Darnold could earn a large bonus if the 49ers beat the Rams, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The 49ers’ regular-season finale has no bearing on their postseason seeding.

However, it can help quarterback Sam Darnold’s bank account.

Darnold will make his first start for the 49ers on Sunday, as coach Kyle Shanahan has decided to keep Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy on the bench. On Sunday, Brandon Allen will serve as the 49ers’ backup.

Darnold signed a contract with the 49ers in March that includes a $300,000 bonus for every game in which he plays at least 25% of the offensive snaps and the 49ers win.

The 49ers (13-4) finish the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco has been assigned the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC and will have home-field advantage as well as a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Rams are also on their way to the playoffs. They will be the sixth or seventh seed in the NFC and will begin the postseason next weekend. Coach Sean McVay announced that several key Rams players, including quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive lineman Aaron Donald, will not play.

Darnold, according to general manager John Lynch, turned down more lucrative contract offers as an unrestricted free agent in order to sign with the 49ers. Purdy started the 49ers’ first 16 games of the season, so Darnold has seen little playing time leading up to the Week 18 game.

When asked this week if he has any second thoughts about signing with the 49ers, Darnold responded, “No. No. No.” “I have no regrets.”

Darnold signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract before beating out Trey Lance for the backup job behind Purdy.

He can also earn an extra $100,000 for each postseason game in which he plays 50 percent or more of the offensive snaps for the 49ers.

The Texans score on their first play, a 75-yard bomb, taking a 7-3 lead.

After a delay of game penalty, the Colts settled for a chip-shot, 38-yard field goal after an 11-play, 56-yard drive ended at the Texans’ 14-yard line. The Texans scored a touchdown on a one-play drive.

The Texans got off to a fast start in their first primetime game of the season.

They gave C.J. Stroud time in the pocket, and the Colts suffered as a result. Houston became the first team in the NFL this season to score on their first play from scrimmage.

With a step on JuJu Brents, Stroud found Nico Collins, and the perfect pass found the receiver for an easy 75-yard score.

The Texans are ahead 7-3.

Houston is missing three of its top four wideouts, but Collins is the team’s leading receiver.

Robert Woods won’t play, but Will Anderson, Laremy Tunsil officially active for Texans

The Colts have the advantage on the inactive list for tonight’s AFC South play-in game. The winner will receive a wild-card berth at the very least.

The Texans had already ruled out defensive end Jonathan Greenard (ankle) and wide receiver Noah Brown (back) due to injuries. Robert Woods (hip) will also miss the game.

This season, Woods has 40 receptions for 426 yards and a touchdown.

C.J. Stroud will be without his third (Tank Dell), fourth (Woods), and fifth (Brown) leading receivers this season. Dell has been placed on season-ending injured reserve.

With 71 and 54 receptions, respectively, receiver Nico Collins and tight Dalton Schultz lead the team.

Cornerback Kris Boyd, offensive guard Nick Broeker, and quarterback Case Keenum, who will serve as the Texans’ backup quarterback, are also out.

End of the defensive line Will Anderson (ankle), Andrew Beck (calf), defensive tackle Maliek Collins (hip), Sheldon Rankins (ankle), and Laremy Tunsil (groin) are all dressed. They were dubious about playing.

Inactives for the Colts include defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore, offensive guard Jack Anderson, strong safety Henry Black, cornerback Chris Lammons (ankle), and running back Trey Sermon.

Center Ryan Kelly (ankle), Quenton Nelson (left guard), Braden Smith (right tackle), Kenny Moore II (cornerback), and Zack Moss (running back) are all active.

‘This guy’s ceiling is unbelievable,’ says a Pro Bowl quarterback of Justin Fields.

The article Pro Bowl QB on Justin Fields: ‘This guy’s ceiling is unbelievable’ appeared first on NBC Sports Chicago.

Let me add another pundit and outsider’s opinion on what the Bears should do with Justin Fields.

Alex Smith, the former NFL Comeback Player of the Year and three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, believes Fields’ ceiling is too high to pass up for another quarterback. Fields’ performance with the Bears over the last three years, he believes, has been impressive.

“You have to take into account the instability this guy’s played through,” Smith said on SiriusXM NFL radio. “A turnstile offensive line, multiple head coaches, and multiple offenses.” This is the first year that DJ Moore has had a No. 1 receiver. Given that insecurity, when you look at his play and who he’s been playing with over the last few years, I believe there’s a case to be made that this guy’s ceiling is incredible.”

Since selecting Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bears have been a fluid organization, as Smith stated. He joined the team with head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace, both of whom were fired after his rookie season in 2022.

For the past two seasons, head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy have led the team’s offense. They’ve gone through ups and downs as they tried to devise an offense that would suit Fields’ dual-threat abilities.

Last season, the offense appeared to be relying on Fields’ legs to score points. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and frequently left the pocket to gain yardage. The Bears had to make do without true wide receiver options and a dependable offensive line.

They brought in reinforcements this season. They bolstered their defense while improving their offense with wide receiver DJ Moore, right tackle Darnell Right, and a strong rushing attack. Fields improved his passing efficiency in spurts. But it hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine for him this season.

He suffered a thumb injury that sidelined him for four weeks, depriving the Bears of crucial evaluation time. Fields has also been inconsistent, turning the ball over 41 times in his three-year career.

Things change, however, with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Bears could draft a new quarterback among Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and others. Alternatively, they could trade the pick for a haul. According to some reports, the Bears could get a better return than they did for the No. 1 pick last season.

But, according to Smith, Williams isn’t worth the return they can get for Fields.

“If someone’s willing to give up everything for Caleb Williams and you’re telling me you can go get a bunch of picks and players to build this roster around, I like it,” Smith was quoted as saying. “You’re telling me if you go put Justin Fields in a great situation with great players around him, like this guy’s not gonna flourish in a great system?”

Former Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek died at the age of 64.

Former Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek died Friday after a battle with illness, according to the team. He was 64.

Squirek’s interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XVIII is still regarded as one of the most memorable plays in NFL history. He intercepted a Joe Theismann screen pass intended for Joe Washington and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown, giving the Raiders a 21-3 lead in a 38-9 victory.

Squirek’s run to the end zone graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, making it one of the magazine’s most memorable covers in its illustrious history.

Squirek was drafted in the second round out of Illinois by the Raiders in 1982, and he played 53 games with the team before finishing his career with one season in Miami.

He appeared in 55 games, making eight starts, and had only one interception during the regular season.

“The thoughts and deepest condolences of the Raider Nation are with the Squirek family at this time,” the Raiders said in a statement.