49ers’ schedule change: Dec. 5 visit to Seattle flexed out of prime time for AFC matchup

SANTA CLARA — Neither the 49ers’ resurgence nor their history of feisty visits to the Seattle Seahawks proved enough for the NFL to keep that Dec. 5 matchup in prime time.

Instead, they’ll kick off at 1:25 p.m. on CBS instead of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” stage.

The Press Democrat’s Inside the 49ers blog

What the Seahawks might be graciously saying: “It’s not you. It’s us.”

The Seahawks (3-7) are mired in last place, and Sunday marked their fourth loss in five home games this season. That includes prime-time home losses to the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints last month.

The 49ers (5-5) have won three of their past four to fuel playoff implications for Sunday’s upcoming visit by the Minnesota Vikings (5-5) at 1:25 p.m.

Replacing the 49ers-Seahawks game in Week 13 prime time is an AFC meeting of the Denver Broncos (5-5) at the Kansas City Chiefs (7-4).

When the NFL schedule came out, the 49ers drew the then-maximum five prime-time games. Of those, the 49ers lost at home to the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts before beating the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 15. The 49ers’ remaining prime-time game is a Thursday, Dec. 23 visit to the Tennessee Titans.

The 49ers also got flexed out of prime time last season, that being their Week 15 visit to the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2019, the 49ers went 5-1 in prime time, including a win at Seattle in the regular-season finale to clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed and the NFC West. It also snapped the 49ers’ eight-game losing streak in Seattle.

The Seahawks’ only prime-time kickoff remaining on their schedule is this Monday night’s visit to Washington.

Receiver help

Veteran Devin Funchess is joining the 49ers’ practice squad, NFL Network reported Tuesday. Funchess had 21 touchdown catches with Carolina (2015-18), broke his collarbone after one game with Indianapolis (2019), was a COVID opt-out in 2020, and then got cut by Green Bay three months ago with a hamstring injury.

In other practice squad moves, safety Will Parks left to sign with the Miami Dolphins, and wide receiver Austin Watkins was waived.