Eight players who 49ers should put in bubble wrap until season opener

SANTA CLARA — It used to be that NFL teams used training camp to beat their teams into shape.

Now it’s a delicate balance of giving them just enough contact to get ready while at the same time trying to keep the most important players ready to perform for Week 1.

It remains to be seen how extensive the 49ers’ joint practice Thursday with the Las Vegas Raiders in Nevada will be, with coach Kyle Shanahan and Raiders coach Pete Carroll having already talked about the way both teams can get adequate work.

As much as Shanahan believes players get better by playing and practicing — a logical, practical way for any coach to look at things — Job 1 is getting to their season opener on the road Sept. 7 against the Seattle Seahawks with their best players on the field.

If some of them aren’t at peak performance because of lack of practice reps, so be it.

A look at the most indispensable 49ers when they resume practice Tuesday before traveling to Las Vegas for a practice and preseason game Saturday against the Raiders:

1. Nick Bosa

There is nothing like him on the roster as an edge pass rusher and he’s underrated as being the total package at defensive end. Trade acquisition Bryce Huff has been underwhelming during training camp. Maybe he’s a veteran who’s pacing himself. Rookie first-round pick Mykel Williams should be a factor, but they’re talking about using him inside quite a bit and he’s got a hyper-extended knee. If he’s anything approximating DeForest Buckner or Arik Armstead, he’s worth the pick. But that’s still not a pure edge rusher.

2. Trent Williams

Another unicorn of his position even at age 37. And frankly he’s been on the field in training camp more than I expected through 13 practices.

Williams hasn’t played a full schedule since 2013, so it’s a good bet at some point he’ll miss a game or two. Just don’t make it an early one. It’s said that Mount Thor in Canada is considered the most dangerous cliff among climbers with a 1,250-meter vertical drop. The second biggest is Williams to Spencer Burford at left tackle. Maybe Andre Dillard can help.

The 49ers are 4-12 without Williams since 2020.

3. Ricky Pearsall Jr.

Sounds pretty high for a second-year wide receiver. Look at what’s behind him. Brandon Aiyuk is out in the six-game range rehabbing a torn ACL/MCL. Demarcus Robinson will likely miss at least three games after pleading no contest to a November DUI. Fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins has shown flashes but has a high ankle sprain, is out a month and loses prime development time.

Pearsall in the last two weeks has been one of the camp standouts, one of the few guys consistently breaking way into the clear. Better than anything we saw from Deebo Samuel in 2024. He and Brock Purdy seem on the same page. For the first quarter of the season at least, he needs to be WR2 behind Jauan Jennings and he can’t do that if he sustains another injury. And if Jennings’ calf/contract negotiation continues, he may need to be WR1.

4. Christian McCaffrey

The 49ers claim they’re handling McCaffrey the same way as two years ago, but it seems he’s getting more of the kid-gloves treatment and that’s a good thing. Looked very good in Monday’s practice. There is no earthly reason to expose him to injury, especially with Isaac Guerendo out at least two more weeks with a shoulder injury and fifth-round pick Jordan Davis nursing a knee injury. Jeff Wilson Jr. is back as a stopgap going into his eighth year. Corey Kiner could be their latest undrafted free agent find and he’s more of a runner/receiver than Jordan Mason.

George Kittle may not leave the sidelines for the 49ers in three preseason games, and that’s a good thing. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group

5. George Kittle

He’s had a great camp and has taken a seat for just one practice. With Luke Farrell as a blocking tight end, Kittle can do more in the receiving game and join Pearsall as a trusted target for Purdy. There’s no one else like him on the roster. Not even close. As much as he loves to play, Kittle should start being a spectator until the season starts.

6. Fred Warner

Too good to be at No. 6, but look at the names in front of him. Warner really wasn’t himself after an ankle fracture in Week 4 against New England but was still good enough to be an All-Pro, although some of that was on reputation.

The 49ers like Tatum Bethune as a backup in the middle, but he’s more of a standard thumper and unable to do the sideline-to-sideline damage Warner can when fully healthy. Dee Winters looks as if he’s taken a step forward to replace Dre Greenlaw but he’s not in Warner’s class either as a leader and a prototype modern middle linebacker.

7. Brock Purdy

The most important player on any team is the quarterback. Case closed, end of story. And Purdy got what he deserved in the form of an extension worth a maximum of $265 million. Purdy has grown quite a bit since his rookie year, according to Wilson, who was traded to Miami just as Purdy was ascending in the starting job as a rookie.

“It’s just his aura. He doesn’t even have to speak,” Wilson said Monday. “You can feel it on him. You can feel his presence.”

So why is he No. 7? Because the backup is Mac Jones, and not Brandon Allen and/or Josh Dobbs. Jones gives the 49ers insurance at quarterback that they don’t currently have at wide receiver, running back, linebacker or any other position. As good as Sam Darnold’s arm talent was, he doesn’t fit the Shanahan system as well as Jones. That’s what it’s looked like on the practice field anyway.

Purdy wants some preseason snaps and he’ll probably get them. But hold your breath.

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8. Deommodore Lenoir

One of the NFL’s most versatile corners can operate mostly on the outside, assuming rookie Upton Stout hasn’t been a mirage at slot corner. Or Lenoir can go back to his dual role as Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside if need be.

With cornerback Renardo Green missing a lot of training camp with a hamstring strain, Lenoir’s presence is even more important.

Either way, Lenoir is a tone-setter, the key to the 49ers’ secondary. Willing and able to stick his nose inside and make a tackle, Lenoir has missed some time due to a hip injury and he should be brought along with the idea of Week 1 being the goal.