"The 49ers decided to scuttle the planned trip to Irvine, Calif., on Thursday and Friday because the roster is so banged up," Barrows wrote.
After Saturday's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed concern about the joint sessions at the University of California, Irvine, citing the impact of injuries on the team's ability to participate effectively.
"It's awesome to get a chance to scrimmage versus people," Shanahan told reporters after the game. "We're a little banged up, so we got to figure out how we can pull that off and stuff like that. It seems like losing [CB] Ambry [Thomas] will be tough, hoping a number of other things don't pop up tomorrow."
Thomas suffered a broken right forearm during the game and is expected to undergo a lengthy recovery.
Several players missed last week's final practice due to injuries, and key contributors like Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa didn't travel with the team for their preseason game.
"But last week, we had like 23 guys out of practice the last time that we practiced, so hopefully, [we] can get more of those guys back so we can have a decent scrimmage," Shanahan continued.
Instead of the joint practices, the 49ers will hold four practices in Santa Clara before next weekend's preseason contest against the Saints at Levi's Stadium. These practices are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Barrows added, "Cancelling the joint practice is a big deal for Shanahan. He's said for years that the practices — which had been conducted in Denver, Minnesota, Los Angeles and Las Vegas in recent years — are more important than preseason games."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
First look: 49ers DE Nick Bosa practices with teammates after ACL injury
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa was not among the four players placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list to open training camp, signaling that he has been fully cleared to participate. Bosa is returning from the torn ACL he suffered last... -
49ers QB Brock Purdy shares emotional reaction to Kyle Shanahan's injuries
News of San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's injuries following a recent car accident sent shockwaves through the NFL. While the public didn't learn about the incident until Saturday, July 25, the accident itself occurred 11 days earlier. Several players were... -
49ers' best- and worst-case scenarios for 3 players returning from injuries
The San Francisco 49ers endured an injury-plagued 2025 season and are hoping for much better luck in 2026. Despite the rash of injuries, the team still won 12 games and reached the playoffs, but finished third in the NFC West behind the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles... -
49ers insider predicts more injuries, no playoffs in 2026 season
Talk about a gloomy outlook. For San Francisco 49ers fans optimistic that a healthier roster will fuel a successful season in 2026, San Francisco Chronicle writer Eric Branch offered a much less encouraging forecast. Branch released his 10th annual 25 predictions, and fans...