Should the San Francisco 49ers starters play during their regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams? That is a significant talking point this week as the team prepares for the playoffs. San Francisco has already secured the NFC's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage, allowing the team to bypass the Wild Card Round of the postseason.
Rest holds significance, especially for players entering Week 18 with injuries. For instance, running back Christian McCaffrey, managing a minor calf strain sustained against the Washington Commanders, is unlikely to go. Nonetheless, the 49ers aim to avoid losing momentum as they enter the playoffs or having to shake off rust in their Divisional Round matchup after giving ample rest to healthy starters.
It sounds like the players expect to get at least some playing time against the Rams despite it being a meaningless matchup.
"My mindset is playing this week," linebacker Fred Warner said Tuesday morning on Bay Area radio station KNBR's "Murph and Markus" show. "That's always been the mindset. Obviously, whatever the head coach says is what's going to go, but my whole mindset is playing this week against the Rams, getting a win, and winning out back-to-back years in the division."
RELATED Deebo Samuel expects to play in 49ers' regular-season finale vs. Rams
Warner isn't the only 49ers player who expects to suit up and play this weekend. When asked if he would play against the Rams, wide receiver Deebo Samuel told Kay Adams, "Yeah, for sure."
Samuel said he would do whatever his coach, Kyle Shanahan, asks of him, adding, "It ain't no negotiation. I mean, once Coach say one thing, it's all hands on deck."
Warner echoed his teammate's comments, saying, "I'm always going to listen to whatever the head coach got to say. If that's what his decision would be, then I would, of course, listen."
It's uncertain if Shanahan and the coaching staff will ask their star players to play significant snaps this weekend. However, it sounds like Warner, Samuel, and the rest of the starting lineup will be ready to go if the coaches opt to throw them out there against the Rams.
This week, Shanahan explained, "When you give guys the game off, practice changes, too, and that can end up hurting guys a lot, and you end up just developing bad habits. I've seen it cost a lot of teams."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Warner below.