Joint practices often turn into heated battles, and the Las Vegas Raiders expected nothing less from the San Francisco 49ers. The session between the teams was supposed to be a controlled tune-up; instead, it became another entry in the team’s growing list of personnel setbacks. Before drills even began, the 49ers were missing a chunk of their roster. Players like Nick Bosa, Sam Okuayinonu, CJ West, and many more were unavailable. Head coach Kyle Shanahan knew the offensive and defensive lines were stretched to the breaking point.
The injuries have come in waves. In just a few weeks of camp, the 49ers have seen eight defensive linemen sidelined at various points. Depth has been shuffled so aggressively that Spencer Burford, a guard by trade, lined up at left tackle against the Raiders. Other than Burford, Isaac Alarcon, Austen Pleasants, and Isaiah Prince are their only options. The injuries piling up along the depth chart are only making matters worse. Right now, the 49ers’ available group is a patchwork of players with little game-day experience, and the margin for error is getting thin every day.
So, naturally, the question arises, Why are the 49ers facing so many injuries on a spree? SI’s beat 49ers writer Grant Cohn may have a valid reason behind it. Cohn pointed to San Francisco’s shorter practice format as a possible factor in the uptick of setbacks. Shorter sessions may keep players fresher in theory, but if the warmup is rushed, it could leave them more vulnerable when the intensity ramps up. It’s a tough balance: Avoid overworking stars before the season, but also give them enough conditioning to withstand the grind. However, the highlighted words are ‘in theory.’
Cohn wrote on X, “One reason the 49ers have so many injuries in camp is that their practices are short — generally only 90 minutes. As a result, their warmup also is short. I don’t know why they’re in such a rush. Other teams practice for 2 and a half hours a day.” It’s a pointed observation that touches on a long-standing criticism of Kyle Shanahan’s camp structure. The 49ers have been one of the most consistently banged-up rosters in the offseason, and Cohn’s claim implies the issue could be tied to preparation habits rather than just bad luck.
One reason the 49ers have so many injuries in camp is that their practices are short — generally only 90 minutes. As a result, their warmup also is short. I don’t know why they’re in such a rush. Other teams practice for 2 and a half hours a day.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) August 15, 2025
But the cause of the injuries is always a smaller part of the story; the bigger part is always the impact that follows, and the 49ers need to brace for what’s ahead.
Troubles mount for Kyle Shanahan as the 49ers lose seven men against the Raiders
The impact of the injuries on the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan is something to witness closely. It’s both dire and interesting at the same time. In just a matter of days, the team has received seven separate injuries across key positions, raising legitimate concerns about depth and roster stability before the season has even started. The absences were glaring. Left guard Ben Bartch sat out with an elbow issue, while star pass rusher Nick Bosa was held out due to neck soreness. At one point, Shanahan even requested that one-on-one drills be scrapped entirely, a rare move that speaks volumes about the current state of affairs.
Fellow defensive end Sam Okuayinonu is dealing with a groin injury, and the defensive tackle rotation is battered as well, with Jordan Elliott (back) and Kevin Givens (pectoral) both sidelined. The defensive line’s youth hasn’t been spared either: rookie Mykel Williams continues rehabbing a knee injury, and his fellow rookie CJ West suffered what’s believed to be a hyperextended knee on Thursday. The offensive front isn’t faring much better. Lineman Andre Dillard’s ankle injury was severe enough to land him on injured reserve before he even took a regular-season snap, wiping him out for the year.
All of this leaves Shanahan facing a tricky balancing act heading into the weekend. He needs to put together a functional lineup for Saturday’s preseason matchup against Las Vegas. But every additional snap carries the risk of yet another injury that could chip away at the 49ers’ regular-season hopes. What’s next for the 49ers? Only Kyle Shanahan and the squad know. What we know is that the Raiders will come ready to topple this team, no matter who starts and who doesn’t.
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