5 things to watch in 49ers preseason opener vs. Titans

It will take more than the casual fan to identify the San Francisco 49ers by anything but their uniforms when they take the field at Levi’s Stadium for the first time in 2026.There will be no Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle or Nick Bosa, who count among the 20-plus players dealing with injuries of some form or another.It will be another week, at least, before Brock Purdy needs to put his helmet on.

For QB1, like most of the Niners’ healthy starters, the most important reps against outside competition came in Tuesday’s joint practice.The most recognizable participants in the preseason opener, set to kick off against the Tennessee Titans at 6 p.m.Thursday, will roam the sidelines: Coaches Kyle Shanahan, almost exactly a month since his Tesla swerved into an oncoming Mercedes, and Robert Saleh, making his return to the stadium where he served two stints as a defensive coordinator.Nevertheless, large men in pads will deliver violent hits in front of roaring fans.

Tailgaters will toast, grill, and drink in the parking lot.And we just might learn something about the team the 49ers hope to be when they open the regular season a month from now down under.Here are five things to watch in the 49ers’ first of three preseason games:Rookies and reserves will take center stage for the aging, injured Niners, who aren’t expected to play many starters, even healthy ones such as Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.Probably with some understanding that they wouldn’t be unleashing much fury Thursday, San Francisco’s veterans brought a gameday-like intensity to Tuesday’s joint practice, even laying down a few full-blown hits that resulted in a half dozen scrums and a couple players tossed out.Warner spent much of the session jawing with Titans quarterback Cam Ward, who will have to find a different foe to go back and forth with Thursday night.

The Titans plan to play the entirety of their youthful roster; Shanahan said few San Francisco starters are expected to see action...