The conclusion of the regular season is upon us.
Barring a late Chicago Bears upset over the Minnesota Vikings (currently up 26-13 at the start of the fourth quarter), the 49ers will need to beat the Arizona Cardinals to secure the No. 2 seed, and potentially move up to the No. 1 seed if the Philadelphia Eagles (favored by 16-plus points) lose to a New York Giants team resting most of its starters.
San Francisco activated running back Elijah Mitchell from injured reserve on Saturday and will have Deebo Samuel back in the lineup for the first time since suffering a scary knee and ankle injury that had him carted off the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Also active are Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw, who were both dealing with illnesses this week.
49ers inactives:
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo
- DL Kevin Givens
- CB Ambry Thomas
- OL Aaron Banks
- LB Dre Greenlaw
- DL Drake Jackson
- TE Ross Dwelley
Arizona, meanwhile, is packing it in. Just about every key player not named J.J. Watt is out. Kyler Murray, Budda Baker, Zach Ertz, Rodney Hudson and Rondale Moore are among the most prominent names on their injured reserve list.
Their starting quarterback is David Blough, their fourth quarterback of the season. Their inactives list is brutal:
- RB James Conner (knee/shin)
- WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee)
- QB Colt McCoy (concussion)
- LB Zaven Collins (calf)
- CB Marco Wilson (neck)
- CB Antonio Hamilton (hip)
- OL Lecitus Smith
- WR Robbie Anderson (back)
- DL Zach Allen (hand)
Arizona would benefit substantially in draft position from a loss, with Watt’s final game the only real incentive — aside from pride — to play well.