CMC to sit out Week 18 vs. Rams with mild right calf strain

Coach Kyle Shanahan has a lot to consider this week as the 49ers put together their plan for their Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers clinched the NFC's No. 1 playoff seed with their 27-10 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday at FedExField coupled with the Philadelphia Eagles' loss to the Arizona Cardinals. And while the inclination might be to sit all of their top players, that also is not possible. However, the decision already has been made that running back Christian McCaffrey will sit out the regular-season finale due to a mild right calf strain. Shanahan said McCaffrey will be ready to go when the 49ers play host to their first playoff game on Jan. 20 or Jan. 21. "We're real confident on that," Shanahan said Monday on a conference call with Bay Area reporters. "It was good news. It could've been a lot worse. We're happy. We'll take care of him this week and hopefully he'll start getting to go during our off week." McCaffrey was limited to just one carry in the second half of Sunday's game due to his calf condition. Backup Elijah Mitchell entered the game and gained a game-high 80 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Shanahan was...