The 49ers' regular-season finale can neither help nor hurt their position in the NFL playoffs.
But it may give quarterback Sam Darnold's bank account a nice boost.
Darnold will make his first start with the 49ers on Sunday as coach Kyle Shanahan opted to keep Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy on the sidelines. Brandon Allen will serve as the 49ers' backup on Sunday.
As part of the contract Darnold signed with the 49ers in March, he will receive a $300,000 bonus for every game in which he plays at least 25 percent of the offensive snaps and the 49ers win.
The 49ers (13-4) close out the regular season on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (9-7) at Levi's Stadium. San Francisco is anchored in the NFC's No. 1 playoff seed and will have home-field advantage in the playoffs and a first-round bye.
The Rams are also headed to the playoffs as they will be either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the NFC and open the postseason next weekend. Coach Sean McVay announced that some of the Rams' best players, such as quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive lineman Aaron Donald, will not play.
General manager John Lynch said this week that Darnold turned down more lucrative contract offers as an unrestricted free agent to sign with the 49ers. Purdy started the first 16 games of the season, leaving Darnold with limited playing time entering Week 18, playing just 69 snaps in nine contests.
When asked this week if he had reconsidered his decision to sign with the 49ers, Darnold replied: “No. No. No regret.”
Darnold signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract in the offseason and then beat out Trey Lance for the backup job behind Purdy. He can also earn an additional $100,000 for each playoff game in which he plays 50 percent or more of the 49ers' offensive snaps.
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