The San Francisco 49ers are heading into their second week of the preseason, facing off against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday after having a joint practice between the two sides on Thursday.
In a change from last week, head coach Kyle Shanahan says he expects starting quarterback Brock Purdy to play, while other starters could see the field as well, despite some injuries beginning to bug the team.
Of course, the preseason is more so a showing for the younger players fighting for starting jobs and
roster spots, so there will still be several key battles to watch on Saturday.
Among them is the safety position, where third-year pro Ji’Ayir Brown and free agent signee Jason Pinnock had begun training camp as starters. But, there is a rookie that is slowly creeping into the starting group: fifth-round pick Marques Sigle.
Sigle, a 5’11, 200-pound safety who played college ball at Kansas State, was a key contributor in the 49ers’ first preseason game, playing 33 snaps against the Broncos. His performance drew positive reviews from teammates, including linebacker Fred Warner, who pointed out his playing style and communication.
“I love what I’ve seen,” Warner said about Sigle. “I think that preseason game was huge for him. I think before then, obviously, with limited opportunities, guys probably hadn’t heard much about him. And then, he was able to go out there and really put his hat on people, and show guys, like, ‘Man, I want to play the Forty-Niner way’—running and hitting.”
“I love what I’ve been seeing from a communication standpoint, knowing where he’s supposed to be.”
Sigle crept into the starting group this week at practice, rotating in with Jason Pinnock one day, while playing alongside Ji’Ayir Brown during Thursday’s joint practice.
Earlier this week, head coach Kyle Shanahan even acknowledged Sigle’s status and potential to be a Week 1 starter after his strong preseason game.
“Yeah, I’d say so,” Shanahan said about Sigle having a chance to start Week 1. “I think there’s a lot of open competition [at safety]. I thought he had a really good game, special teams and on defense, so I wouldn’t rule him out for that.”
The 49ers are already seeing some early returns from their 2025 rookie class, albeit with some injuries as well.
First-round defensive end Mykel Williams was slated to be a starter alongside Nick Bosa before suffering a hyper-extended knee injury last week that will keep him out for some time. While second-round pick Alfred Collins has had a slow start, third and fourth-round picks Upton Stout and C.J. West have both impressed.
Stout quickly built his way into the nickel competition, and now seems primed to start alongside Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green come Week 1. West, on the other hand, has been a competitor in the defensive tackle rotation, standing out with 1-on-1 wins as a pass-rusher. He also suffered an injury recently, though, similar to the one Williams had last week, keeping him out for some time as well.
Now, Sigle could be the latest 49er to ascend into an early role, as he’ll get the opportunity to make his mark over the next few weeks and potentially ascend into the starting lineup come Week 1.
