GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan sat down for his weekly news conference and then proceeded to name 13 players over the next 31 seconds who were either out or limited for Wednesday's practice because of injuries.
A long, frustrating season for the 49ers and Arizona Cardinals is coming to a close.
The 49ers (6-10) visit the Cardinals (7-9) on Sunday with both teams eliminated from the playoffs. There have been some similarities in the teams' struggles — both had midseason hope before injuries and inconsistent play derailed their postseason plans in December.
San Francisco has lost six of its past seven while Arizona has dropped five of six.
The finale does offer some young players on both sides a chance to make a good impression. For Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, it's also a chance to enter the offseason with a little momentum.
“It’s big to feel good about your last performance,” Murray said. “Personally, I would like to go into the offseason playing well and have that on your mind. That’s the last thing you remember. We want to go out there and play well.
"Obviously, the goal is to win the game.”
Both teams showed last week that they'll play hard, even when the playoffs are off the table.
The Cardinals were driving for the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute before the Rams picked off a deflected pass by Murray to secure a 13-9 win. The 49ers led for much of their game against the Detroit Lions — one of the NFL's best teams — before falling 40-34.
“I think when we play our brand of ball, I think we can compete with anybody," Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said after the Rams loss. “But again, that doesn’t count. It’s about winning and losing, you know what I mean?”
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs will make his first start for San Francisco in place of Brock Purdy (elbow). Shanahan opted to go with Dobbs ahead of Brandon Allen because of his better mobility behind a makeshift offensive line.
Dobbs started eight games for Arizona last season before being traded to Minnesota. He has a 77.5 career passer rating with 15 TD passes, 13 interceptions and 5.8 yards per attempt in 14 starts.
Gannon is familiar with Dobbs from their time together last season, but said that won't help much on Sunday.
“He’s got different people around him, different play callers,” Gannon said. "We’ll be ready to go. It’ll be good to see Dobbsy.”
Cardinals running back Michael Carter is trying to revive his career with a bigger workload over the final few weeks of the season.
The 25-year-old Carter figures to have a larger role in the finale since starter James Conner (knee) is on injured reserve. Carter ran for 70 yards on 13 carries in last week's loss to the Rams.
Carter was a fourth-round draft pick by the Jets in 2021 and rushed for 639 yards as a rookie and 402 in his second season. But he slowly lost playing time and was released midway through 2023 before being scooped up the next day by the Cardinals.
“They’ll all have their roles defined as we get going through the week, but (Carter) will get a bunch of carries, I’m sure," Gannon said.
Arizona's Trey McBride became just the 10th tight end in league history to top 100 receptions for a season during his 12-catch day against the Rams.
McBride sits at 104 catches heading into the finale, which is 12 catches shy of the NFL tight end record of 116, set by Zach Ertz with the Eagles in 2018. McBride has caught 12 passes in three games this season.
Niners receiver Ricky Pearsall is looking to end a trying rookie season on a high note. Pearsall missed most of training camp with injuries and then was out for the first half of the season after being shot about a week before the opener.
Pearsall hadn’t produced much since his return before catching eight passes for 141 yards and a TD last week for the most productive game for a Niners rookie receiver since Jerry Rice in 1985.
“It felt good, but that’s what I’m supposed to do,” Pearsall said. “That’s what they brought me here to do, so I’m going to continue to do that.”
AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow in Santa Clara, California, contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) misses on a pass in the end zone over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (24) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws under pressure from Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske (55) during the second half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) reacts after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Boston University's Cole Eiserman broke a second-period tie and the defending champion United States beat Czechia 4-1 on Saturday night to advance to the world junior hockey championship game.
The Americans will face Finland — a 4-3 overtime winner over Sweden in the first semifinal — for the title Sunday night. Finland beat the United States 4-3 in overtime in group play.
Eiserman made it 2-1 with 6:19 left in the second with a one-timer off a cross-ice feed.
“I’m proud of our guys,” said coach David Darle of Denver. “We played an excellent Czech team and it was a very difficult game. We continue to grow as a group and we’ll get set to face another great team in Finland tomorrow."
Boston College teammates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault each had a goal and an assist for the Americans. Minnesota's Oliver Moore also scored, and Michigan State's Trey Augustine made 26 saves.
The Americans are seeking their seventh title and first back-to-back championships.
“It would mean everything,” said Perreault, who also played last season. “We definitely have the team to do it. We’ll be ready to go.”
Jakub Stancl scored for the Czechs. Michael Hrabal stopped 21 shots.
In the first semifinal, Benjamin Rautiainen scored on a power play at 9:22 of overtime to lift Finland past Sweden.
Rautiainen beat goalie Melker Thelin from a sharp angle to the right of the net on a 4-on-3 man advantage with Tom Willander in the penalty box for holding.
“Very skillful guy at doing things like that,” Finnish coach Lauri Mikkola said about Rautiainen. “Nobody expected when he shoots.”
Petteri Rimpinen made 43 saves for Finland. Emil Hemming had a goal and an assist and Jesse Kiiskinen and Arttu Alasiurua also scored.
Otto Stenberg scored twice for Sweden. Wilhelm Hallquisth also scored and Thelin stopped 31 shots.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
United States forward Max Plante (22) celebrates with teammate Trey Augustine (1) after they defeated Czechia in World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Czechia defenseman Jakub Fibigr (7) is hit by United States forward Trevor Connelly (19) during third-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) celebrates after his goal with teammates Gabe Perreault (34) and James Hagens (12) during third-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action against Czechia in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States defenseman Drew Fortescue (5) checks Czechia forward Jakub Stancl (21) during second-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States defenseman Zeev Buium (28) shoves Czechia forward Adam Novotny, left, during second-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States forward Ryan Leonard (9) celebrates after his goal against Czechia during third-period World Junior hockey championship semifinal game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Sweden forward Otto Stenberg (25) scores on Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (30) during second period semifinal IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament action on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Tuomas Uronen (15) tries to tip a shot past Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) during the second period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Arttu Alasiurua (29) celebrates his goal against Sweden with teammates Emil Hemming (32), Daniel Nieminen (7) and Tuomas Uronen (15) during the second period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland goaltender Petteri Rimpinen looks on as Sweden forward Linus Eriksson flies through the air after clipping the net during the first period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Jesse Kiiskinen (38) scores on Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) during the second period of a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Sweden forward David Edstrom (15) and teammates Axel Hurtig (6) and Axel Sandin Pellikka react after losing in overtime against Finland in semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Sweden defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka(4) hugs goaltender Melker Thelin after losing in overtime against Finland in a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Konsta Helenius (19) hugs Benjamin Rautiainen (37) after Rautiainen scored the game winning goal in overtime against Sweden in a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland players pile on teammate Benjamin Rautiainen (37) after he scored the winning goal in overtime against Sweden in semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland's Benjamin Rautiainen (37) celebrates with teammates Rasmus Kumpulainen (18), Kasper Halttunen (22) and Konsta Helenius after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against Sweden in a semifinal game at the world junior hockey championship, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
