The 49ers are going above and beyond to ensure the health of their players. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said leading up to Saturday’s preseason opener that he’d prefer zero preseason games to four, but two would be the ideal number. It looks like he’ll treat the four-game exhibition slate as if it’s only two games long.
San Francisco released their list of players they don’t expect to play against the Cowboys. It’s lengthy. Here are all 28 players the 49ers don’t anticipate playing in Week 1 of the preseason:
LB Kwon Alexander
DL Arik Armstead
DL Ronald Blair
DL Nick Bosa
RB Matt Breida
DL DeForest Buckner
RB Tevin Coleman
DL Dee Ford
OL Ben Garland
OL Joshua Garnett
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
WR Marquise Goodwin
FB Kyle Juszczyk
TE George Kittle
OL Mike McGlinchey
RB Jerick McKinnon
OL Mike Person
CB Richard Sherman
LB Malcolm Smith
OL Joe Staley
S Jaquiski Tartt
WR Trent Taylor
OL Laken Tomlinson
CB Jason Verrett
S Jimmie Ward
LB Fred Warner
CB K’Waun Williams
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
Virtually any starter or key reserve is out for the preseason opener. Some players are injured, others are out as a preventative measure. The second and third preseason games should see this list dwindle some as the 49ers begin in-game preparations for their regular season opener on Sept. 8.
