NFL Rumors: 49ers Unhappy with UNLV Practice Field Ahead of Super Bowl 58 vs. Chiefs

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, but they've reportedly been hit with a slight roadblock.

Per CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, "some 49ers staffers are not pleased" with the practice field at UNLV, which is where the team has been designated to practice this week.

However, Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that the field had been approved unanimously, despite it being softer than what the 49ers were used to, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Jones noted that the primary issue "is the firmness of the natural grass the NFL has laid over UNLV's artificial turf" prior to the 49ers' arrival in Las Vegas. In advance of this week's practice, San Francisco sent a group that included members of the equipment staff and grounds team to check out the facilities last week, and they "feel the grass is too soft for the team to practice on."

49ers players and coaches have yet to visit the field, but they're scheduled for a walkthrough on Monday afternoon. Jones added that the team has already considered alternatives and laid out the three options available.

"They can a) go about their business and practice on the field as scheduled; b) bring in new, firmer sod that would, in theory, be ready for practice this week; or c) negotiate with the NFL to practice at the Las Vegas Raiders practice facility where the Chiefs are located this week," Jones stated.

San Francisco reportedly has also discussed the possibility of adjusting its practice schedule so it can use the Raiders facility when Kansas City isn't there. However, sources indicated to Jones that "the likely scenario is that San Francisco remains at UNLV."

Playing surfaces have long been an issue in the NFL due to the injury risks faced by the players. The Super Bowl LVII field at State Farm Stadium also caused problems for the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles last year.

The league is hoping that Allegiant Stadium won't present the same issues in Super Bowl LVIII.