The San Francisco 49ers will begin their 2026 NFL preseason against the Tennessee Titans, but several of the team’s biggest names are expected to remain on the sidelines.

Brock Purdy will not suit up against Tennessee as San Francisco takes a cautious approach with its franchise quarterback. (Reuters)

The decision comes as the 49ers continue to manage a growing list of injuries. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has typically limited the workload of important starters during the early stages of the preseason, and there appears to be little reason to expose Purdy to unnecessary contact.

Purdy’s absence is also unrelated to his performance during training camp. The 26-year-old quarterback has reportedly enjoyed a strong stretch of practices and has taken all of the first-team repetitions while continuing to develop chemistry with his offensive teammates.

He has also been building a connection with Deebo Samuel Sr. and recently connected with second-round rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling for a 50-yard touchdown during a joint practice with the Titans earlier this week.

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Purdy, who is entering his fifth NFL season, has also reportedly taken on a greater leadership role within the 49ers. However, fans will have to wait until the regular season to see how that development translates into games that count.

Jones is positioned as the clear backup, which could leave Rourke and Martinez with extended opportunities to handle the majority of the preseason workload.

Ricky Pearsall is expected to miss the entire season after undergoing surgery to repair a PCL injury.

Meanwhile, veteran receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk have been sidelined from recent practices with quadriceps and calf issues, respectively, although both are expected to recover before the regular season begins.

Running back Christian McCaffrey has also spent some time away from practice because of minor soreness. The expectation, however, is that he will be ready to go when the 49ers open their regular-season campaign.

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George Kittle remains another major question mark. The star tight end was seen running routes before Monday’s practice while recovering from an Achilles issue, but he has yet to receive clearance to return. His availability early in the season remains uncertain.