49ers take a perfect start into Seattle, with communication under pressure

The 49ers have won their first four games. Sunday brings a different test: keeping the offense organized in Seattle while working around four confirmed absences.

San Francisco visits the Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sunday, Oct. 11, with kickoff scheduled for 1:25 p.m. Pacific on FOX. The team’s official schedule shows a 4-0 start, including a 24-14 victory over Denver on Oct. 4.

In its Oct. 9 availability report, the team ruled out Nick Bosa, James Thompson Jr., Kyle Juszczyk and Marques Sigle. Mykel Williams and Upton Stout were listed as questionable. Those designations leave some decisions for game day; a questionable listing does not confirm that a player will take the field.

The preparation has also centered on something less visible than the lineup: the snap. The 49ers practiced a silent count during the week to coordinate the offense amid Seattle’s crowd noise. Coach Kyle Shanahan said the work improved as the week progressed.

Getting the play started cleanly is a small task with an unusually loud obstacle. It is a detail worth watching alongside the scoreboard when San Francisco leaves its familiar home setting.

The team says final game-day availability decisions are announced 90 minutes before kickoff.