NFL
Will Brock Purdy play in the 49ers’ NFL preseason game against the Saints?
The Niners and Saints were forced to cancel three joint practices but will face each other at Levi’ Stadium on Sunday, August 18.
After losing to 17-13 to the Titans in their first NFL preseason game last weekend, the San Francisco 49ers are back in action this Sunday, August 18 when they take on the New Orleans Saints at Levi’s Stadium (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT).
Shanahan reveals “some” starts will face Saints
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed he would like several of his starters to play against the Saints, with quarterback Brock Purdy, the star of the team’s run to Super Bowl LVIII, expected to be one of them.
“I want some of them to play. I wouldn’t say all of them, but I want a few of them to at least get a taste of it,” Shanahan said after Friday’s practice. “I wanted to have these three practices to evaluate that. Although I haven’t talked to each individual player yet.”
The Niners and Saints had scheduled three joint practices, but they were canceled due to a number of members of the San Francisco franchise’s roster carrying injuries.
What other quarterbacks do the 49ers have?
The 49ers have four quarterbacks on their roster ahead of the 2024 NFL season. In addition to Purdy, Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen and Tanner Mordecai are also under contract at Levi’s Stadium.
Dobbs signed a one-year contact with the Niners as a free agent in March after splitting last season between the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.
Allen last played an NFL game in 2022 for the Cincinnati Bengals but was already with the 49ers as third choice behind Purdy and Sam Darnold, who has since left for the Vikings.
24-year-old old rookie Mordecai, meanwhile, joined San Francisco as an undrafted free agent in April after spending his college years at Oklahoma, SMU and Wisconsin.