The 49ers are clinging to their playoff hopes as they return Sunday to Levi’s Stadium to play their first home game in three weeks.
The Niners face first overall draft pick Caleb Williams and the Bears, who fired coach Matt Eberflus last week after a Thanksgiving loss to the Lions, Chicago’s sixth consecutive defeat.
San Francisco won’t have Christian McCaffrey, who injured his knee last week and is out for the season. Jordan Mason, McCaffrey’s backup, is out too with a sprained ankle, so it’ll be up to rookie Isaac Guerendo to run the ball for the 49ers.
Other stars will also be missing: Nick Bosa was ruled out Saturday with an oblique injury that has lingered for weeks and Trent Williams’ ankle injury will also keep him off the field.
Related Articles
49ers-Bears pregame: Hufanga, Ward, Lenoir bolster secondary
49ers’ Brock Purdy, Chicago’s Caleb Williams take divergent routes as franchise quarterbacks
49ers make moves with Nick Bosa, Talanoa Hufanga, Jordan Mason, Aaron Banks
How to watch the 49ers against the Bears on Sunday
49ers’ 5 keys to beating Bears and snapping losing streak
The Bears, meanwhile, will be led by interim coach Thomas Brown, the offensive coordinator who took over when Eberflus was shown the door.
The 49ers enter Sunday with a 7 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to the NFL’s playoff odds calculator, but they are only two games back of Seattle (7-5) for the NFC West lead.
Follow along below for updates on the game…
