49ers coach Kyle Shanahan says resting players before playoffs a mistake

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is no fan of resting players ahead of a playoff push. 

He told reporters on Tuesday that he considers playoff-ready teams not playing their starters before the postseason a huge no-no. 

"I think that's one of the biggest mistakes people make just watching it over the years. That's my opinion," Shanahan said Tuesday via NFL.com. "I would understand if you were getting ready for a seven-game series, I don't think football is like that. It's three and a half hours. It's one shot. 

"I've been on a lot of teams where you rest guys and or give guys a few more weeks and those are usually the guys who struggle the most in that first playoff game."

The 49ers are one of the NFC's most formidable teams this season. San Francisco fans should expect to see their favorite 49ers playing through the rest of the season with Shanahan at the lead. 

The downside to not resting guys is always the risk of injury. However, Shanahan knows how injuries can affect a team as much as anybody. 

2022 seventh-round quarterback Brock Purdy is leading his team after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo landed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Purdy has steadied the Niners better than expected, even though he's dealing with his own oblique/rib injury. 

49ers star wideout Deebo Samuel is also sidelined with injury, but should return for the playoffs. 

The Niners sit with the NFC's third seed through 15 weeks. That could also hint as to why Shanahan is leery to rest any of his starters through the last three weeks of the season. 

They'd face the six-seed New York Giants in the Bay if these results stood at the end of the season.