5 Things to Watch for San Francisco 49ers in First Preseason Game

The San Francisco 49ers are a well-rounded team with star players on both sides of the ball. They are also well-coached with one of the brightest offensive minds in the game today in Kyle Shanahan. Creative plays and excellent use of the running game are standout factors of the 49ers offense.

On the back of an amazing 2023, the 49ers reached the Super Bowl last year and were agonizingly close to coming out on top. However, that is just a memory in the distant past now as they begin their march for another Super Bowl appearance in the upcoming season.

The season is grueling and the challenges are tough, but before San Francisco can’t think too far ahead, the first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans may help answer a few questions pertaining to their 2024 season.

How will the 49ers’ backup QBs will fare?

There won’t be any surprises in the 49ers camp as far as who the starting quarterback will be this year. Brock Purdy has cemented his role at the top, but behind him, the backups are not looking too great.

From the limited news that comes out of the training camp, concerns have arisen over the quality of play from backup Joshua Dobbs and third-stringer Brandon Allen. Both quarterbacks have had their fair share of disappointments during the training camp, and it will be interesting to see how they handle the preseason as Purdy will be warming the bench for the better part of the game.

How will 49ers’ rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall look?

Ricky Pearsall, a rookie wide out who was taken by the 49ers in the first round of the draft, has been winning over his teammates and staff during training camp. Pearsall, who played for the Florida Gators, could be expected to step in the role of Brandon Aiyuk, whose contract negotiations seem to have reached a standoff.

The 49ers currently have Deebo Samuel as their WR1 while Aiyuk and Juan Jennings complete the core. However, if Pearsall looks ready for the NFL, the 49ers may be willing to trade Aiyuk.

Is Dominick Puni ready to step in as a starter?

The interior line of the 49ers is going to be crucial at the start of the season, as Spencer Burford has a hand injury and may be out for some time while Jon Feliciano has also missed a few practices. This has given rookie offensive guard Dominick Puni quality reps in the training camp with the ones.

Puni was a standout guard who didn’t allow a single sack in his final two years of collegiate football while playing for the Kansas Jayhawks. If he can show up in preseason, he may even earn the starting role on the team this year.

Is Dee Winters ready to step up for Dre Greenlaw?

A major setback the 49ers received during the Super Bowl last year was the Achilles injury to linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Since then, Greenlaw has been recovering, but it looks certain that he will miss quite a few regular season games.

Second-year linebacker Dee Winters is looking to fill in for Greenlaw and seems to have impressed on the field, with Fred Warner himself praising his effort. The first preseason game will give us a good idea of how much Winters has adapted to the NFL.

Will there be signs of a Super Bowl hangover for the 49ers?

Although it is not true for every team, there have been numerous occurrences in the past in which the teams that made it to the Super Bowl the previous year did not perform to their standards the following year.

That is not to say that the 49ers will struggle this season, but perhaps the preseason will be an indication of things to come from September onward. As a matter of fact, the 49ers made the Super Bowl in the 2019 season but finished last in their division the following year.

Even though the preseason will not have any impact on the year ahead with many starters being rested, the overall intensity of the team will be worth watching.

Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here . Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network .

The post 5 Things to Watch for San Francisco 49ers in First Preseason Game appeared first on NFL Analysis Network .