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49ers-Saints preseason game offers first glimpse of Brock Purdy 2.0: Five players to watch vs. New Orleans

By Nicholas McGee,

9 hours ago

After limiting their preseason opener with the Tennessee Titans predominantly to backups, the San Francisco 49ers will give the starters some run against the New Orleans Saints.

That will mean some playing time for Brock Purdy at Levi's Stadium in his first appearance since the 49ers' gut-wrenching loss in Super Bowl 58.

While Purdy is the main attraction, several other players should be watched with intrigue in the 49ers' lone home game of the preseason schedule.

QB Brock Purdy

Let's start with the headline act. Purdy likely will only get two series at most, but how he performs will still bear watching closely.

Purdy has received praise for having even more command of the offense as the 49ers have prepared for his second full season as the starter, while he has in recent practices placed an emphasis on being more aggressive.

This year marked Purdy's first full offseason since he was taken with the final pick in the 2022 draft. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has expressed his belief that has been very beneficial, and this exhibition will offer a first, albeit brief, glimpse at Purdy 2.0.

WR Jacob Cowing

Cowing has seen his offseason workout program and first training camp heavily disrupted by injuries.

But the fourth-round pick is coming off a strong and, most importantly, healthy week at practice, setting him up well for a debut in which he will hope to prove he can add an extra dimension to the offense with his speed and potentially have an impact in the return game .

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Cowing on Friday: "He has done a good job. He’s been behind the eight ball with some injuries, so this is his first week, full week of getting through a week with no setbacks.

"It’s always rough at first. But I think he’s gotten, he’s improved each day. Looked like today, I’ll see the film, but it seemed like it was one of his better days today. Hopefully he’ll get a lot of playing time in the game and be able to get through and get that experience and keep stacking those days up."

OL Dominick Puni

Versatile third-round rookie Puni has dominated the first-string reps at right guard due to injuries to Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford.

He has done an outstanding job of taking advantage of those unexpected opportunities, and now looks to be in an excellent position to start year one after posting a clean sheet in not allowing a single pressure in his preseason debut last week.

Another similarly reliable display against the Saints could solidify his status as the starter.

LB De'Vondre Campbell

Set to fill in at WILL linebacker this season as Dre Greenlaw recovers from his a torn Achilles, Campbell has reportedly shown signs of reprising his All-Pro form of his 2021 season with the Green Bay Packers.

Campbell has shown no hesitation in making his affection for his new surroundings clear, declaring that he had fallen in love with football again after making the move from Green Bay.

But words only count for so much, Campbell needs to prove he can be an adequately fill-in for Greenlaw to vindicate his acquisition as a free agent signing some would view as risky following underwhelming seasons in 2022 and 2023.

He won't be on the field for too long against the Saints, but the snaps he plays may provide an indicator of how likely he is to succeed.

CB Darrell Luter Jr.

The 49ers' cornerback depth chart appears to be largely set. Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir will be the starters, with Isaac Yiadom or Renardo Green likely to be the third corner who will come in on nickel downs.

The remaining questions at corner concern whether the 49ers carry five or six corners and, if it is just five, who the fifth corner will be. Rock Ya-Sin appears a strong bet to be the fifth corner, his salary featuring $985,000 of guaranteed money this year.

But Luter, a fifth-round pick last year, is a player the 49ers think highly of, and the Saints game gives him a chance to state his case to either displace Ya-Sin or sway the 49ers towards carrying six corners on the roster.

Luter likely would have been battling with Ambry Thomas for the sixth spot on the depth chart. However, the broken forearm suffered by Thomas last week has left the door ajar for Luter, and it's up to him to kick it open with a strong showing against New Orleans.