The San Francisco 49ers’ offseason takes a major step Thursday when they suit up for joint practice with the Denver Broncos.
Typically the joint sessions span two days, but head coach Kyle Shanahan preferred just one day of head-to-head practice before facing off with the Broncos at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday in their preseason opener.
Shanahan has been a fan of joint practices and usually values them over preseason games. With questions about who will and will not play in that first exhibition bout, Thursday’s practice will be our first real opportunity to evaluate some of the players standing out in camp for San Francisco. Producing against their own teammates is a plus, but producing against an opponent matters significantly more.
Here are the six 49ers we’re keeping a close eye on in Thursday’s practice with the Broncos:
WR Ricky Pearsall
Pearsall started camp on the PUP list which didn’t bode well for his chances at a breakout sophomore campaign. He quickly erased any doubts with a stellar string of practices where he is frequently quarterback Brock Purdy’s favorite target. Pearsall by all reports is tearing up the 49ers’ secondary. If he continues his success against an outstanding Denver defense it’ll be a great sign for his trajectory in Year 2.
DE Mykel Williams
Williams is the only projected rookie starter on either side of the ball on the 49ers’ unofficial depth chart. The No. 11 overall pick has made waves with his size and athleticism as an interior pass rusher. Now we’ll get a chance to see him put it all together against Pro Football Focus’s No. 2-ranked offensive line. His success in his first joint practice could set the table for a big rookie season.
OL Ben Bartch
The starting left guard job belongs to Bartch … for now. He started camp on the Non-Football Injury list because of a quad issue. He returned this week and immediately stepped into the first-team offensive line over Nick Zakelj. The battle could re-open if Bartch struggles. If he performs well it will only further cement his place on the 49ers’ starting offensive line.
LB Dee Winters
Speaking of players who appear to hold onto a starting job that was up for grabs to start camp, Winters is in a similar spot to Bartch. He’s taken the first-team reps at the Will linebacker spot ahead of rookie third-round pick Nick Martin. We expected a real battle, but Winters’ performance in camp has only strengthened his grip on the WLB job. Now the real test comes against a creative Sean Payton offense that Winters isn’t seeing every day. This will be his chance to show improvement in the run game − an area where he struggled last season.
OL Colton McKivitz
There’s no battle for the starting right guard job, but McKivitz did talk to reporters about his intensified offseason workouts and his goal to make a Pro Bowl in his fifth NFL season. Last year was an improvement for the 2020 fifth-round pick. Thursday’s joint session with Denver will give him an opportunity to show another leap is coming after his new offseason regimen.
CB Upton Stout
There’s a case to be made that all the rookies are worth keeping an eye on in their first opportunities against an opponent who isn’t their teammate. Stout is a special case though because he appears to be the frontrunner for the starting nickel cornerback job. He’s been a frequent visitor to post-practice recaps thanks to some highlight plays and praise from the 49ers’ coaching staff. Now he’ll get an opportunity to prove himself against a real opponent and become the second rookie to grab a starting spot on defense.
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