Kyle Shanahan isn’t using the preseason finale as a last big tune-up. He’s using it as a holding pattern.
With the San Francisco 49ers set to wrap up their 2026 preseason against the Las Vegas Raiders, Shanahan made it clear that health is the only thing that matters now. The team is heading toward an unprecedented regular season opener in Australia, and after a camp filled with injuries, the 49ers are choosing caution over reps.
That’s not a small call for a roster that has spent the last month getting banged up. More than 20 players have dealt with injuries during training camp, including major names like wide receivers Mike Evans and De’Zhaun Stribling, running back Christian McCaffrey, edge rusher Nick Bosa, and tight end George Kittle. The expectation is that most of those players will be back by Week 1, but Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium won’t be the place to force the issue.
“I don't think you'll see many starters,” Shanahan said on Tuesday. “We just don't have enough time as we usually do, so I'll be surprised if any of them are out there. There might be a couple, but it will be closer to how Week 1 was.”
That approach tracks with how Shanahan has handled the preseason in general. In San Francisco’s opener against Tennessee, the only projected starters or top contributors to get live action were defensive tackle Alfred Collins, safety Marques Sigle, rookie wideout De’Zhaun Stribling, and left guard Carver Willis. The Raiders game should look similar, with the bulk of the lineup coming from the reserves.
Even with the stars parked, there’s still something to sort out. Cornerback remains one of the more interesting battles left on the board, and the fight between rookie Renardo Green and veteran Jack Jones is still tight.
Green sat out the preseason opener and played only nine snaps as a starter in Week 2. Jones, meanwhile, has logged plenty of work in both exhibitions and has already made a few notable plays, including a key goal-line pass breakup against the Chargers.
Thursday gives defensive coordinator Raheem Morris one last look before the team heads overseas.
There’s also continuity on the sideline. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak will again call plays against the Raiders, just as he has all through August while Shanahan has been working through recovery. Shanahan spent part of training camp recovering from a July car accident that left him with a severe concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose, and a broken hand.
Even with that background, Shanahan said he expects to be back in his usual role for the season opener against the Rams in Australia.
“Most likely,” Shanahan said when asked about calling plays down under, though he stopped short of making it final as he works through the rest of his clearance process.
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