The 49ers head into their preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans with a lot more to sort through than just the scoreboard. Even with the starters unlikely to carry a heavy load, there are plenty of spots worth watching, and the game should offer a real look at how some of these battles are shaking out.
One of the most interesting wrinkles is on defense, where Raheem Morris has been working with a newly named “fever backer” role. The idea, as described, is to use one player who can handle the responsibilities of multiple spots at once - a third stack linebacker, a fifth defensive back at nickel, or a fifth on-the-ball lineman.
Morris has been using Nick Martin and Jaden Dugger in that mix, and he has also thrown Romello Height into the conversation. All three are described as raw or unestablished, which makes Thursday a natural opportunity for them to get extended snaps.
Morris explained the idea this way: “Obviously, you know what traditional backers look like,” Morris said. “Stand-up guys that can move around.
Those fever backers are kind of those guys that bring you subtle changes, subtle different things. … They can play star (nickel) for you.
They can play outside edge and play sort of a big nickel. They can get at the line of scrimmage.”
Asked whether fever backer is a fixed part of the defense or something more situational, Morris said it depends. The preseason could help clarify how often it shows up.
On the other side of the ball, Brock Purdy also drew attention for the way he handled Tennessee. Raheem Morris had come up with the nickname “layer” early in camp because of Purdy’s touch, though Purdy doesn’t seem fully sold on the label. He made that clear while talking about it with a grin.
“Our quarterbacks coach, Mick Lombardi, doesn’t like the word ‘layer.’ He thinks everything should be driven,” Purdy said with a smile.
“It’s cool that Raheem notices that, so I guess it’s a part of my game. But obviously, I like to think I can make any throw in the field, not just that one.”
The offense’s broader picture also includes some concern up front. Purdy carved up the Titans, but the offensive line is becoming a growing question.
There was also movement on the roster. The 49ers signed running back Zamir White among three additions and waived three players.
White’s NFL track record with the Raiders from 2022-25 includes 45 games and nine starts, along with 198 carries for 736 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 25 catches for 152 yards.
In 2025, he played in six games, finished with 12 carries for 32 yards and added four receptions for 24 yards.
Another running back added before the preseason opener was Kaelon Black, who has already been picking up lessons from Christian McCaffrey. Black pointed to McCaffrey’s route running and efficiency as the biggest takeaway from watching him.
“The way that he runs his routes, how efficient he is,” Black said. “When I watch him at practice, he has no wasted movement.
“I asked him, ‘What do you do to limit your wasted movement?’ And he said, ’It’s all about timing and just being yourself.’”
Black also described why the offense suits him so well. In his view, the system asks more of backs in the passing game than many others do.
“It really maximizes what a running back can truly do. A lot of times running backs aren’t asked to catch the ball a lot out of the backfield.
But here, it’s the complete opposite. You’re going to go out there and run different routes and you’re almost going to feel like a receiver first sometimes.”
And then there’s Deebo Samuel, who was one of the players standing out early in camp. One report said he was by far the 49ers’ most dangerous running back on Tuesday, lining up at running back at times after returning to the team and also making plays as a receiver. That same report noted he caught a couple of passes as a wideout and was a major problem for the Titans throughout.
The 49ers also made another running back move and waived Junior Bergen. Bergen had been viewed by some reporters as a player who could sneak onto the roster and as the top punt return option, but the team’s decision suggests it saw things differently. He can return if he clears waivers, though the move also came with a note about the team’s comfort level in potentially losing him on waivers despite a run of injuries at the position.
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