Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers are just two days away from their first preseason game, as they’ll host the Denver Broncos on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium at 5:30 p.m.
Before that, they’ll have a single joint practice session against the Broncos, which are usually the sessions with the most fireworks.
Traditionally, the 49ers haven’t played their starters much in the preseason. But, in 2025, they have a younger team with some first and second-year starters, so it could be more beneficial to get game reps ahead of the season.
What is the plan for Saturday against the Broncos?
“I’d be surprised if we saw much of [the key starters] in the first game,” Shanahan said when asked about the availability of players like Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian McCaffrey. “I like to not come to my final decision until I see how practice goes tomorrow. But just the guys you mentioned right there, I’d be real surprised. Something would have to happen in practice tomorrow for me to play them in the game.”
That outlook makes sense, especially given the 49ers will have a joint practice session with the Broncos, where the starters can go against the opposing starters on both sides of the ball.
Now, will Shanahan change the plan for the following two games? It’s a wait-and-see process.
“I would like to get them in the other two [games], but we’ll see how it goes,” Shanahan said. I put a lot more into the practices. Games can be good, but they’re also a little bit more of a pain. You don’t know how the game’s going to play out, you don’t know how everyone’s tied together.
“You’re obviously tackling a lot more, you’re going to the ground a lot more. There’s a lot more risk of injury, and there’s not that much you need to find out in a game from these guys that you can’t find out in practice. So, you take that all into play. But I’d be surprised if many of those guys you’re asking about will be going on Saturday.”
If Purdy does take a seat on Saturday as expected, backup quarterback Mac Jones would be in line to get the start, and he’ll likely be throwing to a receiver group that doesn’t include Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, or Brandon Aiyuk: San Francisco’s top three wideouts.
It’s unclear how many starters will end up taking a seat, as the 49ers will still likely have to have certain players suit up for the game. But, don’t expect the key guys to be in uniform on Saturday.
On the other hand, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton affirmed earlier this week that he expects his starters to play in the game.
“There’s this feeling that, ‘Oh if I practice them a bunch, then I’m not gonna play them in a game.’ We’re playing guys in the game,” Payton said on Monday, via BroncosWire.
The 49ers will host their joint practice against the Broncos on Thursday...
