Five key 49ers players to watch in prime-time Week 12 game vs. Panthers

The NFL’s decision to put the 49ers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 12 against the Carolina Panthers seemed a bit curious at the time.Now, it all makes sense.The Panthers were coming off 2-15 and 5-12 seasons. But they have been one of the surprises of the NFL season.The 49ers (7-4) and Panthers (6-5) are in the thick of the NFC playoff picture, and the game on Monday at Levi’s Stadium is a biggie for both teams. San Francisco is looking to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since Week 3, as it opened the season with three consecutive victories.Here are five 49ers to watch in the prime-time showdown:QB Brock PurdyBrock Purdy showed no outward signs of rust upon his return to action after missing the previous six games due to a toe injury.Purdy completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 41-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals.He made it through the game healthy and went through a full week of practice to get ready for this game.Purdy will be under the microscope in his first prime-time game since signing his $265 million contract in the offseason.With the 49ers’...