Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in 49ers fans and fans across the country.
The San Francisco 49ers will have their first preseason game next Thursday, August 13, against the Tennessee Titans. The team will hold a joint practice with Robert Saleh’s squad earlier in the week.
How the joint practice goes could determine how many starters play. How many healthy first-teamers there are will also factor in the decision.
Today we’re asking whether the 49ers should risk playing their starters next week, and if so, for how long? Not all starters are created equally.
Brock Purdy should probably play a series. Hand the ball off a couple of times, maybe throw a screen, swing pass to the running back, maybe a slant, and call it a day.
On the other side of the ball, a new scheme is being introduced. We don’t need to see Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. But the safeties should get as many live reps as possible this month.
Ji’Ayir Brown has had a strong camp. You want to see if that carries over against a different offense when the live bullets are flying. Marque Sigle will need to play regardless, but that’s even more true with Malik Mustapha sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The defensive line isn’t as cut and dry, with the plethora of injuries. You want to get as many of the young guys run, but depth could be an issue. By all accounts, Romello Height looks like he’s the real deal. Let him play a couple of series and leave it at that, because that’s a player expected to play a significant role during the regular season.
That’ll give plenty of reps to some of the undrafted free agents and newly signed veterans.
How would you divide the snaps for the starters?
