49ers dealt unusual setback after decision they had no choice but to make

The San Francisco 49ers were scheduled to hold joint practices with the New Orleans Saints in the coming week.

Kyle Shanahan's team was due to travel south to Irvine, CA, for practices with the Saints on Thursday and Friday ahead of Sunday's preseason game against New Orleans at Levi's Stadium.

However, with a total of 23 players missing at their previous practice before Saturday's preseason opener versus the Tennessee Titans, a game in which the cornerback Ambry Thomas suffered a broken forearm, the 49ers have come to a mutual decision with the Saints to cancel the practices, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic.

Speaking after the game with the Titans , Shanahan said the 49ers had "to figure out how we can pull that off" when asked about the practices with the Saints.

Clearly, he and his coaching staff have decided it is not possible to do so, with the decision robbing the 49ers of the chance to test themselves against another team in scrimmages Shanahan is on record in years past as believing to be more useful than preseason games.

As such, it is a step that serves as a blow to San Francisco's preparations for the upcoming campaign, one that will again be 'Super Bowl or bust' for the 49ers.

But with so many players on the sideline, it appears the 49ers had no choice but to minimize the risk of further injuries and hope their own practice schedule will provide adequate preparation for what is likely to be another gruelling season.

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