Privately, the future Hall of Famer has been accused of using anonymous social media accounts to trash his teammates. Publicly, his expressions of exasperation are a common sight as his Rockets coworkers brick shots or both defensive rotations.

But there is no argument that he would be better off around his old Warriors fling, who flirted with trading for him last February before moving on to Jimmy Butler.

While the Rockets enter Thursday’s home game seeded third in the West and winners of seven of 10, the visiting and hobbling Warriors (31-30) are clinging to the eighth seed after losing two in a row.

Steph Curry has missed the past 11 games and will be out at least another 10 days with runner’s knee.

Kristaps Porzingis has been sidelined since mid-February with what coach Steve Kerr has dubbed a “mysterious” health condition, after Porzingis previously disclosed that he has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. And of course, Butler is now rehabbing from a season-ending ACL tear.

Draymond Green’s offense has totally abandoned him of late – he is minus-107 in his last nine games played without Curry.

Youngsters Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos and Moses Moody – who is out Thursday with a wrist injury – have displayed noticeable improvement with increased opportunity since the calendar turned to 2026, but none are a franchise cornerstone for the post-Curry era.

These are not exactly ideal circumstances to begin a three-game trip that is shortly followed by a grueling six-games-in-nine-days gauntlet through much of the Eastern Conference.

It is the kind of scenario that would beget tanking for a better draft pick for many franchises whose top four players are either old, injured or both.

Not the Warriors.

“We have to find ways to be better, and get ready for the next one,” 39-year-old center Al Horford said after Monday’s loss to the Clippers. “We’re moving on to Houston and seeing how we can go in there, and compete, and get a win.”

A righteous desire to compete till the end isn’t the only reason the Warriors are shunning this approach.

Yes, the Warriors entered Wednesday night just 1.5 games ahead of the Clippers and just 2.5 above the Blazers for the No. 8 seed, which requires just one play-in victory to reach the playoffs. But there is no realistic way Golden State tumbles to the No. 11 seed, out of the play-in tournament entirely and into better lottery odds.

The shorthanded Warriors dismantled the lifeless Grizzlies in southwest Tennessee by 20 points a week ago. Memphis is 23-37, 7.5 games back of the Warriors and obviously tanking after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline.

Even if the Warriors stumble against both the contending Rockets and Thunder to begin the trip, they finish with a likely victory over the Jazz, whose desire not to field a competitive team has caught the eye of the league office.

The Warriors are thus persisting in the oddest of spots between the tankers and the contenders during the playoff push.

They’re stuck making the postseason.

Can’t worry about the uncertainties or the unknowns of the season,” Podziemski said. “At least that’s how I approach it and I just try to go out there and give it my best every night.”

Left-hander Reiver Sanmartin was slated to pitch for Team Colombia in this year’s WBC, but the 29-year-old sustained a right hip flexor injury in Colombia’s exhibition against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday in Florida while fielding a comebacker that will keep him out of the tournament.

Sanmartin was back in the Giants’ clubhouse on Wednesday afternoon and will be evaluated. It’s currently unclear whether the left-hander will be ready for the start of the season.

“I think the WBC is a wash for him,” said manager Tony Vitello. “I haven’t spoken to him directly about that. I’m sure he’s a little disheartened or heartbroken about that piece of it.”

Along with Sanmartin, right-handed reliever Joel Peguero reinjured his left hamstring on Monday and sustained a Grade 2 strain, meaning he likely won’t be ready for Opening Day. Manager Tony Vitello said Peguero looked good in his first bullpen after initially injuring his left hamstring, but the injury cropped back up during his second bullpen.

Left-hander Erik Miller’s status for the Opening Day roster remains in flux, but the 28-year-old appears to be trending in the right direction.

Miler, currently dealing with lower back tightness, is scheduled to throw a side session on Wednesday after being limited to throwing off flat ground. Vitello said it’s possible that Miller could get into a game by the end of next week.

As things stand, the Giants have four relievers in camp — Peguero, Miller, Sanmartin and Sam Hentges — who may not be healthy to begin the season. Right-hander Jason Foley will miss Opening Day as well, but that was always the expectation. The Giants’ bullpen was already projected to be a weakness, and this string of injuries could make selecting eight relievers all the more difficult for San Francisco’s brass.

