Five 49ers players to watch in Sunday's road game vs. Rams
Upon wrapping up practice Friday afternoon, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan did not seem to know exactly which players would be available to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.Six 49ers remain on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.Three players on injured reserve – running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, and cornerback Richard Sherman -- are expected to be activated on Saturday and listed as questionable for the game.The 49ers played their best game of the season in Week 6 in handing the Rams a 24-16 loss at Levi’s Stadium. In order to accomplish the season sweep, the 49ers will need big performances from the following five players to watch.
Samuel, who entered the year as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, has appeared in only four games this season. He has not gotten on the field since sustaining a hamstring injury in Week 7 against the New England Patriots.
It does not appear rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk (reserve/COVID-19 list) will be available, so the 49ers will expect Samuel to step back into the action as if he never left.
Samuel had his best game of the season in the victory earlier this season over the Rams. He caught six passes for 66 yards.
It will be important for quarterback Nick Mullens to get the ball in Samuel’s hands and Samuel will have to do a lot of work on his own, picking up big yards after the catch.
The 49ers on Friday activated Kinlaw from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Although it is not a certainty Kinlaw will be eligible to play in the game, all signs are pointing in that direction.
Kinlaw is coming off his best game in the NFL – a 1.5-sack, one tackle-for-loss game against the New Orleans Saints.
After the bye week, he did not practice until late this week as he went on the COVID list.
The 49ers will need to get pressure on Rams quarterback Jared Goff, and Kinlaw has gotten better and better at collapsing the pocket as an interior pass-rusher.
Mullens remains as the 49ers’ starter while Jimmy Garoppolo remains out of action with a high-ankle sprain.
Mullens will make his fifth start of the season. He played well in a win over the New York Giants, and he stepped in after Garoppolo was injured to move the football against the Seattle Seahawks. His other games have not gone as well.
The 49ers might follow the same game plan as their Week 6 game against the Rams, as Garoppolo got the ball out of his hands quickly on short, high-percentage passes.
Mullens will have to be decisive. He cannot hold the ball too long in the pocket or Aaron Donald and the Rams pass rush will make it difficult on him. Mullens will have to spread the ball around to his receivers, tight ends and backs to keep the Rams' defense guessing.
The Rams have a solid set of receivers and tight ends. Moore took over the starting safety alongside Jimmie Ward in Week 10 and played well.
Moore and Ward figure to be the 49ers' starting safeties next season.
Jaquiski Tartt is out for the season with an injury. Tartt is not signed for next season. Moore, a third-round pick in 2018, is signed through the 2021 season.
Moore has great speed and strong cover skills. He will get plenty of chances against Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds – the Rams’ top three receivers.
As long as Moore plays well and is moving in the right direction, he should be able to solidify his starting job, not only for the rest of this year but for future seasons, too.
The 49ers thought so highly of McKivitz they looked ahead to the possibility of selecting him in the fourth round of the draft to compete for the starting job at left tackle. At that point, Joe Staley informed the 49ers he was retiring. And the 49ers had yet to finalize the trade for Trent Williams.
After the 49ers secured Williams, they still were able to select McKivitz in the fifth round.
In McKivitiz's rookie season, the 49ers decided they needed him more at right guard than at either of the tackle spots. He saw significant action the past two weeks, but he will make his first NFL start on Sunday.
Veteran Tom Compton is out after sustaining a concussion during a half-speed walk-through practice this week.
McKivitz’s first NFL start will be memorable. He will be going up against Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
