San Francisco 49ers: Think preseason games don’t matter? Think again

The San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2018 NFL preseason tonight versus the Dallas Cowboys. And while these exhibitions don’t count for much, they’re still very significant. Here’s why.

It’s probably the same story for many San Francisco 49ers and NFL fans when Week 1 of the NFL preseason rolls around — you’re excited leading up to the game (because it’s an actual football game) and can’t wait for the countdown to kickoff to end.

After the first quarter, though, you’re over it. You want it to be the regular season.

This is a pretty common sentiment. Preseason games don’t count, certainly not in the grand scheme of things. Case in point, the 2016 49ers went 2-2 in the preseason before going 2-14 in the regular season. It’s hardly a gauge of what to expect.

Well, these preseason games matter. Particularly if you know what to look for.

First, there’s the obvious. These games provide a chance for bubble-watch players to show why they belong on the 53-man roster once the regular season begins. Teams carry, at most, 90 players during the offseason. That number, for those of you who don’t know, gets trimmed down to 53 after the fourth and final preseason bout, meaning nearly half of a team’s offseason roster will be vying for jobs elsewhere.

Most teams, including the 49ers, have nearly every starting position etched in. A few may be up for grabs, as well as a number of the primary backup spots. But the biggest aspect of the competition is at the back end.

A year ago, undrafted free-agent wide receiver Victor Bolden was on the weaker side of the Niners’ roster bubble. But that changed during San Francisco’s final preseason bout against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Especially after Bolden ripped off this 92-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Bolden made the cut. Preseason was important to him, for sure.

Even if players know they won’t land on their respective teams — the depth chart it too long, etc. — there’s still the chance to impress 31 other squads around the NFL or end up being named to the practice squad, if eligible.

So, yes. It’s important to players all but guaranteed to be cut too.

But the preseason goes beyond just fringe players looking to impress. In many cases, individual units are looking to either jell or figure out a way to overcome a pending regular-season setback of sorts.

For the 49ers, there are still question marks about the interior offensive line, particularly at right guard. And with linebacker Reuben Foster to be suspended the first two games of 2018, one would expect head coach Kyle Shanahan to experiment with different combinations and packages this preseason to see what works best when Week 1 rolls around.

Yes, getting an idea within that context is important too.

Same with position battles. Wide receiver depth is crucial for San Francisco this season. So is the Nos. 2 and 3 running backs. Watching players competing for those spots is actually quite fun, if you know and understand what’s on the line.

Now, no one is telling you how you should go about watching games. This isn’t an argument saying you’re merely a bandwagon fan if you don’t tune into every single second of every preseason game.

But if you put those little nuggets about why the preseason is important together, it will make your appreciation for these otherwise boring exhibition games all the better.

The 49ers kick off their preseason on Aug. 9 at 10 p.m. ET against the Dallas Cowboys, by the way.