The San Francisco 49ers are set to engage in their second joint practice of the preseason this week against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Chargers' El Segundo facility. This session follows a previous practice with the Tennessee Titans, which was marred by numerous on-field altercations and player ejections.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized the importance of avoiding such disruptions, noting that player ejections lead to lost practice reps, which can have a cascading effect on team preparation. "You don’t really care about scuffles. You just hate losing guys," Shanahan stated. "The player loses all the reps for the day and then your position’s down for the whole day, so that usually can be a chain reaction to other guys. That’s why we don’t want that to happen."
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris acknowledged the need for a more composed approach. "We’ll see if we can go out there and have a more composed practice and play a little bit better and play faster and do some different things that we want to do," Morris said. "I think it’s just a steady process to get to that first game." He added that while maintaining an edge is crucial, the team must find a balance to complete essential work. "Composure is about everything that we do in our game, so it’s just one of those things."
These joint practices are viewed as a significant measuring stick for the team, particularly for players who will not participate in the subsequent preseason game. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak described them as "the big measuring stick," where coaches can meticulously plan and evaluate player performance against a set opponent. "That’s where we know we have a plan about how many reps guys are going to get. We know what we’re going against. That’ll be set going into that practice. That’s a big day for our team."
The matchup against the Chargers presents a substantial test. Quarterback Brock Purdy will face a Chargers defense that yielded the fifth-fewest yards in the NFL last season, and the 49ers' secondary will be tested by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Coaches are also closely monitoring the battle for the left guard position, where Robert Jones, Carver Willis, and Connor Colby are competing against the Chargers' first-string defense.
Shanahan has utilized joint practices more frequently in recent years, partly due to his former assistants now holding coaching positions throughout the league, which facilitates communication and feedback. He noted that discussions with former colleagues, like Chargers head coach Brandon Staley and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, provide an impartial assessment of his team's performance. "We’re not the biggest note takers, but we’re more FaceTimers," Shanahan said. "So, we sat there and FaceTimed a little bit the last two nights, just talking about what we saw from each other. It’s a little bit easier when you’re in different conferences. You don’t have to lie as much."