San Francisco is desperately looking to get back on track. Sunday will be a tough test at Levi's Stadium for the struggling Niners. With the game no longer viewed as an impactful NFC West battle, the NFL decided that Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs might bring in stronger ratings.
Several players have indicated that the demotion from primetime to an afternoon game is an insult. Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner went as far as to call it "a slap in the face."
At least one 49ers player, veteran cornerback Richard Sherman, isn't as upset as some of his teammates. He joined 95.7 The Game on Thursday night and was asked by Damon Bruce if he prefers afternoon over primetime games.
"I prefer them much more," Sherman answered. "I wish we never played at night. I really don't like primetime games, honestly. So getting flexed out was kind of a blessing for me."
Another 49ers game that could potentially be flexed out of primetime is the December 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, which will be a homecoming for Sherman. While there will likely be a great deal of hype surrounding that contest, the veteran cornerback merely sees it as another game on the schedule.
"I've played just about on every stage," Sherman said. "The size of the game doesn't really bother me in that way. I just like to be comfortable. I like to get the game over with, play it in the middle of the day. I don't like waiting all day to play a football game. That's just me, though. I think other people look at it differently but I look at it as the quicker we can get it done, and get to it, and then everyone gets to watch."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Sherman below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Brock Purdy left out of ESPN's top-10 quarterback rankings
The debate over where San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ranks among the NFL's elite continues. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler continued his annual NFL position rankings this week, unveiling his list of the league's top quarterbacks. The rankings are based on feedback from NFL... -
49ers and Brandon Aiyuk: The drama has become repetitive
When he became the starter during his rookie year, quarterback Brock Purdy was consistently referred to by his draft-day moniker, "Mr. Irrelevant." As the Niners won and continued to win while he was the starter, reporters used the same phrase over and over again—that Purdy... -
Former 49ers star says 'rest in peace' to Brandon Aiyuk's NFL career
Brandon Aiyuk has targeted just about everyone on social media this offseason—the San Francisco 49ers, his former agent, the NFL Players Association, and even his friend, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Now, one former 49ers standout believes Aiyuk may have... -
49ers QB Brock Purdy lands surprising spot in 2026 fantasy football rankings
Where does San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy rank among the NFL's top fantasy football quarterbacks entering the 2026 season? NFL Media's Dan Parr released his fantasy football quarterback rankings for NFL.com, organizing the league's top signal-callers into draft...