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, vitality bars and different dietary supplements meant to bolster their hydration.
Beneath regular circumstances, no such desk exists however the cause for this one was made clear by a black and white signal connected to it warning that Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals goes to be abnormally sizzling.
In keeping with AccuWeather, the excessive for Sunday will likely be 99 levels, which would not be something new if the sport had been in Arizona. As an alternative, it is projected to be the most well liked sport within the 11-year historical past of Levi’s Stadium.
“We’ve by no means identified upfront how sizzling it was going to be,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned. “And truthfully since I have been right here it by no means appears too sizzling. I really feel like even on the most well liked 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].”
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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 sport with a temperature of 90 levels at kickoff. The most well liked kickoff temperature for a regular-season sport — 88 levels — was on Oct. 3, 2021, in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks. The Niners misplaced that sport 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. In keeping with Shanahan, the league denied that petition, noting that the principles stipulate groups should put their residence sport uniform preferences in earlier than the season begins.
“Once I was on the East Coast, that was such an enormous deal,” Shanahan mentioned. “Being in Tampa Bay, you all the time needed 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 type of acquired to make a acutely 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. However it’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 ordinary crimson jersey and gold pants combo for his or her crimson throwback jerseys and white pants, one thing Shanahan mentioned, “hopefully helps somewhat.”
Shanahan and the coaching employees 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 would 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 degree is.”
After all, there is probably not an opponent higher suited to taking part in within the warmth than the Cardinals. Arizona often practices in triple digit temperatures and did once more this week.
“I discovered this a very long time in the past,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned. “The benefit is to the group that thinks it is a bonus. We’re tailored to it.”
For the Niners, attrition is likely to be a good greater 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 observe. The warmth, paired with turning round and taking part in Thursday on the Seattle Seahawks, solely makes for extra of a problem.
“We have got 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 hardly ever say, ‘Hey, no, let’s not do it this Sunday. Let’s wait until the subsequent one.’ And if they are not all proper to play, then they’re normally not all proper to play the subsequent one both.”
ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss contributed to this report.
