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49ers’ No. 1 playoff seed hopes hinge on a player fans never mention

During his postgame locker-room speech following the San Francisco 49ers' thrilling 42-38 Sunday Night Football victory over the Chicago Bears, head coach Kyle Shanahan made it a point to call up swing tackle Austen Pleasants.

For good reason, too.

The seldom-discussed backup was forced into action after the Niners' very first snap, filling in for All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who exited with a hamstring injury and didn't return.

Thankfully, for the most part, Pleasants' name wasn't brought up for the duration of the back-and-forth affair; a Niners victory that kept their chances at the No.