The San Francisco 49ers have six players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Five are defensive backs. Those defensive backs are Dontae Johnson, Deommodore Lenoir, Ambry Thomas, Jimmie Ward, and K'Waun Williams.
General manager John Lynch joined KNBR on Friday morning and sounded optimistic that at least some of those players will be available for Sunday's playoff-impacting regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams.
"Yeah, I believe we will because the league altered their rules some time back when the CDC did as well," Lynch said on the Murph & Mac show. "Our vaccination rate was as high as there is in the league. And I think we've also been the beneficiary of being in an area where so many people are vaccinated.
"Up until this last week, we hadn't had one case, so this is the first time we're dealing with it."
Before the six players currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the 49ers only had one player—punter Mitch Wishnowsky—on the list since August.
"I'm proud of our guys with the way they've dealt with it," Lynch continued. "Like I said, those are protocols, and we'll just let those take care of themselves. But we're forecasting that we'll have some of those guys back, and then we'll just kind of take it as they come. But we're preparing for every scenario, whether we have them or not."
That's certainly good news for the 49ers, who must win on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth. A loss would mean rooting for the Atlanta Falcons to beat the New Orleans to ensure San Francisco continues to play beyond this weekend.
Added Lynch: "The good news is everyone [on the reserve/COVID-19 list] is feeling pretty good."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.