Shanahan reveals plan for 49ers starters in preseason opener originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — Head coach Kyle Shanahan met with the 49ers coaching staff on Monday to come up with a plan for the team’s first game of the 2024 NFL preseason.
While Shanahan didn’t go into specifics, he did reveal that the game plan doesn’t include many of the team’s recognizable players.
“We don’t plan on having a lot of starters playing,” Shanahan said. “I know some guys will have to do it, but for the most part the starters shouldn’t participate much, if at all.”
The 49ers open the exhibition season Saturday at 4 p.m. PT against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
Running back Christian McCaffrey, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, maintained a left calf strain in a recent workout that is expected to keep him off the training field for a few weeks. McCaffrey will not play in any of the three warm-up games.
“He didn’t pull or anything,” Shanahan said, “but you probably won’t see him this preseason.”
With an increased practice schedule since last summer’s training camp, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy There isn’t expected to be much (if any) game action during any of the 49ers’ three preseason games.
Receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle, defensive back Kyle Juszczyk, offensive linemen Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave, linebacker Fred Warner and cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are among the players who may not suit up Saturday against the Titans .
The 49ers’ best players could also sit out next week’s game. The 49ers face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, August 18 at Levi’s Stadium. The teams will participate in two joint practices earlier in the week at UC Irvine.
