Quick hits

Rams could rest starters in finale against 49ers

THOUSAND OAKS — The Los Angeles Rams are headed to the playoffs, and head coach Sean McVay plans to take advantage of that certainty.

McVay strongly hinted he would sit players for the Rams’ regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, with an eye toward helping the NFC West champs get back to full strength for their home playoff game the first weekend in January.

“That’s a luxury that we want to try to take advantage of, and everything that we do is what we think is best for our football team,” McVay said Tuesday. “While we do want to give ourselves a chance to go compete against a tough 49ers team that’s rolling, we also know that we have a chance to play for a championship and get into the playoffs and that’s something that we’re also very mindful of as well.”

The Rams (11-4) cannot secure a first-round bye, and McVay doesn’t see much of a difference between finishing with the third seed by beating the 49ers (5-10) and ending up as the fourth seed. Instead, he wants to make sure his team is healthy for the first playoff game in Los Angeles since Jan. 13, 1991, when the Raiders defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.

The first-year coach has exercised caution all season long, giving veterans including left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan an extra day off on Wednesdays. That approach is likely to carry over to game day this week and could have a cascading effect across the roster. If Whitworth and Sullivan don’t play, McVay suggested that quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley would also sit.

Los Angeles has been relatively healthy this season, but the team was reminded this week how quickly that can change. Outside linebacker Matt Longacre is headed to injured reserve with a back injury that requires surgery, McVay said.