“For right now, it’s kind of a deal where you’re looking at the entire bullpen as it relates to depth, but also the competition piece is still high there,” Vitello said. “It might provide an opportunity for somebody that wasn’t normally going to get one.”

On the position player side, first baseman Rafael Devers (left hamstring tightness) is considered day-to-day as he continues to progress with baseball activities. Vitello said he currently doesn’t have a target date for Devers to return to the lineup but added “at-bats could come pretty soon.”

Center fielder Harrison Bader (right thumb contusion) completed all baseball activities, including hitting, on Tuesday and is scheduled for all baseball activities on Wednesday. Bader will soon leave camp and join Team Israel for the World Baseball Classic.

Fellow outfielder Drew Gilbert (left shoulder impingement) is scheduled to begin hitting on Wednesday, but is still being withheld from throwing.

Birdsong, Walker throw in sim game

Before Wednesday night’s home game against the Seattle Mariners, right-handers Hayden Birdsong and Ryan Walker threw in a simulated game at Papago Park. According to Vitello, Birdsong and Walker threw at Papago instead of a Cactus League game to keep them on schedule.

Birdsong pitched two innings and tossed 39 pitches while Walker threw 23 pitches in one inning, the goal for both pitchers being to get their pitch counts up. Vitello said Walker was “really good” and that Birdsong’s second inning was better than his first.

“Really good presence, real efficient, good pitch mix,” Vitello said of Birdsong’s second inning. “The first inning wasn’t poor, but if you asked anybody — and there were a lot of people over there watching — you look at those two innings, it wasn’t a different guy but the second inning was definitely exciting.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — It’s another scandal for curling, this time at the Paralympics.

Two stones that were going to be used in the wheelchair curling event that began Wednesday at the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games have been stolen.

The incident came a couple of weeks after the sport was in the headlines during the Olympics as the Canadian team was accused of cheating.

World Curling told The Associated Press that local authorities were investigating the circumstances that led to the granite rocks being stolen from the Curling Olympic Stadium.

“The spare stones from the set are now being used and have been brought to the same specifications as the rest of the set so there has been no impact on the competition,” World Curling said in an email.

The Milan Cortina Paralympics will officially kick off with the opening ceremony on Friday, but the schedule for wheelchair curling started Wednesday.

The Olympic scandal rocked the usually sedate world of curling — a sport that tends to fall off the radar outside the Olympics.

In the round-robin phase in Cortina, Oskar Eriksson of Sweden accused Marc Kennedy, Canada’s vice skip, of double-touching the rock after initially releasing it down the sheet of ice. Kennedy responded with an outburst full of expletives. Canada was cleared of wrongdoing and eventually won its first gold in men’s curling since the 2014 Sochi Games.

The Canadian women’s team had also been accused of the same double-touch violation.

