49ers hope to avoid 2020-like injury bug, cancel scrimmages with Saints

Kyle Shanahan prefers scrimmages with other teams over preseason games, yet injuries have prompted him to cancel these sessions with the Saints.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is on record saying he prefers joint practices with other teams over preseason games.

While skipping exhibition bouts is out of the question, holding scrimmages with other teams can be in the mix, and the Niners have frequently done such things in years prior, including squaring off against the Las Vegas Raiders a season ago in advance of that week's preseason tilt.

This year, Shanahan and Co. were scheduled to engage in scrimmages with the New Orleans Saints in Irvine, California.

However, following San Francisco's preseason Week 1 road loss at the Tennessee Titans, Shanahan ultimately decided to cancel these practices, instead opting for four practices back at the 49ers' home facility outside Levi's Stadium.

Interesting.

Injuries are apparently the culprit, highlighted by Saturday's loss of cornerback Ambry Thomas suffering a broken forearm. While Thomas had an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, his injury is one in a growing line of setbacks hitting Shanahan's squad.

If there's one thing the head coach wants to avoid, it's a 2020-like injury bug.

Kyle Shanahan, 49ers want to avoid the kind of injuries that hit them in 2020

Where have you heard this before?

A team loses a Super Bowl but still seems perfectly equipped to get back to the big game the following year, only to experience a historic rash of injuries that following season.

If you're recalling the Niners' 2020 campaign, you'd be correct. The so-called "revenge tour" never panned out, thanks to devastating injuries to key players like defensive end Nick Bosa, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and plenty of others.

San Francisco finished that season with a 6-10 record, last place in the NFC West.

While Thomas isn't seen as a vital part of the 49ers' plans, other big-name players are popping up on injury reports, such as rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (shoulder) and All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey (calf).

Considering how much Shanahan prefers these joint practices, canceling them in light of recent injuries is a pretty big deal.

And the head coach has to be thinking about the not-so-distant past in which his team was wholly derailed by a slew of massive injuries.

Perhaps opting to cancel such sessions despite Shanahan's preference for them is one way to hopefully avoid that ever-present injury risk.

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