49ers wrap joint practice with Broncos ahead of preseason opener

San Francisco and Denver competed well in a joint practice ahead of the weekend preseason opener.

49ers edge Broncos in competitive joint practice

The 49ers hosted the Broncos on Thursday for a joint practice, the lone session before Saturday’s preseason game. Early reports said Denver’s defense had the edge, but San Francisco finished the day strong as the offense found rhythm in later periods. Coach Kyle Shanahan praised the overall work, noting the one on ones and the competitive periods were productive and that facing a new group offered a valuable challenge.

Shanahan highlighted Brock Purdy’s performance, saying the quarterback handled tough situations well after being placed in demanding spots. Purdy concurred, describing the day as good overall and stressing that facing a different look helped the team prepare for real NFL pressure. The two teams will meet again in a preseason game that is expected to feature fewer starters from San Francisco as they map out depth through the roster.

Joint practices have become a key part of roster evaluation, often offering sharper insight than practice scrimmages or preseason games. They test depth across groups and expose how well players adapt to new schemes and tempo. This session underscored the ongoing competition for backup roles and the ability of the 49ers to recover after slow starts. It also highlighted the challenge of balancing rest for stars with meaningful reps for those fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster.

The day points to a broader trend in how teams prepare: tape, not chatter, will drive decisions. San Francisco will be watching the film to gauge depth at several positions and to confirm how well Purdy can respond to adversity. For Denver, the takeaway is concrete confirmation that their defense can pressure a quality opponent while also exposing where improvements are needed before the regular season.

Highlights

Rosters will tighten as the season approaches, with tape guiding the next moves.