The wave of injuries plaguing the NFL has hit the 49ers hard, stripping Kyle Shanahan’s team of vital players, including Nick Bosa, who was absent from joint practice with the Raiders (Aug 14) due to general soreness. He had previously missed three sessions for the same reason. But not all injuries are of such breezy nature. Shanahan must be on the lookout for setbacks sneaking up on one of the 49ers’ most valuable weapons, Brock Purdy. Fresh off a massive five-year, $265 million extension — one of the most lucrative quarterback contracts in league history — Purdy was meant to secure the foundation of the franchise and anchor the offense for years to come, preventing another postseason collapse like last year. Now, with the injury storm threatening to unravel the preseason, Shanahan’s carefully curated depth chart feels like a ghost town.
Two weeks into August, the 49ers are weathering a staggering injury storm with 27 players listed on the roster report. Fans have scrambled to point fingers and even entertained wild theories to explain the trend. “It’s something we’re thinking about a lot, and yeah, it’s a big deal,” Shanahan said. “And hopefully we can fix it.” The 49ers-Broncos joint practice conducted on August 7 did not have the best optics. A snapshot blew up on X. As the Niners stormed out of their huddle, the Broncos stayed locked in static stretches. The viral caption threw shade at San Francisco, hinting the team skipped proper warmups by leaning only on dynamic drills (a probable theory for the string of injuries). After all, the staggering list of injured players is at 27!
Relief finally arrived when ESPN’s Nick Wagner reported a wave of returns. “#49ers players who have returned to practice today after various injuries: CB Renardo Green, S Jason Pinnock, RB Isaac Guerendo, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Nick Bosa.” The comeback list eased concerns, but the shadow of health still looms.
#49ers players who have returned to practice today after various injuries: CB Renardo Green, S Jason Pinnock, RB Isaac Guerendo, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Jordan Elliott, DE Nick Bosa.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) August 19, 2025
The lone silver lining in San Francisco is that Brock Purdy is not among the 27 players on the injury list. He remains healthy and ready to start against the Chargers on August 24. But just because he can play does not mean he should. Doing so might feel like waging a solo battle. First-round defensive end Mykel Williams hyperextended his knee during the joint practice with the Broncos. Veteran left tackle Trent Williams sat out live 11-on-11 reps against the Raiders under what Shanahan labeled “plus-36-year-old rules” at age 37. In his place, backup Spencer Burford faltered, while left guard Ben Bartch is sidelined this week with an elbow injury.
The injury concerns do not stop there. Quarterback Mac Jones is also questionable, already ruled out of the preseason finale against the Chargers due to a knee sprain. Guard Domonick Punni likely suffered a PCL injury in the game against the Raiders and is expected to miss several weeks. Even before that contest, the list of injuries felt overwhelming with Shanhan busy handing the media medical updates. With second-stringers left to block Purdy’s blindside, his protection looks shaky at best. Yet for now, Kyle Shanahan might not need to worry about the possible catastrophe.
Is Kyle Shanahan going to bubble wrap Brock Purdy?
Amid the chaos, Kyle Shanahan’s biggest priority remains untouched. He cannot afford to see Brock Purdy join that growing list. The quarterback, armed with one of the richest contracts in the league, is too valuable to risk. Purdy looked sharp on the team’s opening drive, delivering a flash of command that excited fans.
Still, Shanahan suggested it may be the last taste of preseason fireworks. “We’ll see how this week goes. We have a long week. I love that we got three practices in a row for ourselves. Then we’ll take a day off and get ready for the Chargers, but we’ll see how this week goes with Brock [Purdy] and with the rest of our starters. I would love the guys to play, but I just have to measure it out and see how this week goes.”
Reading between the lines, Shanahan is already leaning toward caution. He does not want to lose his most prized weapon on meaningless snaps. If the work stacks up this week, Purdy and the starters will be shelved until the games truly count for September. The coach knows the risks, and with the 49ers’ depth already strained, already becoming a source of frustration for Purdy.
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