Super Bowl pregame: Chiefs activate ex-49ers RB McKinnon; Purdy’s prowess still debated

LAS VEGAS — Running back Jerick McKinnon, signed by the 49ers in 2018 to serve as an offensive catalyst, will be suiting up to play against them in Super Bowl LVIII for the Kansas City Chiefs.

McKinnon came off Injured Reserve on Saturday to become eligible for today’s game, having recovered from core-muscle surgery.

The 49ers, in their second year under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, signed McKinnon as a 2018 free agent to a four-year, $30 million. A week before that 2018 season opener, he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and a follow-up procedure the following year delayed his 49ers’ debut until the 2020 season.

McKinnon joined the Chiefs in 2021, and, today, will serve as a backfield option with Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Running back La’Mical Perine was among the Chiefs players deactivated 90 minutes before kickoff. McKinnon rejoined the active roster once the Chiefs put All-Pro guard Joe Thuney on Injured Reserve on Saturday.

The 49ers had no surprises among the seven players they deactivated before kickoff: Linebacker Jalen Graham, offensive tackle Matt Pryor, wide receiver Ronnie Bell, defensive tackle T.Y. McGill, defensive lineman Alex Barrett, cornerback Sam Womack and quarterback Brandon Allen (No. 3 emergency option).

The Chiefs’ other inactive were: Wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Justyn Ross; cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe; defensive end B.J. Thompson and linebacker Darius Harris.

SMITH DEFENDS PURDY

As Brock Purdy becomes the fifth 49ers quarterback to start a Super Bowl, his merits were still being debated Sunday morning leading up to kickoff against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Purdy is the 49ers’ 22nd quarterback since Steve Young delivered their sixth and most recent Lombardi Trophy in the 1994 season. Among those 22 is Alex Smith, the 2005 draft’s No. 1 pick who’s now an ESPN analyst, a role in which he continued his staunch defense of Purdy onto Sunday morning.

“He’s the reason they’re here,” Smith said on ESPN’s Postseason NFL Countdown. “His defense got 31 points hung on them in the NFC Championship Game, and he brought them back and won the game. He didn’t babysit this team to get to this point. He’s the main reason they are here.

“He is (24) years old. His future is bright. Why can’t we leave it at that. If he wins today, you put yourself in a different conversation.”

Debating Smith in that morning roundtable was Randy Moss, who concluded his Pro Football Hall of Fame on the 2012 49ers’ team that lost in the Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick as the starter (and Smith the backup).

“One thing I’ve been critical about Brock Purdy for the last couple of weeks, and rightfully so, and the reason we’re sitting here trying to give this man all of these accolades, is the supporting cast they put around him,” Moss said. “If you have five All-Pros around you, but you’re not one of them, that sent a message to me. I have to give him respect where it’s due: Brock Purdy showed me something in the NFC Championship Game.”

The 49ers trailed 24-7 at halftime to the Detroit Lions before Purdy oversaw a second-half comeback that delivered a 34-31 win for the NFC crown. “That was all in the second half,” Moss added of Purdy’s resolve. “In the first half, I said, ‘Brock Purdy, do not stand back there like a statue and let the Detroit Lions tee off on you.’ The second half, Kyle Shanahan had a different approach: OK, if the first read is not there, pull the ball down and make some hay with your feet.”

Fellow ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi, a San Francisco native and Roseville High product, also was hesitant in his praise of Purdy: “I’m not taking anything away from Brock; I’m not putting Brock in the same conversation of Patrick Mahomes, of Josh Allen, of Lamar Jackson – players who have a greater body of work. He’s had a great season and he’s here. Now he can have a great game today and shut everyone up today forever. You lead this team to a Super Bowl and that’s something nobody can take away from you. He needs more body of work to talk about the quarterbacks on the next level.”

The 49ers have lost their past two Super Bowl appearances — that 2012 affair against the Ravens, and four years ago when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers could not hold a 10-point lead with seven minutes left and lost 31-20 to the Chiefs.

Purdy, according to a CBS Sports report, prepared for his Super Bowl debut by studying film of how seven-time champion Tom Brady handled critical moments and clutch drives.

LYNCH’S FINAL WORDS

General manager John Lynch met up with CBS Sports’ Evan Washburn at Allegiant Stadium before the game. Here is what they said:

Question: What stood out from the team’s mentality this week?

Lynch: “They’ve got the right mindset, our guys do. Kyle’s done a great job of initiating that, leading these guys. I think we’ve got a lot of tremendous leaders who understand the opportunity at hand. They also have a healthy respect for the Chiefs, as they should. They’re the reigning champs, they’re an excellent football team, they’re an excellent organization. So we’ve got to play great, and we’re fully capable of doing that.”

Question: What did you and Kyle look for when building this team?

Lynch: “Character. Grit. Resiliency. I think we’ve seen that in the last couple of games. Different path for us: we’re used to playing from ahead, last couple weeks we’ve played from behind. But I think that might serve us well. I think it’s taught us that we’re never out of a game. Hopefully we don’t go that route today, but we’re ready for whatever the game brings us. Our guys have a ton of belief.”

Question: What is your message today to the team?

Lynch: “Take it. You’ve got to take it. They’re the champs. We’ve got to take it if we want it. What an opportunity. I love our group, I love our mindset. Here we go.”

FASHIONABLE ARRIVALS

Coach Kyle Shanahan arrived at Allegiant Stadium six hours before kickoff, dressed in a light-blue suit with no tie and a coffee cup in his left hand.

Escorting Shanahan is his assistant, Patrick Hagedorn, who recovered from an Achilles tear last year for this walk-in moment https://t.co/2EdK1ocJKy

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) February 11, 2024

An hour later, running back Christian McCaffrey strutted in wearing a dark suit and sunglasses, followed by tight end George Kittle with high-top sneakers in hand. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk wore a leather jacket (displaying teammates’ names and jersey numbers) that was customized by his fashion-designing wife, Kristin.

BAY AREA UNITE

Well wishes came in ahead of Sunday’s kickoff from the 49ers’ pro-sports peers in the Bay Area, with social media posts by the San Jose Sharks (“LET’S GO NINER GANG!!), the San Francisco Giants (“Finish it, @49ers!”), the Golden State Warriors (“Wishing the @49ers good luck at #SBLVIIII) and the new women’s soccer team, Bay Football Club (“Go @49ers!”).

Finish it, @49ers! #BayAreaUnite | #DoItForTheBay pic.twitter.com/Vgs1AqsGsb

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) February 11, 2024

Wishing the @49ers good luck at #SBLVIII#BayAreaUnite pic.twitter.com/D2X3zFjZfh

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 11, 2024

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

Travis Kelce’s pregame speech Saturday night to his Chiefs teammates moved some to tears because it was so “unbelievable” and “powerful,” according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who noted that Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones also addressed the team. Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, arrived in Las Vegas on Sunday morning, after flying Saturday from her Japan concert to Los Angeles.

#SuperBowl press row:
The game within the game pic.twitter.com/LYYDWDfQUv

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) February 11, 2024