4 Biggest Questions After 49ers' Preseason Opener

We know the 49ers have one of the best running backs in the league in Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey was able to play in all 17 games last year and perform at an elite level, but you always need to have a solid backup, especially given McCaffrey's injury history.

The 49ers drafted Kaelon Black this year, and he's had some good moments at camp. Jordan James has also looked good at times, but both Black and James have been banged up. That left Sincere McCormick, Patrick Taylor Jr., and Khalil Herbert as the primary ball-carriers against the Titans.

That trio did not perform up to expectations. Nobody averaged even four yards per carry or picked up 40 yards. It's fair to wonder how this room would hold up if McCaffrey were to go down in 2026.

Will Anybody Step Up to Claim Left Guard Spot?

Robert Jones, Connor Colby, and Carver Willis have been in a three-way battle for the starting left guard job all summer. Willis is behind because he missed some time with an injury, so it seems like Jones or Colby will win the job.

Jones was not good at all against the Titans. The veteran had the worst PFF grade of anybody on the offense, and Colby has suddenly been getting run at right guard instead of left. We've seen nothing so far to feel confident in either player manning the left guard spot, so it's fair to wonder if the team will be forced to look outside for a solution.

How Much Can De'Zhaun Stribling Contribute Immediately?

De'Zhaun Stribling has as much hype as anybody on the roster this summer. Stribling has been receiving praise all summer for his speed and strength, and he carried that positive momentum into the preseason opener.

Stribling led the 49ers in catches and yards and showed that he has real starter potential. It was a bit surprising to see veteran Demarcus Robinson listed ahead of Stribling on the initial depth chart, and it'll be interesting to see if that remains the case.

Can the Team Get and Stay Healthy?

Injuries have been a constant problem for the 49ers over the last few seasons. Last year, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner were the big losses. Right now, everybody except Ricky Pearsall seems ready to go in 2026, but will that remain the case?

Mykel Williams is yet to come back from his 2025 injury, and Bosa has missed a ton of time this summer. As mentioned above, the running back has been ravaged by injuries, and the edge rusher room has seen several players go down as well.

This is one of the best rosters in the league, but they need to be at full strength if they want to win the Super Bowl. The team needs to get through the preseason without any more major injuries.