situation at a few key positions. 
Running back Christian McCaffrey exited Sunday’s win with a calf injury, and it will lead to an absence to close out the campaign. The NFL’s rushing and scrimmage yards leader is dealing with a mild calf strain, per head coach Kyle Shanahan. To no surprise, therefore, McCaffrey will sit out the 49ers’ season finale against the Rams.
Since arriving via trade in San Francisco last year, the two-time Pro Bowler has been a vital component of the team’s vaunted skill-position group. McCaffrey has posted 2,205 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground in 27 games with the 49ers, keeping himself in the MVP conversation through the 2023 season. Any missed time in the postseason would be crippling to the team’s offense, but an extra week of recovery (coupled with the first round bye) should have him healthy in time for the divisional round.
The same is expected to be true of cornerback Ambry Thomas. The 2021 third-rounder is set to undergo hand surgery today, as noted by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. The procedure will keep him sidelined for Week 18, which will leave San Francisco shorthanded in the secondary. Fortunately, however, Thomas is on track to suit up for the team’s first postseason contest.
The 24-year-old has only logged a 49% snap share on defense this season, but he has established himself as a key member of the 49ers’ backend. Thomas has seen a career-high workload in 2023, spending almost all of his time on the perimeter. He has posted 43 tackles, seven pass deflections and one interception while recording a new personal best in PFF grades along the way. Thomas’ performance did not stop the 49ers from exploring a CB addition at the trade deadline, but any missed postseason action would be acutely felt on defense.
San Francisco will be shorthanded both by necessity and by choice to close out the regular season, but the team will face substantial expectations once their playoff journey begins. The health of both McCaffrey and Thomas will be important factors in the 49ers’ postseason success, so their respective recoveries will be worth watching over the next several days.
Look for Baltimore, Cleveland, Kansas City, Detroit, and the Rams to also rest regulars in Week 18 as their playoff positions are secure.
I don’t think Flacco or other players with a performance incentive in their contract like the idea of being rested the final week although there is certainly some logic behind the idea.
And that’s the benefit of the first seed, which Detroit should be enjoying. Damn refs.
Congratulations San Francisco, a classy football organisation if there is still such a thing.
Yes Detroit got screwed BUT even if they hadn’t, they weren’t a shoe-in for the top seed. They would have needed a better record than the 9ers since the 9ers have a better division and conference record.
Playoff seedings aside, fans should be very concerned that what happened to the Lions is just a preview of the officiating disasters that await teams once the post season commences.
So the 49ers are stuck with Mitchell and Mason this week as their running backs…
Not a bad situation to be it….both could start
for over half the teams in the NFL
I’m looking forward to seeing Mason run wild.