The San Francisco 49ers host the Tennessee Titans in their preseason opener on Thursday night, offering an early look at roster battles and players fighting for roles. While starters are unlikely to see much action, according to Yahoo reporting, position battles at wide receiver, offensive line, cornerback, and linebacker remain wide open.
Preseason football returns to San Francisco on Thursday night as the 49ers welcome the Tennessee Titans for their opening exhibition matchup. According to Yahoo, the contest serves as an early evaluation window where final roster spots and backup roles will be decided, even though the team’s starters are not expected to play extensively, if at all.
Wide Receiver Depth Behind Deebo Samuel and Others
Yahoo reports that Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Deebo Samuel are locked into the 49ers’ wide receiver corps. With Ricky Pearsall sidelined, an opening remains for another contributor to secure a roster spot.
Veteran Christian Kirk has yet to see game action, while Jacob Cowing is working through a hip flexor injury that has kept him out of practice for the past week, according to Yahoo. Meanwhile, Junior Bergen was waived the day before the game, signaling that the coaching staff prefers other options and is not yet convinced Bergen can provide meaningful offensive snaps.
Watkins spent time during camp playing alongside fourth-string quarterback Adrian Martinez. After missing his rookie season in 2025 due to injury, Watkins is looking to demonstrate his playmaking ability against an opponent. Preseason success could help him cement a place in the offensive rotation, provided he cleans up catching issues noted during camp.
Carver Willis and the Left Guard Battle
The race for the starting left guard position features several shifting pieces, according to Yahoo reporting. Robert Jones has seen significant work over the past week, a development that may reflect the current progress of Connor Colby rather than a definitive lock for Jones, who missed the entire 2025 season with a neck injury.
Rookie Carver Willis is also pressing for snaps. While he is unlikely to claim the Week 1 starting job immediately, Yahoo indicates that Willis is expected to earn extended playing time—potentially playing a quarter or two if Jones handles only an initial series or two while shaking off rust. Willis is also slated to see repetitions at center as the coaching staff evaluates his versatility along the interior offensive line.
Jack Jones Seeking Stability in the Secondary
Cornerback Jack Jones enters the preseason with a well-established reputation for high variance, according to Yahoo. Over nearly 2,800 career snaps, the 28-year-old defensive back has combined eight interceptions and 25 pass breakups with 14 touchdowns surrendered over the previous two seasons.
Yahoo describes Jones as a defensive equivalent to baseball’s three true outcomes
—capable of gambling on routes to break up passes or intercept the ball, but equally susceptible to surrendering deep completions. Whether due to injury or shifting preferences under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, adjustments to the secondary remain possible during the regular season. For Jones to secure regular defensive snaps, Yahoo notes he must demonstrate a shift from his boom-or-bust style toward a more consistent, reliable approach.
Nick Martin and the Linebacker Rotation
The 49ers are also looking to evaluate third-round draft pick Nick Martin to determine his readiness to contribute in the event of an injury, according to Yahoo.
Yahoo points out that succeeding at linebacker requires processing speed, instincts, and the ability to shed blocks effectively—traits exemplified by Fred Warner and the injured Dre Greenlaw. With a heavy workload expected against the Titans, Martin heads into Thursday night facing some of the most pressing questions on the roster as he works to secure his standing in the defensive rotation.