AP Winter Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

Gabilan Division

Most Valuable Player: Luis Macias, Alvarez

Offensive Player of the Year: Jorge Hernandez, Alvarez

Defensive Player of the Year: Alvaro Reyes, Alvarez

First team

Luis Macias, Alvarez

Jorge Hernandez, Alvarez

Abraham Orozco, Alvarez

Alvaro Reyes, Alvarez

Liam Rawson, Monterey

Walter Bonilla, Monterey

Cesar Jara Martinez, Monterey

Christian Ayon, Alisal

Miguel Mora, Alisal

Pablo Rodriguez, North Salinas

Ronaldo Aguilar, North Salinas

Diego Hernandez, Hollister

Alex Sanchez, Greenfield

Eli Dukes, Palma

Second team

Fernando Matias, Alvarez

Omar Lopez, Alvarez

Christian Castro, Alvarez

Alesandro Muratalla-Madrigal, Alvarez

Ethan Bonilla Ojendis, Monterey

Giovanni Sumano Arango, Monterey

Raul Zarate, Monterey

Erik Amador, Alisal

Andrew Contreras, Alisal

Bryan Ochoa, North Salinas

Benjamin Perez, North Salinas

Nomar Delgado, Hollister

Adrian Picazo, Greenfield

Eduardo Calderon, Palma

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Alberto Lopez, Alvarez

Ethan Bonilla Ojendis, Monterey

Diego Carbajal, Alisal

Steven Resendiz, North Salinas

Edgar Canales, Hollister

Daniel Altamirano, Greenfield

Jonah Martinez, Palma

Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship Award: Palma

Mission Division

Most Valuable Player: Jorge Uribe, Gonzales

Offensive Player of the Year: Diego Guillen, Watsonville

Defensive Player of the Year: Luis Cabada, Gonzales

First Team

Diego Guillen, Watsonville

Eliseo Mora, Watsonville

Jose Ortiz, Watsonville

Adrian Fernandez, Watsonville

Jorge Uribe, Gonzales

Luis Cabada, Gonzales

Jorge Lara, Gonzales

Emilio Padilla, Salinas

Jayden Hernandez, Salinas

Angel Moreno, King City

Rafael Merino, King City

Juan Carlos Lopez, Seaside

Andres Perez, Pajaro Valley

Zach DaSilva, Stevenson

Second team

Damian Mora, Watsonville

Alan Fuentes, Watsonville

Damian Amador, Watsonville

Damian Moreno, Watsonville

Luis Benavides, Gonzales

Kevin Tavares, Gonzales

Emmanuel Valdez, Gonzales

Mattheus Mariscal, Salinas

Henry Rempert, Salinas

Abiel Gomez, King City

Bryan Gonzalez, King City

Osvaldo Garcia, Seaside

Raymond Mata, Pajaro Valley

Soren Hilman, Stevenson

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Alan Fuentes, Watsonville

Jorge Lara, Gonzales

Henry Rempert, Salinas

Eduardo Acosta, King City

Felipe Garcia, Seaside

Jesus Segura, Pajaro Valley

Blake Jones, Stevenson

Diego Guillen Stevenson

Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship Award: Stevenson

Cypress Division

Most Valuable Player: Jesus Ortiz, Soledad

Offensive Player of the Year: Jesus Ortiz, Soledad

Defensive Player of the Year: Kristian Rocha, North County

First team

Jesus Ortiz, Soledad

Bryan Alvarado, Soledad

Jason Rico, Soledad

Joshua Guzman, Soledad

Miro Balaban, Carmel

Alex Castagna, Carmel

Bodhi Melton, Carmel

Alex Sanchez, Rancho San Juan

Osvaldo Garcia, Rancho San Juan

Patrick Tracey, Monte Vista

Kristian Rocha, North County

Joseph Rocha-Ayala, Ceiba

Tristian Thelen, Pacific Collegiate

Second team

Adrian Sanchez, Soledad

Marcos Negrete, Soledad

Julian Valdez, Soledad

Daniel Magana, Soledad

Sebastian Blessing, Carmel

Georges Guerree, Carmel

Ian Lome, Carmel

Yandel Reyes, Rancho San Juan

Jaime Garcia, Rancho San Juan

Maxx Montenegro, Monte Vista

Jose Mendoza, North County

Steven Arana, Ceiba

Joseph McAndrew, Pacific Collegiate

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Christian Romero, Soledad

Sam Sibley, Carmel

Angel Salas, Rancho San Juan

Johnny Finney, Monte Vista

Rolando Garcia North County

Aiden Rocha-Ayala, Ceiba

Sebastian Gallardo, Pacific Collegiate

Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship Award: Carmel

Santa Lucia Division

Most Valuable Player: Paul Ramirez, Pacific Grove

Offensive Player of the Year: Benjamin Cabrera, Monterey Bay Academy

Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Rodriguez, Marina

First team

Paul Ramirez, Pacific Grove

Grady Burczynski, Pacific Grove

Aidan McFarland Walton, Pacific Grove

James Lowen, Pacific Grove

Brandon Miranda, Marina

Victor Rodriguez, Marina

Hubert Garbaczonek, Marina

Moises Berrelleza-Camarena, St. Francis

Colton Stevens, St. Francis

Benjamin Cabrera, Monterey Bay Academy

Joao Zidan, Monterey Bay Academy

Diego Silva, York

Rai Fleizach, Oakwood

Christian Saldivar, Anzar

Second Team

Noah Abundis, Pacific Grove

Oliver Crandall, Pacific Grove

Alex Duarte, Pacific Grove

Bennette Paterson, Pacific Grove

Adriano Guzman, Marina

Victor Rodriguez, Marina

Tony Reyes, Marina

Ezequiel Berrelleza-Camarena. St. Francis

