Kyle Shanahan ‘doubts’ Brock Purdy plays in first preseason game at Raiders

Quarterback Brock Purdy has been making strides each day with the first team, enough to be QB1 when they practice with the Raiders this week. But that will be the extent of Purdy’s reps in Las Vegas, according to Kyle Shanahan.

The San Francisco 49ers coach revealed that he doesn’t expect the second-year gunslinger to suit up for the team’s first preseason game against the Raiders Sunday.

“I doubt Brock plays,” Kyle Shanahan said Monday. “We haven’t fully decided it yet. Usually when we scrimmage against guys, we rarely play our starters [in the game]…”

"We were also really impressed with our 7th round draft choice."@49ers coach Kyle Shanahan joined @colleenwolfe and @SteveMariucci to talk about the rise of Brock Purdy last season. pic.twitter.com/nsrhGeytf3

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 7, 2023

The coach does, however, anticipate Purdy getting the lion’s share of the reps in joint practices with Las Vegas, hoping to get him into game shape by the end of the preseason. Still, only five months removed from UCL surgery, the QB has made strides with each practice. That could determine how much he plays in the preseason, with his coach hoping to get him out for a few series.

“I think it’s always good to play,” Shanahan stated. “I don’t think he has to (play). A lot of guys don’t have to, but it usually helps.”

Overall though, the preseason schedule is meant for evaluating rotational depth within the team. The starters won’t see much action, looking to preserve them for the regular season. In fact, Shanahan prefers to watch his guys compete in scrimmages

“I definitely do because you get to make sure that guys are getting evaluated to do normal plays. You get to put guys in situations. You never know how in a game its going to unfold, what the situations are, who’s in there. Sometimes you get in situations where you can’t do stuff based off of protections and things like that, in game. In practice, you’re gonna get everything done and you’re gonna learn a lot more about the guys to me than you do in games,” the coach explained.

One guy in particular who won’t be featured in the preseason is Nick Bosa.

Bosa, 25, has been away from the team while his agents negotiate a massive contract extension with the 49ers, which will likely make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. While many expected the deal to be done by now, there’s no panic in San Francisco’s camp, especially from Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan has stayed away from general manager John Lynch and the front office in these discussions, letting it all play out from afar. When asked if he’s worried about getting the reigning Defensive Player of the Year some reps before the regular season, the coach pushed back.

“I don’t know if Bosa’s ever done a training camp, and he’s done pretty good,” Shanahan said with a smirk.

"I don't know if Bosa's ever done a training camp, and he's done pretty good."

Shanahan is confident in Bosa's preparation as extension negotiations continue pic.twitter.com/ssTcF8yDDn

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 7, 2023

At the end of the day, Shanahan wants all of his players accounted for on the field. But with Bosa it’s a little different, not worried about his football preparation one bit.

“It’s a little different with D-linemen. Everybody wants people here, and you want to do that stuff, but it doesn’t affect the team as much from the [defensive end] standpoint. I have as much confidence in Nick as any player I’ve ever been around in terms of how he prepares and everything.

“I know they’re going to get it right, both sides, and I’m excited for when I do see him,” Kyle Shanahan said.

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