The San Francisco 49ers are about to open the 2026 regular season, and the first test comes in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. Before that game arrives, though, there are five problems hanging over this team that could wreck the season before it gets rolling.
The most obvious one is left guard. The 49ers have spent all of training camp and the preseason trying to sort out the position, and nobody has really claimed it.
No one has separated from the pack, which says plenty about how underwhelming the options have been. Unless rookie Carver Willis can rise to the job, the spot looks headed for a rotation, just like the 49ers did at right guard a few seasons ago when nobody could lock it down.
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has already hinted at that approach twice.
Nick Bosa is another major concern, and maybe the biggest one of all. If he’s not 100 percent, the pass rush could be a mess.
He missed most of training camp because of tendinitis and soreness in his surgically repaired knee, and Bosa said his patellar tendon was bothering him. That’s the same tendon used as a graft for his new ACL, and it’s the second time he’s used it that way.
That kind of issue doesn’t sound like something that just disappears, especially when he’s putting stress on it. A season with missed games and a lower-level impact feels very possible.
The secondary has its own questions, starting at safety. It’s hard to look at this roster and point to a true starting-caliber safety.
Marques Sigle has the best shot to become that player, but his preseason work didn’t exactly build confidence. Ji’Ayir Brown is basically who he is unless something dramatic changes.
Malik Mustapha has also been dealing with a hamstring issue since the start of training camp, and even if he gets through the season, he profiles more as a box safety than someone who can patrol the back end.
That problem gets even worse if Bosa isn’t right, because the safeties would be exposed without a pass rush helping them out. And the worries don’t stop there.
The 49ers are leaning hard on their stars, but those stars also come with real durability concerns. George Kittle and Trent Williams are among the big names with plenty of mileage, and Mike Evans has not been able to get through a stretch of practices without some kind of issue.
Maybe that was just caution, but at 33, with that much wear, nobody can say he’s safely out of the woods.
Christian McCaffrey is the biggest name in that group. He carried an enormous workload last season and still didn’t miss a game, but the expectation here is that he’ll miss multiple games this year and be less effective when he is out there. So much of the 49ers’ season depends on these players staying active and producing, but the NFL has a way of catching up to older bodies.
There’s also a real problem in the trenches on defense. The addition of Osa Odighizuwa stands out as the team’s best move, and he should help the interior defensive line a lot.
But beyond him, the outlook is bleak. Mykel Williams is still working back from the torn ACL he suffered last year, while Alfred Collins and C.J.
West have not taken the next step and look more like wasted draft picks than dependable contributors. Rookie Gracen Halton is the best bet to emerge, though even he isn’t a sure thing.
That leaves the edge rush looking shaky too. If rookie Romello Height can’t make an impact, the 49ers may be staring at almost nothing off the edge, especially if Bosa’s knee remains an issue.
They probably will be better than last year’s league-worst 20 sacks, but not by much. The defensive line simply does not look inspiring.
In Other News...
Grant Cohn Is Somehow Becoming Part Of The 49ers Opener Story
The 49ers trip to Australia for their international opener against the Rams has produced the usual flood of game-week content, but one familiar Bay Area voice has become part of the conversation for a different reason. Grant Cohn, the veteran reporter known for his sharp criticism of San Francisco, has drawn attention overseas not for a practice note or matchup breakdown, but for the way he has documented the experience around the game.
His social media posts about local food and cultural stops have caught on with audiences well beyond the standard football crowd, turning a routine road assignment into something of a sideshow. Cohn has long been a polarizing figure around the 49ers because of his public clashes with players and the confrontational style he often brings to his coverage, and now even that reputation is being folded into a story that started with the opener itself. [Read more 🡒]
Deebo Samuels New Role Puts 49ers Rookie In Week 1 Spotlight
DeZhaun Stribling has quietly climbed into a meaningful spot on the 49ers preseason depth chart, and the timing could not be better for a team sorting through injuries and shifting roles at receiver before Week 1 against the Rams. The rookie has moved up enough to be considered for a significant offensive role, and the latest chart points to him lining up as a starting wideout alongside Mike Evans.
Deebo Samuels designation as the primary kick returner adds another layer to the picture, hinting at a reduced load on offense and opening the door for Stribling to see real early-season snaps. For a San Francisco passing game already adjusting on the fly, the rookies next chance may come right away, and it will be worth watching how quickly the staff leans into that opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
49ers First Injury Report Raises An Early Lineup Concern
The first injury report of the season gave the 49ers an immediate dose of reality, with several familiar names showing up before the week has even really settled in. Nick Bosa and George Kittle were both listed, and the report also brought a new concern on the defensive side when rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins appeared for the first time with a knee injury. It is the kind of early-week update that can quickly shape how a staff approaches practice, especially when core pieces are already under the microscope.
For now, the encouraging part is who was not there. Christian McCaffrey was absent from the report, and Mike Evans also did not appear, which helps keep at least some of the focus on the players who are actually dealing with issues. Still, Collins new injury designation stands out as the one to monitor, because even in September, the 49ers know how quickly a depth concern can become a bigger storyline if it lingers. [Read more 🡒]