Vince Tovar, St. Francis

Davi Ravagnani, Monterey Bay Academy

Jorge Estrada, Monterey Bay Academy

Daniel Scott, York

Robin Klinghauf, Oakwod

Ricky Gutierrez, Anzar

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Noah Abundis, Pacific Grove

Hubert Garbaczonek, Marina

Gabriel Suarez, St. Francis

Finn Rhoads, York

Vitor Matias, Monterey Bay Academy

Kenny Jeudy Bourdeau, Oakwood

Cesar Mutul, Anzar

Elgie Bellizio Sportsmanship Award: York

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The Winter Paralympics come to Milan Cortina to celebrate their 50th anniversary, with China looking to extend its dominance as a Paralympic powerhouse and Ukraine and other nations boycotting the opening ceremony over the return of the Russian flag and anthem.

The Games will officially kick off on Friday amid the tensions of the war in the Middle East, which prompted travel difficulties for some of the nations coming to Italy because of a widespread flight disruptions.

Iran was due to have one skier at Milan Cortina. Wheelchair curling kickstarted the competition schedule on Wednesday.

The Paralympic Games are back in Italy 20 years after Torino 2006. It will be the 14th edition of the Winter Paralympics since the inaugural edition in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. Nearly 200 athletes competed in two sports at the time. Some 660 athletes will participate across the six sports in Italy from Friday through March 15.

The U.S. is sending a 72-member squad to Italy, compared to the 67-member roster it took to Beijing 2022. This year’s delegation includes Oksana Masters, the most decorated American Winter Paralympian, and 16-year-old Para alpine skier Meg Gustafson.

Russian flag returns

Russian athletes will compete under their own flag at the Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade, and the country’s national anthem could be played for gold medalists for the first time on the stage of a major global sporting event since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Russian flag hasn’t been flown at the Paralympics since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, while the national anthem has not been heard at any Olympics or Paralympics since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.

It could be the first time the anthem is played on the stage of any major global sporting event in four years.

Ukraine was the first to announce that it was planning to boycott the opening ceremony because of Russia, and seven other nations were planning not to attend because of political reasons: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania and the Netherlands.

Some other nations are not attending the opening ceremony to rest their athletes ahead of their competitions, not as a boycott.

Russian athletes were initially banned because of a state-sponsored doping program, and the sanctions had continued since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine’s sports minister Matvii Bidnyi had said in a social media post the nation will “not take part in any other official Paralympic events.”

Russian athletes and athletes from Russia’s close ally, Belarus, were awarded slots by the International Paralympic Committee on Feb. 17.

Russian and Belarussian athletes had been competing as individual neutral athletes without their flag, anthem or team colors.

The IPC said most teams were already in Europe for training, but it was helping out others with travel amid the war in the Middle East.

Chinese dominance

The Milan Cortina Games will give China the chance to establish itself as the nation to beat in both the Summer Paralympics and Winter Paralympics.

The Chinese topped the medal count in the Summer Paralympics every time since 2004, and four years ago won the Winter Games for the first time with a record-setting performance that included 18 gold medals, 20 silver and 23 bronze.

China had more than 90 Para athletes competing at its home Games in 2022, the most ever by any nation, and is sending another large delegation to Italy this time. It will have 70 athletes competing in Italy, making its largest ever overseas delegation.

Norway is the most successful nation in Winter Paralympics, ahead of the United States and Austria. China is 14th in the all-time medal table but competed in less than half of the Games in which Norway, the U.S. and Austria participated since the first Winter Paralympics in Ornskoldsvik.

China’s push to dominate in the Winter Paralympics got a boost when it was picked to host the Beijing Games, where it won 60 more medals than the single one it had won in PyeongChang in 2018.

