49ers coordinator O'Neil: All inside linebackers will play

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SANTA CLARA -– The 49ers have not decided on a starter alongside NaVorro Bowman because the team plans to use all three of their options, defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said on Wednesday.

“They’ll all play,” O’Neil said. “We need all three of them to win. We have a plan right now, going into Week 1. I’ll let you guys figure out that plan on Monday night. But we need Mike Wilhoite; we need Ray-Ray Armstrong; and we need Gerald Hodges to be a good defense.”

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The 49ers on Tuesday announced -– as required by the NFL -– their first “unofficial” depth chart of the season. The document listed Armstrong and Hodges as co-starters, with Michael Wilhoite listed behind them.

“Those depth charts are written in sand,” O’Neil said. “That’s one package, one of the personnel groups. We could have eight different personnel groups out there in any given game.”

The 49ers open the regular season on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams.

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