The San Francisco 49ers will travel to Las Vegas on Thursday to face the Raiders in their final preseason matchup before heading to Australia for their season opener. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that the team will deploy primarily reserve and fringe players rather than starters, given the compressed timeline before the international journey and the significant injury situation affecting the roster.
With approximately a quarter of the team currently sidelined by injuries, San Francisco will depart for Melbourne next Wednesday to prepare for their Week 1 contest against the Rams scheduled for September 10th. The challenging circumstances surrounding this overseas trip have become a focal point for Shanahan, who emphasized the difficulty of getting his depleted roster ready for the three-and-a-half-hour flight and the adjustment period that follows.
For the 90 players remaining in camp competing for roster spots, Thursday’s game represents a final opportunity to impress the decision-makers. However, Shanahan cautioned that making the initial 53-man roster carries no guarantee of remaining on the team, as the organization continuously evaluates available talent throughout the offseason and beyond.
The coach’s focus remains on navigating the roster decisions and final cuts scheduled for Sunday while ensuring his team remains healthy enough to compete effectively once they arrive in Australia for what marks the NFL’s first regular season game on the continent.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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