The last two weeks of the season can get awfully weird. The Raiders, who are exceedingly familiar with being weird, made sure they stayed on brand this week by benching starting quarterback Derek Carr while remaining alive in the playoff hunt.
They don’t seem particularly interested in that playoff spot, benching Carr to ensure that he doesn’t get injured. While he signed a three-year, $120.5 million extension in the offseason, only $5.625 million is fully guaranteed. His $33 million salary next year is protected for injury, though; so by sitting Carr, Las Vegas ensures he won’t see that money.
He leads the Raiders’ inactive list on Sunday:
For the 49ers, it’s a list led by Deebo Samuel:
- WR Deebo Samuel
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo
- DT Kevin Givens
- OL Nick Zakelj
- TE Ross Dwelley
- DL Akeem Spence
- DL Kemoko Turay
Kyle Shanahan said this week that Samuel, who returned to practice for the first time since suffering ankle and knee injuries against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, could return against the Arizona Cardinals in the season finale.
“He’s definitely got a chance to,” Shanahan said, adding that he’d like him to play.
Elijah Mitchell will also begin practice next week, occupying the team’s final injured reserve return slot when he’s activated.
Kevin Givens is also on track to return for the playoffs and could return to practice next week.
The one interesting note about the inactives list is Kemoko Turay. He was activated from the practice squad for the game. It could be a case of the 49ers protecting against a bug that’s been going around the team, but it could also be a similar situation to what the team did last year with Nate Sudfeld.
Sudfeld was bumped to the active roster late in the season, effectively as a bonus. Turay, who said he preferred to stay with the 49ers, even on the practice squad, could have gone elsewhere. This might be a move of good faith on San Francisco’s part to do right by a veteran.