Previewing Each Game on the San Francisco 49ers 2016 Schedule
By Peter Panacy
The Preseason
Week 1 vs. Houston Texans — Sunday, August 13 at 7 p.m. ET
Week 2 @ Denver Broncos — Sunday, August 21 at 9 p.m. ET
Week 3 vs. Green Bay Packers — Saturday, August 27 at 9:30 p.m. ET
Week 4 @ San Diego Chargers — Friday, September 2 at 10 p.m. ET
For most NFL teams, the preseason is merely a period to determine the final depth-chart spots on the roster and to solve a handful of position battles across the board.
For San Francisco, the context is a little different.
The 49ers have wide-open competitions at wide receiver, cornerback, inside linebacker and at quarterback. So this period of time will have a great deal of importance in determining how the Niners’ 53-man roster shapes up.
While there isn’t much drama associated with preseason football, aside from injuries and the proverbial storybook player making a splash — see retired running back Jarryd Hayne last year — we should pay some attention to which units and tiers players are contributing.
Is quarterback Colin Kaepernick taking the field before fellow QB Blaine Gabbert? Who takes over at running back when No. 1 guy Carlos Hyde is done?
And, of course, who looks the best to complement No. 1 wideout Torrey Smith?
Typically, the second week of the preseason most closely emulates a regular-season game. Week 3 of the preseason is generally reserved for players trying to avoid the first wave of roster cuts.
Week 4 looks almost nothing like NFL football.
But alas, we can finally celebrate the return of the regular season once this final contest versus the San Diego Chargers is over.
Next: Week 1 vs. Los Angeles Rams