The San Francisco 49ers officially open training camp on July 26th with a roster that looks dramatically different from the group that finished last season. Brock Purdy remains the franchise quarterback, Mike Evans headlines a rebuilt receiving corps and Raheem Morris begins his first camp as defensive coordinator.
Brandon Aiyuk’s unresolved situation also continues to hang over the organization.
The 49ers scored 437 points last season, averaging 25.7 per game, but the offense did not always feel as dominant as those numbers suggested. San Francisco remained competitive, but its shrinking margin for error created legitimate questions about whether the roster was still elite.
I explored that concern earlier this offseason in The 49ers Are Still Competitive, But No Longer Elite.
Training camp will begin revealing whether the organization actually fixed those problems or simply added more recognizable names.
The 49ers will host 11 open practices at the SAP Performance Facility next to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
July
August
Location: SAP Performance Facility, Santa Clara, California
Practice Time: 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. PT
Gates Open: 9 a.m. PT
Tickets cost $10 for season-ticket members and $20 for non-members. Proceeds benefit the 49ers Foundation, while children ages 2 and under receive free admission.
Parking is available in Red Lot 1 beginning at 8 a.m. PT, with complimentary shuttle service to the practice facility.
Several dates carry additional significance. NFL Network’s Back Together Weekend arrives Aug. 1, while Dwight Clark “87 Day” takes place Aug. 6.
The 49ers will then host the Titans for a joint practice Aug. 11 before their preseason opener.
Few connections will receive more attention than Brock Purdy and Mike Evans.
Evans arrives after producing 12 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, the longest active streak in NFL history. His ability to win outside the numbers gives Brock Purdy a dimension the offense has lacked.
That matters because the 49ers’ passing game did not always stretch defenses vertically last season.
San Francisco still averaged 25.7 points per game, but opposing safeties often played closer to the line of scrimmage. That compressed throwing lanes for Purdy and created heavier boxes for Christian McCaffrey.
Evans can change that geometry.
Defenses have to respect his ability to win downfield, which should create more space for George Kittle across the middle and McCaffrey underneath. Christian Kirk also gives Purdy another dependable route runner who can attack shorter areas.
The offense doesn’t need more receptions or yards. It needs playmakers who force defenses to cover every part of the field.
That was one of the primary needs identified in my San Francisco 49ers mock draft, which focused on restoring protection and offensive explosiveness.
Evans wasn’t part of that draft projection, but his arrival addresses the same central concern.
Brandon Aiyuk probably won’t participate in training camp, but his situation remains impossible to ignore.
Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list after repeatedly criticizing the organization and publicly expressing interest in joining the Washington Commanders. His recent social-media activity has only widened the divide between the receiver and the franchise.
Earlier this offseason, Aiyuk said he would sign with Washington immediately if San Francisco released him.
That declaration sparked another wave of rumors, although the 49ers still control his contractual rights. I broke down that leverage and the financial obstacles in Brandon Aiyuk Says He’d Sign With The Commanders Tomorrow, Sparking New 49ers Rumors.
From a football perspective, San Francisco must prepare as though Aiyuk will not contribute.
Evans and Kirk now lead a receiver room that also includes Ricky Pearsall, De’Zhaun Stribling, Jacob Cowing and several players competing for the final roster spots.
Aiyuk’s absence creates uncertainty, but it also creates opportunity.
The most important training camp question is no longer whether Aiyuk can return to form. It is whether the 49ers have built an offense capable of moving forward without him.
The defense allowed 371 points last season, placing San Francisco in the middle of the league rather than among its elite units.
The group remained competitive, but it didn’t consistently overwhelm opponents.
Bosa recorded 14 sacks despite seeing double teams on nearly every passing down. The problem wasn’t Bosa—it was that offenses could focus protection his way without another edge consistently winning.
One elite pass rusher can disrupt a play. Two can change an entire protection scheme.
The 49ers attempted to address that imbalance by acquiring defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa from the Dallas Cowboys. San Francisco gave up a third-round selection in the deal, reflecting how urgently the organization viewed its defensive-line needs.
Odighizuwa should provide interior pressure and make it harder for quarterbacks to step forward when Bosa attacks from the edge.
Morris now needs to turn those pieces into a more aggressive and connected unit.
His arrival also represents another major transition after Robert Saleh’s departure. I previously examined why losing Saleh created pressure beyond simple schematic changes in 49ers Abrupt Reality Check: Robert Saleh’s Exit Hits Home.
Training camp will offer the first extended look at whether Morris can replace that leadership while restoring the defense’s ability to control games.
Left guard may be the most important camp battle because it directly affects Brock Purdy. Interior pressure disrupted the offense more consistently than edge pressure last season, collapsing the pocket before Shanahan’s deeper concepts had time to develop.
Brett Toth, Robert Jones and younger linemen will compete for the starting role throughout camp.
The winner has to do more than survive.