The push continued after the home Games, with government funds still being made available for Paralympic programs and changes being promoted on several fronts, including new laws for people with disabilities to encourage their access to sports.

“China developed hundreds of disability sport instructors and coaches with government funding since they started the investment in Paralympic sports. They trained coaches for mass participation and they’ve been training coaches for the elite sports,” said NaRi Shin, an assistant professor of sport management at the University of Michigan.

“They have national Para games and regional games within the nation’s boundary, but also had the Olympic Games in 2008 and the Winter Games in 2022, so they do have maintained the series of competitions so that these athletes who they trained have the experience of competing at the higher level,” said Shin, who is an expert in sport development and on how East Asian countries have invested in the Olympics and Paralympics.

AP Winter Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

The 2026 World Baseball Classic officially begins on Wednesday evening, beginning with a matchup between Australia and Chinese Taipei at the Tokyo Dome, and the Giants will be very well-represented during this year’s tournament.

San Francisco has seven players from its 40-man roster currently slated to play this year’s WBC: Logan Webb (United States), Luis Arraez (Venezuela), Heliot Ramos (Puerto Rico), Jung Hoo Lee (Korea), Harrison Bader (Israel), Tristan Beck (Great Britain) and José Buttó (Venezuela). Lee, playing in his second tournament, will captain Korea.

Reiver Sanmartin (Colombia) was supposed to pitch in the tournament as well, but sustained a right hip injury in Colombia’s exhibition on Tuesday against the Pirates that will keep him out of the WBC. Bader has been dealing with a right hand contusion that prevented him from swinging for several days, but the 31-year-old outfielder still plans on playing in the tournament.

The Giants’ representatives only begin with those players. Vice president of medical and performance Dave Groeschner will be Team USA’s head trainer, serving the same role he held in 2017 and ’23 for Team Netherlands. Ron Wotus (bench coach), Dave Righetti (pitching coach) and Lipso Nava (third base coach) will work for Team Italy.

There’s also Dusty Baker, currently a special advisor to baseball operations, who will manage Team Nicaragua. Marvin Benard, who Baker managed in San Francisco, and long-time friend George Santiago both helped convince Baker to manage Team Nicaragua in this year’s tournament.

“I played in Latin America — Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico — and it was the most exciting time, the most exciting baseball that I’ve ever (played),” Baker said during MLB’s Winter Meetings.

Jacob Cruz, the Giants’ minor league assistant hitting coordinator, will be Team México’s hitting coach. Chris Walsh, Triple-A Sacramento’s athletic trainer, will serve that role for Team Canada, and minor league outfielder Dayson Croes will play for Team Netherlands.

Webb did not pitch in Team USA’s one-sided 15-1 victory against the Giants on Tuesday at Scottsdale Stadium, instead watching the Bednar brothers each throw scoreless innings, but the two-time All-Star will start the United States’ first game of pool play against Brazil on Friday.

“It’s an honor just to play for the team, let alone pitch the first game. It’s kind of my job to set the tone, so I’m excited about it,” Webb said.

Webb has so far enjoyed his time with Team USA, a stacked roster featuring MVPs like Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper and Cy Youngs like Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. Webb has also had his share of talks with future Hall of Famer and former rival Clayton Kershaw, who temporarily came out of retirement for the tournament.

“Honestly, last year I met him at the All-Star Game and he was open there, so it’s kind of just building off of that,” Webb said. “It’s a lot of shooting the [expletive] right now, but hopefully once we start getting into more serious games we’ll have more conversations.”

Assuming Team USA advances as expected, Webb’s second appearance of the tournament will be in the quarterfinals on either March 13 or March 14. The tournament has pitch count restrictions, and Groeschner will be present to monitor San Francisco’s ace throughout the tournament.

“We’ve certainly talked to Webby, and he’s really excited about this opportunity,” said general manager Zack Minasian. “It’s something that he’s earned, given the type of player and the type of person he is. Not going to say we won’t be holding our breath when he pitches, but certainly happy for him that he’s getting this opportunity to show his ability on the world stage.”

