San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday revealed the outline of his team’s plan for playing time in their preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.
The 49ers and Titans held a joint practice Tuesday leading up to an off day Wednesday. Typically under Shanahan the 49ers have used a joint practice as the “preseason” work for the starters, and then the game is for reserves and players trying to carve out roster spots. Shanahan said the team has a plan for Thursday’s game, but didn’t dish out exact details.
Unsurprisingly, he did mention the team’s starters aren’t in line to play much.
“We have, but we haven’t told any of the players yet,” Shanahan said. “There won’t be many starters playing. We’ll see with injuries today and stuff. That doesn’t mean none, but we’ve got to balance that out. We haven’t told the players yet, so wait until we do that with them this afternoon.”
Players like Nick Bosa and Christian McCaffrey who were both out of Tuesday’s session lead a group of players unlikely to suit up. It would be a surprise if left tackle Trent Williams and quarterback Brock Purdy played. Wide receiver Mike Evans and linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw should also get the night off Thursday. The other players who don’t play should give us a good indicator of where they stand in the hunt for roster spots or starting jobs.
A handful of potential starters who will likely play Thursday include the entire rookie class. Wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling has a real chance to be one of the team’s top two receivers in Week 1. Offensive lineman Carver Willis and linebacker Jaden Dugger are also rookies who could wind up in starting roles. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the rookies since how they respond in a game will have a significant impact on their respective trajectories in Year 1.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers coach reveals vague plan for playing time in preseason opener
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
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By Kyle Madson, Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
