49ers to search for temporary home due to local COVID rules?

Santa Clara County has banned contact sports for the next three weeks. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers to search for temporary home due to new local COVID restrictions?

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 11/28/20

Where will the San Francisco 49ers play their home games for the next three weeks? That is the question on the minds of many following new COVID-19 protocols put in place by Santa Clara County.

On Saturday, Santa Clara County announced new social distancing measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The new measures include a three-week ban on contact sports in the county, and it applies to all professional, collegiate and youth sports teams.

49ers now are going to need to figure out where to play and practice..... https://t.co/bkZuxAJecY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2020

The 49ers have home games scheduled at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 7 against the Buffalo Bills and Dec. 13 against the Washington Football Team. San Francisco now will have to be creative in its approach to the new rules put in place.

If the 49ers still want to play their home games in California for the next three weeks, they could play their Dec. 7 matchup against the Bills at SoFi Stadium, which will be vacant for "Monday Night Football." The team's Dec. 13 matchup could potentially be moved to another date if they were to play at the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

Santa Clara County's new rules also make it impossible for the 49ers to practice, so they'll have to move out of the county to even prepare for their upcoming games.

Of course, the NFL could always be granted an exception to allow for games and practices to still take place, but it seems unlikely at this point, especially with COVID-19 cases rising across the country.

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