Ramos won’t just be playing in the tournament for the first time, but he’ll also have the opportunity to play on his home turf. Team Puerto Rico, otherwise known as “Team Rubio” in reference to everyone going blonde, will have its pool play games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. For Ramos, the tournament allows him to play in front of friends and family on the world stage.

“It’s a proud moment for me and my family,” Ramos said. “When my mom, my dad, my family and friends found out, they were all excited about it. Everybody’s waiting for it. It’s something that I never imagined would happen. Representing Puerto Rico at my house, it’s tight. Out of this world.”

Headlining the Class of 2026 is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Evan Smith, as well as one-time LPGA golfer Kim Cathrein.

Smith, a Salinas High graduate, spent 10 years in the NFL after not being drafted, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Green Bay Packers.

Cathrein prepped at North Salinas, landing on the LPGA circuit in the late 1980’s for the better part of a decade.

Joining the pair is former Palma High guard and current St. Mary’s assistant men’s basketball coach EJ Rowland, who put together a 20-year professional basketball career overseas.

Former Palma and USC lineman Marc Matock is also being enshrined, along with former Herald Softball Pitcher of the Year Kim Reeder, who put together a memorable four-year career at Ohio State.

The remainder of the class includes Salinas graduate Ed Brown, former Alisal and Hartnell track and field standout Tyrone Ward and coaches Paul McDonald and Clem Richardson.

In addition, the 1979 Salinas High football team, who reached the Central Coast Section finals when there weren’t any divisions, is being inducted.

The ceremony will take place on August 22 at the Salinas Storm House. Go to www.salinasvalleysportshallofffame.com

1. Alvarez:

2. Watsonville:

3. Harbor:

4. Aptos:

5. Monterey:

6. Gonzales:

7. Alisal:

8. Soledad:

9. North Salinas:

10. Santa Cruz:

On the bubble: Hollister, Salinas, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Marina.

It doesn’t sound like an ambitious mission, but it is the 49ers’ first preemptive strike before next week’s free agency frenzy, as announced Tuesday.

Jon Weeks has re-signed on another one-year deal after earning Pro Bowl honors last season in his 49ers debut, following a 15-year tenure with the Houston Texans.

He surely won’t be the only player retained before hitting the open market, with free agency talks commencing at 9 a.m. next Monday and contracts ratifying as early as 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 11.

The 49ers did not wield the franchise tag on any of their 20 players slated to become unrestricted free agents, and more could become available as last-minute salary-cap casualties.

Headlining that list, at least from a high-cost standpoint, is wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who is looking to cash in after six years with the 49ers.

Other major issues on the coming agenda: settling left tackle Trent Williams’ lame-duck contract status, gauging quarterback Mac Jones’ trade market and weighing the enormous cost of potential acquisitions, such as center Tyler Linderbaum and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, or an unlikely trade for the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby.

Here is a scouting report on the 49ers’ crop of free agents and their likelihood to return:

GUARD BEN BARTCH

He could be the frontrunner to start at left guard, if his injury-riddled history doesn’t spook the 49ers. After overcoming an elbow injury in training camp, Bartch started the first two games last season, then endured serious ankle and foot injuries. Return outlook: Probable

WIDE RECEIVER KENDRICK BOURNE

His uplifting spirit was so admired that he gave the pregame-huddle speech before the playoff finale in Seattle. But he had no catches over the final three games and just 19 for 180 yards the final 14, with no touchdowns all season. He did produce back-to-back 142-yard games at Los Angeles and Tampa Bay in rekindling a Patriots connection with Mac Jones. Return outlook: Questionable

GUARD/TACKLE SPENCER BURFORD

His versatility and experience (38 starts in 56 games, plus seven playoff appearances) could prompt another team to overpay for him. Rather than be ostracized for a blocking gaffe in the 2023 team’s overtime loss in the Super Bowl, Burford worked toward becoming a swing tackle, then replaced Bartch at left guard. Return outlook: Doubtful

DEFENSIVE TACKLE JORDAN ELLIOTT

Started the past two seasons after leaving Cleveland, making 50 tackles (three for loss) and no sacks on a defense that has struggled against the run. Return outlook: Doubtful

