At one point or the other in Sunday’s game vs. Bears, there were nine rookies playing crucial snaps. Although the 49ers were 4-10 going into the game, it’s valuable experience for young players competing in a December game against the NFC North champion, who are playoff bound.
Accumulating injuries to veterans isn’t ideal for a team that’s trying to make a playoff run, but for a franchise that’s headed for another top-five draft selection, it could prove beneficial long-term.
After a hard-fought, 14-9 loss to Chicago at home, let’s see if the rookies’ stock rose or fell after Sunday’s performance.