49ers Beat: Team to remain in Arizona through Christmas.
The 49ers can return to the Bay Area after they visit the Cowboys on Dec. 20, based on current Santa Clara County orders, but they will extend their stay in Arizona for at least another week.
The 49ers will keep Glendale. Ariz., as their home base at least until they play the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 26. The 49ers have decided to stay because players wanted to make definitive Christmas plans with their families. Many families will join the team in Arizona for the holiday.
The 49ers’ other option was to return to Santa Clara after playing at Dallas on Dec. 20 and depart Christmas afternoon to play Arizona. However, that plan was contingent on Santa Clara County’s threeweek ban on contact sports, scheduled to expire at 5 a. m. Dec. 21, not being extended.
The 49ers have not decided if they will return home for their regularseason finale, which is scheduled to be played at Levi’s Stadium on Jan. 3 against the Seahawks.
Santa Clara County’s threeweek mandate could be extended based on the spread of the coronavirus in the county, which began a stayathome order Sunday night that lasts until Jan. 4.
Slot shortage: Cornerback Dontae Johnson made his second start since 2017 on Monday against the Bills because the 49ers were shorthanded in the slot.
Emmanuel Moseley, who was the team’s third option at slot cornerback, was inactive because of a hamstring injury.
Moseley replaced backup slot cornerback Jamar Taylor in a 2320 win against the Rams on Nov. 29 after Taylor suffered a torn ACL. Taylor was subbing for K’Waun Williams, who remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
Taylor sits: Wide receiver Trent Taylor, who was not on last week’s injury report, was inactive and replaced on the gameday roster by River Cracraft.
Taylor was a healthy scratch after his 10 catches for 86 yards on 21 targets in the first 11 games, while averaging 18.3 snaps.
Injury report: Nose tackle
D. J. Jones exited with an ankle injury in the first quarter and was replaced by Kevin Givens. Head coach Kyle Shanahan says the team is “worried” Jones suffered a high ankle sprain.
Jones, who had missed the 49ers’ last game because he was on the reserve/ COVID19 list, suffered a severe high ankle sprain last year that forced him to miss the final three regularseason games and all three postseason games.