DEFENSIVE END CLELIN FERRELL

A 2023 starter, he had stints with the Commanders and Chargers before returning for the final 2 ½ months last season, highlighted by two sacks in Cleveland. Return outlook: Doubtful

LINEBACKER LUKE GIFFORD

Arrived last year for the special teams makeover and earned Pro Bowl honors for that, with 20 tackles that tied for the NFL’s sixth-most. He recovered a key fumble in Cleveland but otherwise struggled in pass coverage as an outside linebacker. Return outlook: Questionable

DEFENSIVE TACKLE KEVIN GIVENS

Time appears to have finally expired on Givens’ 70-game tenure that started in 2019 as an undrafted free agent. After a pectoral tear in camp, he played just five games, then was a healthy scratch at season’s end. Return outlook: Doubtful

DEFENSIVE END YETUR GROSS-MATOS

A knee injury in the 2024 preseason finale initially sidetracked him after arriving on a two-year, $18 million deal. A hamstring injury compounded things this past season. In 19 career games for the 49ers, he had four sacks, with three coming in 2024 vs. Chicago. Return outlook: Doubtful

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MATT HENNESSY

Initially impressed as a fill-in center against Atlanta and made two starts, but he also had breakdowns on special teams. Return outlook: Questionable

WIDE RECEIVER JAUAN JENNINGS

Rather than keep him on a $26 million franchise tag, the 49ers appear willing to let Jennings test the market for a multi-year deal worthy of a starting-caliber, play-making, opponent-agitating wide receiver. His sixth and potentially final season came with multiple injuries (calf, ankle, shoulder, ribs), a career-high nine touchdowns, a scoring pass to Christian McCaffrey in the wild-card playoffs, but also seven interceptions among 90 targets. Return outlook: Doubtful

LINEBACKER ERIC KENDRICKS

His 12th NFL season should be as a starting middle linebacker, but that role with the 49ers figures to be reclaimed by Fred Warner after his ankle repair. Kendricks earned a spot in 49ers lore with a fourth-down pass breakup to seal their wild-card win at Philadelphia. Return outook: Doubtful

WIDE RECEIVER SKYY MOORE

Traded from Kansas City, Moore shook off early ball-security concerns, averaged 11.6 yards on punt returns and 27.5 yards on kick returns, highlighted by a 98-yarder to open a win at Arizona. He had just five catches for 87 yards on a team glaringly lacking wide receivers. Return outlook: Questionable

PUNTER THOMAS MORSTEAD

His 40th birthday is Sunday, but that age shouldn’t deter the 49ers (see: Weeks, 40). Morstead’s 36.8-yard net average was his lowest since his 2009 rookie season with the Saints. However, he dropped 22 of 44 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line. He had no punts in back-to-back December wins over the Titans and Colts. Return outlook: Questionable

KICKER EDDY PIÑEIRO

He was a godsend after Jake Moody and made all 29 field-goal attempts except a 64-yarder that hit the crossbar in Indianapolis. He otherwise made all six other attempts beyond 50 yards, and he really won over everyone with a winning kick in the home opener. He did miss four of his 38 point-after kicks. Return outlook: Probable

SAFETY JASON PINNOCK

He started the first five games in tandem with rookie Marques Sigle, then was relegated to spot duty, producing no interceptions, fumble recoveries, forced fumbles, pass breakups or sacks. Return outlook: Doubtful

RUNNING BACK BRIAN ROBINSON

Traded from Washington on Aug. 24, Robinson was stuck in Christian McCaffrey’s All-Pro shadow, though he did emerge for touchdowns in back-to-back November games against the Giants and the Rams. He had a career-low 92 carries (400 yards) and averaged 4.3 yards per carry. Return outlook: Doubtful

LINEBACKER CURTIS ROBINSON

Thrust by injuries into the middle linebacker role, he delivered a career-high 11 tackles at Arizona, but he totaled just 16 tackles over an ensuing three-start spree before getting deactivated three games before the playoffs. The Stanford product has been part of the 49ers since 2021 and not only is their players’ union rep but also their 2024-25 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. Return outlook: Questionable

RUNNING BACK PATRICK TAYLOR JR.

