SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As San Francisco 49ers gamers walked out of the locker room Friday afternoon, they had been greeted by a desk stuffed with water bottles, power bars and different dietary supplements meant to bolster their hydration.
Beneath regular circumstances, no such desk exists however the motive for this one was made clear by a black and white signal connected to it warning that Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals goes to be abnormally sizzling.
Based on AccuWeather, the excessive for Sunday shall be 99 levels, which would not be something new if the sport had been in Arizona. As a substitute, it is projected to be the most popular recreation within the 11-year historical past of Levi’s Stadium.
“We now have by no means recognized upfront how sizzling it was going to be,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned. “And actually since I have been right here it by no means appears too sizzling. I really feel like even on the most popular days, I nonetheless want a hoodie at a while throughout that day. However this week has felt completely different and I am positive Sunday goes to [also].”
Certainly, if forecasts maintain up, Sunday will simply surpass the earlier temperature highs for video games at Levi’s. On Aug. 31, 2017, the Niners hosted the Los Angeles Chargers for a preseason recreation with a temperature of 90 levels at kickoff. The most well liked kickoff temperature for a regular-season recreation — 88 levels — was on Oct. 3, 2021, in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks. The Niners misplaced that recreation 28-21.
With the looming warmth in thoughts, the 49ers took a number of steps to attempt to assist this week. First, they submitted a request to the NFL to put on their all-white uniforms. Based on Shanahan, the league denied that petition, noting that the foundations stipulate groups should put their residence recreation uniform preferences in earlier than the season begins.
“After I was on the East Coast, that was such an enormous deal,” Shanahan mentioned. “Being in Tampa Bay, you all the time wished to put on these whites early within the 12 months. We did not have to fret about that a lot out right here. … To ensure that us to do it, we have sort of obtained to make a aware choice or a dedication earlier than the 12 months that we put on all whites till the center of October after which go to regular. But it surely’s not normally this sizzling. So, we’ll in all probability try this now simply in case.”
The very best the 49ers can do on brief discover this week is ditch their traditional pink jersey and gold pants combo for his or her pink throwback jerseys and white pants, one thing Shanahan mentioned, “hopefully helps just a little.”
Shanahan and the coaching workers have been pushing the significance of hydration all week. Temperatures hovered within the mid to excessive 90s for 49ers practices Wednesday and Thursday and reached the higher 80s Friday, which has helped a bit with acclimation.
Shanahan mentioned many gamers already take IVs as a part of their weekly routine however he expects that to extend on Sunday. Left deal with Trent Williams has taken IVs twice this season in video games the place warmth wasn’t as prevalent however he does not appear too involved about it since he spends most of his offseasons within the Houston space.
“No comparability in any respect,” Williams mentioned. “It is nothing. … All of it is dependent upon the place your hydration stage is.”
After all, there will not be an opponent higher suited to taking part in within the warmth than the Cardinals. Arizona usually practices in triple digit temperatures and did once more this week.
“I realized this a very long time in the past,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned. “The benefit is to the workforce that thinks it is a bonus. We’re tailored to it.”
For the Niners, attrition could be a good larger problem than the warmth. They dominated out two gamers (defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles), declared receiver Chris Conley uncertain and have 5 extra gamers, together with linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and tight finish George Kittle (ribs) listed as questionable.
Warner and Kittle each expressed optimism this week that they will play in opposition to the Cardinals and took part in Friday’s apply. The warmth, paired with turning round and taking part in Thursday on the Seattle Seahawks, solely makes for extra of a problem.
“We have two video games right here within the subsequent [six] days,” Shanahan mentioned. “When issues get near Sunday, you all the time take into consideration that stuff, however normally in the event that they’re all proper to play that Sunday, you not often say, ‘Hey, no, let’s not do it this Sunday. Let’s wait until the following one.’ And if they don’t seem to be all proper to play, then they’re normally not all proper to play the following one both.”
ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss contributed to this report.
