If the 49ers are to continue a push towards the No. 2 seed in the NFC, a win Saturday represents the most substantial impediment.
The 7-6-1 Washington Commanders are fighting for a Wild Card spot, and will get a substantial reinforcement in former No. 2 overall pick, Chase Young. After Saturday, the 49ers will face two losing teams in the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.
Young has been out since undergoing ACL reconstruction last season and was initially expected to return four weeks earlier. But his season debut will add to an already imposing defensive line group which features Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.
San Francisco, though, will get its own first-round defensive line selection from that 2020 draft back on the field. Javon Kinlaw, sidelined since Week 3, has been activated off injured reserve after a week of practice both John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan said they were impressed by.
The most substantial news on Saturday is that Washington will be without star safety Kam Curl. Curl, the third-highest-rated safety by Pro Football Focus, tested an ankle injury out pregame with head coach Ron Rivera and trainers watching.
It didn’t look great, and he was ruled out, according to Commanders reporter Nikki Jhabvala. Per Jhabvala, special teams ace Jeremy Reaves and backup safety Percy Butler will be leaned upon in his stead.
Washington’s inactives are as follows:
SS Kamren Curl
G/T Saahdiq Charles
QB Sam Howell
G Chris Paul
DE Daniel Wise
The 49ers had a few surprises in their inactives. Star corner Charvarius Ward cleared concussion protocol and is inactive but rookie defensive end Drake Jackson, who was not on the injury report, has been made inactive. Kerry Hyder J., who was questionable, is also inactive:
DE Drake Jackson
DL Kerry Hyder Jr.
WR Deebo Samuel
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
OL Nick Zakelj
TE Ross Dwelley
DT Kevin Givens
A win on Sunday could potentially move the 49ers up to the No. 2 seed, if the Vikings lose. They were trailing the Giants 13-10 at the time of writing this late in the third quarter. That’s usually the time when Minnesota turns things around and mounts a one-score comeback win.