Shoulder surgery kept him out last season, after working his way up the injury-laden depth chart in 2024. Return outlook: Doubtful

WIDE RECEIVER TRENT TAYLOR

A back injury kept him out last season but he remained a constant presence around the facility and close pal George Kittle. Return outlook: Doubtful

LINEBACKER GARRETT WALLOW

A month after being claimed off waivers from Denver, Wallow started the 49ers’ wild-card win at Philadelphia and supplied 11 tackles (then just one in 33 snaps in Seattle). Return outlook: Questionable

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Defensive end Robert Beal Jr.: Just one sack in 24 regular-season games may deem the 2023 fifth-round pick expendable.

Defensive tackle Kalia Davis: Made all 19 starts but registered only a half-sack, four tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and, then no stats in the playoffs.

Cornerback Chase Lucas: Feisty style saw him play half the special-teams snaps but just 10% on defense last season, after serving on the 2024 practice squad.

Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu: Had three sacks each of the past two seasons; just vacationed in Australia, where the 49ers open next season.

Tight end Jake Tonges: Emerged last season as a sure-handed fill-in for Kittle, and that could be required to start 2026 as Kittle recovers from Achilles surgery. The first of Tonges’ five touchdown catches won their opener in Seattle.

“I approached it like it was a big time compliment for a school our size,” Palma coach Brian Driscoll said. “The committee feels we’re a Top 40 boys basketball team in Northern California. We have a chance to do something special.”

Perhaps looking to atone for their setback in last Saturday’s Central Coast Section Division V title game, the Chieftains opened the Northern California Division III playoffs Tuesday with a 73-59 win over Christopher.

Seeded No. 6 in the tournament, Palma (25-3) will travel to No. 3 Cornerstone Christian of Antioch — 65-58 winners over St. Francis of Mountain View — on Thursday in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m.

The Chieftains and Cornerstone Christian have been ranked 1-2 most of the season in California in Division V. Both were bumped to Division III along with CCS DV champion Woodside Priory.

“The kid embraced the challenge,” Driscoll said. “Their response was awesome. I told my wife after Monday’s practice that we’re going play great on Tuesday.”

While Driscoll has yet to watch film of the Cougars, champions of the North Coast Section and owners of 14 straight wins, he’s been aware of the California rankings all season.

“It’s a cool matchup with the 1-2 teams in the state in Division V all year,” Driscoll said. “They are a formidable opponent. They just beat St. Francis — a West Catholic Athletic League team. But I’ve spent every waking moment preparing for Christopher.”

Having fallen to Priory last Saturday in the CCS Division V finals, the Chieftains regrouped with Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division Most Valuable Player JT Harreld and first team all-leaguer Tai Suich combining for 47 points.

“I have 12 great competitors in this locker room,” Driscoll said. “We had a great practice on Monday. It was just a reminder that we’ve had a darn good championship season. Let’s shore up what we didn’t do on Saturday and keep this journey going.”

With the exception of a three-minute stretch in the second quarter, the Chieftains seized the moment in what could have been their final home game of the season.

Christopher, which left the Pacific Coast Athletic League in 2022 after winning the Gabilan Division title, reached the semifinals of the CCS Division II playoffs before falling to St. Francis.

Having watched a 17-point first-half lead cut to six, Driscoll challenged his players to step up in the second half with their defense and rebounding.

“I trust our guys,” Driscoll said. “I said, ‘hey you’ve been leaders, great all year. Let’s step up and extend our season.’ We were good defensively and at moving the ball.”

Palma, which was minus-four in rebounding in the first half, was plus-five in the second half as the 6-foot-8 Harreld took command in the paint, finishing with a double-double, including a game high 27 points.

“I challenged JT at halftime,” Driscoll said. “He dominated the boards and was huge in the second half. I thought Tai (Suich) and Wyatt (Hippensteel) had solid games.”

Suich, who finished with 20 points, got hot in the second half as Palma reestablished control of the game, opening up a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter. Hippensteel added 14 points and Ashton Marshall collected eight points.

“Our five-on-five practices were fierce with great battles,” Driscoll said. “It’s been that way all year. It battle-tested us for this. When we rebound, it allows us to run and finish the possession.”