San Francisco needs a guard capable of anchoring against power rushers, passing off stunts and maintaining the structure of the pocket. If the interior continues leaking pressure, Evans’ arrival will matter less because Purdy will not have time to attack downfield.
This competition connects directly to the concerns raised in The 49ers Are Still Competitive, But No Longer Elite.
The offensive line doesn’t need to become dominant overnight. It does need to become dependable enough to keep the playbook open.
Evans and Kirk appear positioned to lead the group, but the depth chart behind them remains unsettled.
Pearsall enters camp facing significant pressure after injuries disrupted the beginning of his career. He really needs prove he can stay available, create separation and become more than a complementary option.
Stribling also has a legitimate opportunity.
The rookie’s size and athletic ability could earn him early snaps, especially if he proves capable of contributing on special teams. Cowing and other young receivers will also compete for limited roster positions.
Aiyuk’s situation makes this competition even more important.
Every practice rep that would have gone to Aiyuk now becomes an opportunity for someone else to establish a role.
Bosa’s job is secure.
The battle opposite him is not.
San Francisco’s defense becomes far less dangerous when offenses can devote additional protection toward Bosa without consequences elsewhere. The defense needs another edge player who can consistently create pressure rather than simply occupy snaps.
The addition of Odighizuwa should help inside, but Morris still needs someone capable of winning one-on-one matchups from the opposite edge.
Training camp production will matter, but preseason performance may be even more important. Coaches need to determine which player can maintain discipline against the run while still affecting quarterbacks.
Cornerback could become one of camp’s most competitive groups.
Veterans will battle for immediate playing time, while rookie Ephesians Prysock enters with the size and athletic tools needed to challenge for a rotational role.
The 49ers allowed 371 points last season, and not all of those issues began with the pass rush.
When pressure didn’t arrive, coverage struggled to hold long enough. Better communication and stronger depth at cornerback could give Morris more freedom to disguise coverages and send additional pressure.
Prysock doesn’t need to become a Week 1 star.
He needs to prove he can survive NFL speed, tackle consistently and avoid major coverage mistakes.
Safety may not generate as many headlines, but it carries significant importance in Morris’ system.
Communication problems at the back end can turn small mistakes into explosive plays. Safeties must recognize motion, handle coverage exchanges and provide help when cornerbacks lose leverage.
Versatility will likely decide the final roster spots.
Players who can contribute at both safety positions and on special teams will hold a clear advantage as the 49ers trim the roster.
Stribling enters camp with perhaps the clearest route to offensive snaps.
Aiyuk’s uncertain status has created additional opportunities within the receiver rotation. Stribling can strengthen his case by winning contested catches, improving as a route runner and contributing on special teams.
Prysock has the physical profile to compete early.
His development will depend on how quickly he processes route combinations and adjusts to NFL receivers. A strong camp could move him from developmental prospect to rotational defender.
Dugger’s fastest path to the active roster may come through special teams.
The 49ers value linebackers who can run, tackle in space and contribute across multiple units. Dugger could eventually earn defensive snaps, but special-teams reliability will likely determine whether he dresses on game days.
Evans arrives with an established résumé, but several returning players face pivotal camps.
Pearsall isn’t just competing for snaps. He’s competing to prove he can become part of the post-Aiyuk future.
Defensive backs are also competing for snaps within a new system, while edge rushers must show they can provide support for Bosa.
Training camp doesn’t only reveal new stars. It exposes which players have been passed by.
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Football is back, and so are Super Bowl expectations in Santa Clara.
The 49ers don’t need to prove they have recognizable stars. They need to prove they have rebuilt the layers around them.
Last season showed what happens when the interior offensive line breaks down, when Bosa receives little help and when the passing game cannot consistently stretch the field.
San Francisco spent the offseason responding to those weaknesses.
Evans adds vertical and red-zone pressure. Kirk adds reliability. Odighizuwa strengthens the interior pass rush. Morris brings a new defensive philosophy after Saleh’s departure.
The questions have changed, but the standard has not.
That standard still traces back to the franchise’s championship teams, particularly the 1994 group that combined elite quarterback play, explosive weapons and a defense without obvious weaknesses. I revisited that comparison in San Francisco 49ers: The Standard Set In 1994 Still Haunts Today.
The 2026 roster doesn’t need to become the 1994 team. They do need to prove they can stop surviving weaknesses and start controlling games again.
Training camp is where that process begins.
The first open practice is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2026.
Practices are held at the SAP Performance Facility next to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Yes. The team has scheduled 11 open practices, although tickets are limited.
Tickets cost $10 for season-ticket members and $20 for non-members. Children ages 2 and under are admitted free.
The 49ers host the Tennessee Titans for a joint practice Aug. 11.
Aiyuk remains on the reserve/left squad list, and his future with the team remains unresolved.
Left guard, wide receiver depth, edge rusher, cornerback and safety are among the most important competitions entering camp.
Purdy, Evans, Bosa, Odighizuwa, Pearsall, Stribling, Prysock and the players competing at left guard will be among the most important names to follow.
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