The San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2018 NFL preseason against the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night. A number of Niners on the exhibition injury report are expected, but there's one surprise.
The San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night at Levi's Stadium for Week 1 of the preseason. And while teams don't release "official" injury reports for exhibition bouts, there's insight on which Niners won't participate.
Listed as OUT for Thursday night's game, per The Athletic's Matt Barrows:
- DT Arik Armstead (hamstring)
- LB Brock Coyle (hip)
- OL J.P. Flynn (knee)
- S Marcell Harris (Achilles)
- CB Richard Sherman (hamstring)
- WR Trent Taylor (back)
- LB Fred Warner (chest)
- TE Cole Wick (knee)
- CB K'Waun Williams (ankle)
Sherman and Williams aren't too surprising, as both suffered lower body injuries in camp earlier this week. Taylor, on the other hand, has been slowly working his way back into practice after a minor offseason back procedure. Armstead remains out on a week-to-week basis.
Warner, however, is a bit more of a surprise. He had been nursing a chest injury and spent a good chunk of recent practices in a no-contact jersey. With linebacker Reuben Foster's two-game suspension pending in Weeks 1 and 2, one might think the Niners would like to see how Warner fares in his first NFL bout against other pro-level competition.
However, expect veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith -- who missed all of 2017 with a pectoral injury -- to see some added reps during the game.
San Francisco and Dallas kick off at 10 p.m. ET from Levi's Stadium.