The San Francisco 49ers have made a significant change to their preseason schedule, announcing that they have mutually agreed with the New Orleans Saints to cancel their planned joint practices. The decision was driven primarily by the mounting injuries that have plagued the 49ers during training camp.
With a staggering 23 players sitting out of practice just a few days ago, the 49ers were facing the prospect of not having enough healthy bodies to make the joint sessions with the Saints as productive as hoped.
Key players such as running back Christian McCaffrey, linebacker Fred Warner, and cornerback Ambry Thomas have all missed time due to various soft tissue injuries, compounding the team’s roster challenges.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan had traditionally viewed the joint practices as a better gauge of his team’s progress than the preseason games themselves. However, with the team’s depth being tested, the 49ers decided it was in their best interest to cancel the joint sessions.
Why The San Francisco 49ers Canceled Practices With New Orleans Saints
Since the practice sessions were canceled, the 49ers will have to come up with something on their own. In an article by Nick Wagoner for ESPN, the team has decided to hone their game at home.
“Instead of traveling to Irvine, the Niners plan to practice at home in Santa Clara on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week before Sunday’s exhibition game against New Orleans,” Wagoner wrote.
Saints’ head coach Dennis Allen expressed disappointment but said he was not overly concerned about the change in plans. Allen indicated that his team would look at possibly scheduling practices against another squad, but acknowledged that it was unlikely to materialize.
The 49ers will now concentrate on their own practices this week, with sessions scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, before hosting the Saints for a preseason game on Sunday. The decision to cancel the joint practices underscores the challenges the 49ers face in keeping their roster healthy and ready for the upcoming season, as they aim to build on their success from the previous year.
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