San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan suffered significant injuries in a car accident during his summer break in mid July that now will leave him limited as the team opens training camp.
Shanahan broke his nose, three ribs, his hand, needed over 40 stiches in his face and suffered a severe concussion during a July 14 car accident when he collided with an SUV near his northern California home, per me and @nwagoner.
Adam Schefter on De'Zhaun Stribling:
“What’s interesting about this selection is there were some people that wondered if it was too early for De'Zhaun Stribling to go and yet there were a couple of teams that I spoke to leading up to the draft that felt like that De'Zhaun Stribling was the best wide receiver in the draft. Another team, supposedly the Los Angeles Rams had eyes on him as well. The 49ers didn’t just come up with this pick out of nowhere, they knew that there were other teams that had a very high grade on Stribling when the 49ers declined to trade out the top draft slot in the second round and take him there.”
@Chase_Senior Ik they old but they also have some nice youth to there offense Ricky, Stribling, Cowing, Black, Jordan James all of these names I could see playing a role in 49ers offense. There defense also has a lot of youth. They are a team with a nice blend of Youth, Veterans
One player I’m very interested to watch this season is Jacob Cowing.
Injuries have slowed him down early in his career, but if he can stay healthy, I think Kyle Shanahan will find plenty of ways to get him involved. Cowing has elite speed and explosiveness, making him a perfect gadget player in this offense.
The 49ers have a lot of weapons, but Cowing could end up being a key factor if he stays on the field and earns a consistent role. His speed and versatility give Shanahan another unique weapon to work with.
#FTTB
I’ve been saying this , BA is not playing in the NFL again. 💀💀💀
No NFL team is going to want to bring a head case into their locker room when he’s completely losing control of himself
If Ricky Pearsall stays healthy, he’s one of my favorite breakout candidates for 2026.
• Entering Year 3 with experience in Kyle Shanahan’s system
• The only receiver among the 49ers’ top WRs who already has multiple years in the offense
• Has dealt with injuries throughout the first two years of his career and still showed flashes
• Creates separation consistently and can win at all three levels of the field
• Has the potential to be a very good WR2 alongside Mike Evans
• Has all the tools to become a 1,000-yard receiver
There’s pressure on Pearsall to take that next step, but the opportunity is there. If he stays healthy, I think he’s in line for a massive season and could emerge as one of Brock Purdy’s top weapons.
#FTTB
Will the 49ers finally take some of the workload off Christian McCaffrey and have a true RB2 who can get meaningful snaps?
Both Kyle Shanahan and CMC’s dad have talked about how giving him less touches could help him stay fresh throughout the season.
One of the biggest things I’ll be watching during training camp is Kaelon Black and if he can prove he can be that RB2 the 49ers need.
Strengths:
• Strong runner who keeps his legs moving and fights for extra yards
• Physical style with good burst through the hole
• Willing and reliable pass blocker
• One-cut runner who fits well in Shanahan’s offense
Weaknesses:
• Didn’t have a lot of receiving production in college
• Not the most creative runner in open space
• Doesn’t have elite top-end speed (needs longer strides)
The 49ers need an RB2 who can protect the ball, help in the passing game, and be trusted in pass protection. Even though Kaelon Black didn’t have big receiving numbers at Indiana, I think the 49ers believe he has the skills to improve in that area.
Training camp will be important to see if he can earn that role.
Ngl, Brock Purdy throwing to Mike Evans feels like a match made in heaven. Purdy has always loved throwing with anticipation into tight coverage, and we’ve seen it with guys like George Kittle and Jauan Jennings. Mike Evans is one of the greatest WRs ever when it comes to winning contested catches, which makes this pairing even more dangerous.