Deebo Samuel expects 49ers starters to play ‘for a good bit’ vs. Rams 

Samuel said the 49ers offense is continuing to prepare as if it were a normal game, despite having already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Deebo Samuel made his intentions clear: he plans to play in the 49ers season finale on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Speaking on the ‘Up and Adams’ show with Kay Adams on Tuesday, Samuel said the 49ers offense is continuing to prepare as if it were a normal game, despite having already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t yet decided which starters will play, but Samuel made it sound like the offense wants to maintain its momentum from last Sunday, when they knocked off the Washington Commanders, 27-10.

“You definitely want to keep the flow going,” Samuel said. “But you also want to give your body a rest. I feel like we’ll play this game for a good bit, just to keep the groove going and not take too much time off.”

Asked if it was a negotiation with Shanahan about who will play on Sunday, Samuel smiled.

“It aint no negotiation,” he said. “Once coach says one thing, it’s all hands on deck.”

Christian McCaffrey has already been ruled out with a calf strain, but he’s expected to return for the playoffs.

“We’re real confident in that and it was good news,” Shanahan said Monday. “Could have been a lot worse. We’ll take care of him this week and hopefully he’ll get to go during our off week.”

Ambry Thomas and Arik Armstead have also been ruled out for Sunday. Armstead has missed the last four games with a foot injury.

“We’ll continue to rest him, get him ready for the playoffs,” Shanahan said.

Samuel said the rest of the 49ers will be going hard in practice this week in order to “keep building.”

“We haven’t played our best ball yet,” he said.