San Francisco 49ers running back Eli Mitchell (25) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
SANTA CLARA — Aspects of the 49ers’ season opener Sunday at Chicago are coming into focus. Maybe.
While the 49ers are not be bound to the depth chart they released Tuesday, the weather forecast is also no sure thing. They sure can be interesting, though.
It might rain at Soldier Field before and after the noon (CT) kickoff. A couple of 49ers expressed surprise upon being informed of that forecast by a reporter during Monday’s locker room access.
“A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72,” the National Weather Service lists for Sunday’s forecast in Chicago.
“Cloudy; brief showers in the morning followed by heavy showers in the afternoon,” cites AccuWeather.com, which calls for light precipitation (0.79-inch) mixed with wind gusts of up to 17 mph.
The 49ers, by the way, won their last outdoor game in inclement weather, that being in the snow at Lambeau Field in last season’s divisional playoffs.
Anyhow, keep an eye on the forecast in the coming days — and know that rain is not expected to impact the San Francisco Giants’ day games Friday and Saturday against the host Chicago Cubs.
As for the first depth chart of the regular season, no surprises, but here it is (*starter):
QUARTERBACK
*Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, Brock Purdy
RUNNING BACK
*Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson Jr., Ty Davis-Price, Jordan Mason
FULLBACK
*Kyle Juszczyk
TIGHT END
*George Kittle, Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, Tyler Kroft
WIDE RECEIVER
*Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings,
*Brandon Aiyuk, Ray-Ray McCloud, Danny Gray
OFFENSIVE LINE
Left tackle: *Trent Williams, Colton McKivitz
Left guard: *Aaron Banks, Blake Hance
Center: *Jake Brendel, Daniel Brunskill
Right guard: *Spencer Burford, Nick Zakelj
Right tackle: *Mike McGlinchey, Jaylon Moore
DEFENSIVE LINE
Left end: Samson Ebukam, Drake Jackson, Kerry Hyder Jr.
Left tackle: Javon Kinlaw, Kevin Givens
Right tackle: Arik Armstead, Hassan Ridgeway
Right end: Nick Bosa, Charles Omenihu, Jordan Willis
LINEBACKER
Middle: Fred Warner
Weak-side: Dre Greenlaw, Oren Burks
Strong side: Azeez Al-Shaair, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
CORNERBACK
Left: Emmanuel Moseley, Deommodore Lenoir
Right: Mooney Ward, Ambry Thomas
Nickel: Sam Womack III
SAFETY
Free: George Odum
Strong: Talanoa Hufanga, Tarvarius Moore
SPECIALISTS
Kicker: Robbie Gould
Punter: Mitch Wishnowsky
Long snapper: Taybor Pepper
Punt returner: Ray-Ray McCloud, Brandon Aiyuk
Kick returner: Ray-Ray McCloud, Danny Gray
Originally published at Cam Inman