It has been 194 days since the 49ers let one get away in Las Vegas, another Lombardi Trophy that instead went to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Returning to Allegiant Stadium is sure to stoke painful memories tonight. It also offers the 49ers closure, both to last season’s overtime trauma in Super Bowl LVIII and to officially finish off this preseason against the host Raiders.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said he’ll play some regular-season starters, perhaps even more than the six who suited up for Sunday’s 16-10 preseason home win over New Orleans.
The Raiders, however, plan to rest their starters, meaning Maxx Crosby won’t be the one chasing Brock Purdy out of the 49ers’ pocket.
Here are four things to watch:
1. LAST-DITCH EFFORTS
The 49ers’ championship-caliber roster didn’t have many vacancies entering training camp, so one last preseason game likely won’t dictate many if any roster spots. That said, the preseason finale gives hopefuls one last chance to impress.
The roster must be shaved from 90 to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon. Some players will move onto Injured Reserve, with up to two being allowed to return after the first month of the season. Look for 17 others to return on the practice squad, some of whom you may not see in game action until next preseason.
Shanahan may say he’ll play his starters but it would be surprising to see the preseason debuts of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Leonard Floyd, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Charvarius Ward or Deommodore Lenoir.
2. RUNNING BACK ROULETTE
Do you remember preaseasons past when the 49ers produced the NFL rushing leader? Go back to 2007 with Thomas Clayton, ’09 with Glen Coffee, ’10 Anthony Dixon, ’11 Kendall Hunter. Yeah, that isn’t happening this preseason.
Jordan Mason is the 49ers’ leader with 34 yards, which rank him 72nd in the NFL. Mason missed the last game with a hip issue, but he resumed practicing Wednesday, so perhaps he makes a cameo as he did for the opening series in Tennessee on Aug. 10.
Elijah Mitchell also returned to practice Wednesday after a two-week, hamstring-related hiatus. The 49ers know enough about him and his medical file, so he need not play unless they want to shop him in a trade. Or he still could be Christian McCaffrey’s top backup this season.
This could be Isaac Guerendo’s pro debut. The fourth-round rookie speedster looked swift and healthy in practice this week, after four weeks rehabilitating his camp-opening hamstring injury.
If the 49ers keep Guerendo on ice as a secret weapon, then this could be the final audition for rookie Cody Schrader, 49ers 2018 rushing leader Matt Breida, darkhorse Ke’Shawn Vaughn and perhaps Patrick Taylor Jr., who’s just back from a foot issue.
3. BACKUP QUARTERBACK BATTLE
Purdy got his initial hits out of the way in Sunday’s first quarter against the Saints. If he makes another cameo in this game, perhaps it will help exorcise any demons lingering in his head from his Super Bowl incompletions in Vegas.
Before last year’s preseason finale, the 49ers had their backup competition settled and traded away Trey Lance. Two years ago, the 49ers didn’t tip their hand that Purdy would beat out Nate Sudfeld for the No. 3 spot behind Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
This year’s backup battle pits two different styles with Brandon Allen and Josh Dobbs. Allen knows the system well and has shown great long-ball accuracy along the boundary. Dobbs’ best plays have come off-schedule with his legs.
“They’re pretty tight, so I’m definitely not declaring it now,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully they’ll play out more in these two practices and hopefully a little bit more in the game.”
Not to be forgotten is rookie Tanner Mordecai, who impressed in Sunday’s debut and worked after Wednesday’s practice while general manager John Lynch lingered on the field.
4. CORNERBACK CONUNDRUM
The 49ers needed to get stronger at cornerback this season – Mahomes-proof it, if you will – and they appear to have accomplished that with depth behind starters Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir. Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen likes what he saw from Isaac Yiadom before a recent ankle injury sidelined him, and rookie Renardo Green has acquitted himself well as an inside/outside option like Lenoir.
So, the question this game can answer is who will lock down the final spot (or two). The 49ers retained five cornerbacks for last season’s initial roster.
Darrell Luter Jr. seems to have the inside track. Veterans Rock Ya-Sin and Chase Lucas aren’t going quietly, though they could go onto the practice squad. Sam Womack adds special teams value.
