49ers stash Brock Purdy for playoffs; McCaffrey eyes NFL rushing title

SANTA CLARA — With the NFC playoffs’ No. 1-seed already secured, Brock Purdy will sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale and Sam Darnold will start against the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday.

Purdy, at this point, is the 49ers’ only healthy scratch for a game that won’t impact playoff positioning for the 49ers (12-4).

In turn, the Rams, with a wild-card berth already in hand, will sideline their No. 1 quarterback, Matthew Stafford, and instead go with Carson Wentz.

“Brock’s the only guy for sure I don’t plan on playing,” Shanahan said, before amending that by noting injured players also will get this game off and benefit further from next week’s wild-card bye.

The 49ers could potentially host the Rams two weeks later in the divisional round, so Shanahan expects both sides to deploy “vanilla” game plans, though he noted how well each side knows the other’s scheme. The 49ers have won the past nine regular-season meetings; the 2021 Rams won their NFC Championship Game matchup en route to the Super Bowl.

Shanahan spent most of his press conference explaining why he can’t rest all the regular starters, which essentially boils down to the fact they must suit up 48 players and, by benching all their stars, then the role players and overall team could be negatively impacted.

“What you don’t want is two off weeks,” Shanahan said. “We earned ours next week (during the playoffs’ opening round). We have to make sure we get something out of this week. … Guys’ minds have to be right this week.”

Wednesday’s practice will be conducted as usual for this late in the season, which means a half-speed, no-pad tempo. Shanahan seemed to hedge on whether that holds true for 35-year-old left tackle Trent Williams, then added: “I”ve seen Trent after three weeks (off) and it was not good. His mindset this week has to be that he’s got to get ready to play.”

“I expect to play, and play the entire game until told otherwise,” linebacker Fred Warner said.

McCAFFREY ON RUSHING TITLE

Running back Christian McCaffrey said in September that the NFL rushing title would mean a lot to him because it would reflect the team’s success, and that is exactly how it’s playing out. He’ll finish with 1,459 yards through 16 games and not play Sunday because of a mild calf strain, an injury in which he said would not keep him out if the playoff opener was this week.

“The rushing title is a really cool deal for me personally, because the run game is truly a testament to everybody on the field,” McCaffrey said. “It’s not just the O-line, but obviously it starts through them and they’re the base. But it’s the quarterback getting the right calls, having an explosive pass game to open up some of the run game stuff, tight ends who block with extreme effort, best fullback on the planet, and then receivers who take a lot of pride in blocking as well.

“That rushing title, that’s a team award, in my opinion, and one that I’m proud of, and I’m proud to be a part of a group like that,” McCaffrey added. “Receivers, when they block down field, that springs the big runs, the 15- and 20-plus runs, a lot of the times, once you get back the first and second levels. Proud of our guys and I hope we can continue to get better.”

McCaffrey holds a 315-yard lead over No. 2 rusher Kyren Williams, who’s among those the Rams will keep out when they visit Levi’s Stadium.

HEALTH UPDATES

Safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (quadriceps) and guard Jon Feliciano (back) were added to the injury report but neither issue threatens their playoff availability.

Wide receiver Jauan Jennings and offensive tackle Jaylon Moore progressed through the NFL’s concussion protocol to resume practicing.

Return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud (ribs) returned to full practice, as did guard Aaron Banks (toe) after missing Sunday’s start.