It’s almost game time! 49ers GM John Lynch told Cam Inman before the game that Reuben Foster will play tonight. I am curious to see if he gets a full load of snaps like the other starters. Kyle Shanahan said starters will play 20 snaps, and Foster is the starting weak side linebacker. We’ll see when the game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PT on NFL Network nationally and CBS in the Bay Area.
Welcome back to another game day! The San Francisco 49ers opened their preseason with a 27-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs last week, and they return for game number two, against the Denver Broncos. The game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PT, and will air locally on CBS and nationally on NFL Network. Unlike last week, NFL Network will join the game from the very beginning!
This marks the 49ers first game in Levi’s Stadium under their new head coach, Kyle Shanahan. The regular season home opener in Week 1 will be a slightly bigger deal, but this first home game is still something. Preseason games don’t get the same kinds of crowds as regular season games, but I’m curious to see if the 49ers get a strong showing for Shanahan’s first official home game.
The 49ers are planning on giving their starters approximately 20 snaps. That number could fluctuate, but Shanahan has said he wants about that number, carrying the team into the second quarter. The starting offense went approximately seven snaps last week, while the starting defense got in 14 snaps.
The big change this week is that rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard has been bumped up to the No. 2 spot, ahead of Matt Barkley and behind Brian Hoyer. Beathard had a strong outing last week against the Chiefs third string defense, and will get a chance to compete against players higher on the depth chart. If Beathard puts together another strong outing, Barkley could find himself on the hot seat.
On the defensive side of the ball, this game is huge for Lorenzo Jerome. Jimmie Ward remains on the PUP list, and even with Jaquiski Tartt’s return from a rib injury, Jerome remains the starting free safety. It would seem like he has just about secured his roster spot, but if he can improve on last week’s game, maybe Jerome finds himself in more than just a special teams and reserve role this fall.
Nuts and bolts
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
Game time: Saturday, August 19, 7 p.m. PT
TV channel: CBS/KPIX-5, NFL Network (Do I get the game?)
Online streaming: NFL Game Pass
NFL Network Replay: Sun Aug 20 8:30 a.m., Thurs Aug 23 9 p.m.
Radio: 680-AM, 107.7 (Bob Fitzgerald, Keena Turner) | Full listings
Spanish Radio: KTRB 860-AM (Jesus Zarate, Luis Landero)
Matchup history: Broncos lead preseason series 21-17
Announcers: Ted Robinson, Tim Ryan, Dennis O'Donnell (sideline)
Enemy blog: Mile High Report
Twitter: @ninersnation
Facebook: Go ahead and give us a like!
Preseason schedule
Friday, August 11: 27-17 win over Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, August 19: vs. Denver Broncos, CBS, 7 p.m. PT
Sunday, August 27: @ Minnesota Vikings, NBC, 5 p.m. PT - National game
Thursday, August 31: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS, 7 p.m. PT
Regular season schedule
Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, September 10
Week 2: @ Seattle Seahawks, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, September 17
Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams, 5:25 p.m., NFL Network, Thursday, September 21
Week 4: @ Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, October 1
Week 5: @ Indianapolis Colts, 10:00 a.m., FOX, Sunday, October 8
Week 6: @ Washington, 10:00 a.m., FOX, Sunday, October 15
Week 7: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, October 22
Week 8: @ Philadelphia Eagles, 10:00 a.m., FOX, Sunday, October 29
Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., FOX, Sunday, November 5
Week 10: vs. New York Giants, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, November 12
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m., FOX, November 26
Week 13: @ Chicago Bears, 10:00 a.m., FOX, Sunday, December 3
Week 14: @ Houston Texans, 10:00 a.m., FOX, Sunday, December 10
Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:25 p.m., CBS, Sunday, December 17
Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:05 p.m., CBS, Sunday, December 24
Week 17: @ Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., FOX, Sunday, December 31