The 49ers finally get to move from practice reps to live game action, and even with most of the starters sitting against the Tennessee Titans, there’s still plenty worth watching at Levi’s Stadium.
This first preseason test is less about the final score and more about the players trying to carve out roles, and a few names stand out immediately. De’Zhaun Stribling is at the top of that list.
He’s been one of the most talked-about players in camp, but his work has mostly been limited to what reporters and a handful of fans have seen over the past two weeks. Now the broader audience gets its first real look.
After missing time because of a hamstring injury, Stribling needs a strong outing as he tries to establish himself as a key role player in the offense.
Jaden Dugger is another rookie drawing attention lately. His practice workload has gradually increased with the first team, which says a lot about where the coaches think he’s headed. Dugger has done enough to look like a possible role player on the starting defense, and this game should give a clearer picture of how that role might translate when the lights come on.
Nick Martin, meanwhile, enters with a little more pressure attached. He hasn’t generated much buzz in camp, especially with Dugger making noise over the past week.
Martin needs a clean performance against Tennessee, particularly after last year’s mediocre showing against the Denver Broncos, when he struggled badly with tackling. With Dugger moving ahead of him on the depth chart, Martin could be looking at a buried spot or even another roster after final cuts.
The Titans have also been mentioned as a possible landing spot for him, since Robert Saleh was the one who wanted him.
At defensive end, Romello Height is the new name to track. The 49ers’ only notable offseason move at edge rusher was drafting Height, and outside of Nick Bosa, he’s their only real option there.
What he does against the Titans should say plenty about where he stands after camp. The team needs him to emerge, especially with Bosa dealing with knee tendinitis.
The final name to watch is Connor Colby. For the past week, the 49ers have stopped giving him first-team reps at left guard and have instead been using Robert Jones there, which the team says is part of the plan. Whoever starts will tell you a lot about the current pecking order, and Colby’s own performance will be worth watching closely either way.
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49ers Get Their First Real Look At De'Zhaun Stribling's Upside
The 49ers are about to get their first real preseason look at rookie wide receiver DeZhaun Stribling, and the opener against the Titans should tell them plenty about where he fits. San Francisco wants to see more than just basic camp flashes here, with an eye on how he handles different routes, shifts around the formation and brings value after the catch.
For a team always searching for receiver depth and playmaking help, Striblings debut is less about the box score than the details that show up in August. If he can separate in more than one spot and create something once the ball is in his hands, it will give the 49ers a better read on how quickly he can contribute to the offense. [Read more 🡒]