How to watch 49ers vs Titans in the USA

49ers vs. Titans will be available to watch live in the United States on NFL Network. The preseason matchup is part of NFL Network’s 2026 preseason coverage, while the game will also be available to stream through NFL+ and ESPN Unlimited.

Can I watch 49ers vs Titans for free?

There is currently no confirmed free legal way to watch the game in the U.S. The preseason matchup is scheduled to air on NFL Network and stream through NFL+ and ESPN Unlimited.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The 49ers vs. Titans preseason opener is an important evaluation opportunity for both teams rather than a game with regular-season standings implications. San Francisco will host Tennessee at Levi’s Stadium after the two teams hold a joint practice on August 11, giving both coaching staffs a chance to evaluate players in a more competitive environment before Thursday’s game.

The matchup also has an interesting storyline on the sidelines. Robert Saleh is making his preseason debut as the Titans‘ head coach against his former team, having previously served as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator from 2017-2020 and again in 2025. He was hired by Tennessee in January and is beginning the process of rebuilding a team that finished 3-14 last season.

For Tennessee, one of the biggest things to watch will be Cam Ward, the team’s young quarterback, and how he performs against San Francisco’s defense during the joint practice and preseason game. The Titans are also evaluating rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate, while the 49ers’ secondary will get an early test against the new Tennessee offensive combination.

San Francisco, meanwhile, has several roster battles that could make the preseason opener particularly valuable. The 49ers’ first unofficial depth chart shows competition at wide receiver, left guard, cornerback and other positions, while players on the roster bubble will have an opportunity to strengthen their case before the final roster decisions.

What time is the 49ers vs Titans match?

The game kicks off on Thursday, August 13, at 9:00 PM ET. The matchup will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with the 49ers listing a 6:00 PM local kickoff.

• Eastern Time: 9:00 PM
• Central Time: 8:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 7:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 6:00 PM

Per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Brock Purdy won’t be playing for the 49ers vs Titans. Given how injury prone the 49ers have been lately, it’s not shocking that the team is opting to rest their franchise quaterback. There were also questions on if Cam Ward will play vs 49ers.

Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke and Adrian Martinez are the team’s available quarterbacks against Tennessee. Given that Jones is clearly the backup, it wouldn’t be shocking that Rourke and Martinez get the most snaps in this game.

Purdy’s preseason numbers have been declining

Usually, when numbers decline, those are red flags. However, when it’s on preseason, it means you’re more relevant to the team, hence you see less snaps. Given that Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant at first and is now the 49ers franchise QB, his snaps in preseason ended up getting smaller and smaller.

Will Shanahan be on the sidelines vs Titans?

Reports of The New York Times state that Kyle Shanahan will be on the sidelines despite him being still on the recovery end of a car crash a few weeks ago. While the starters won’t play, the head coach will be there.

Starting quarterbacks—and NFL starters in general—rarely play more than a couple of drives in Week 1 of the preseason. For example, San Francisco’s quarterback Brock Purdy won’t play against Tennessee in the preseason. Regardless, Ward made his intentions clear as the Titans take on the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

“Cam Ward said he’s excited to get more than a couple of drives in the preseason game on Thursday. Ward said he’s looking forward to getting into a rhythm,” Turron Davenport of ESPN NFL Nation reported on his X account.

Ward won’t play much

Albeit his personal wish for the upcoming preseason game against the Niners, it’s unlikely Saleh and the Titans will risk Ward by playing him for too long. It’s only the first preseason game, at the end of the day.

As important as it is for Ward and Tennessee that the starting quarterback finds his footing before Week 1 of the NFL regular season, keeping him safe and away from injuries or setbacks is paramount.

Ward will get his chance to lead more than a couple of drives and play up to an entire quarter or half later in the preseason. For the time being, he must be content with stepping onto the field for a couple of drives.

Who will be playing instead of Ward?

Ward will start the game for the Titans against the Niners but will be replaced early on. Instead, backup quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky, Will Levis, and Hendon Hooker will share most of the offensive drives.

They have much more to prove, as there is no debate over who the Titans’ starting quarterback is, but the QB2 role is still up for grabs.

Ward wants to walk his talk

Coming off a heated week of joint practices against the 49ers, Ward wants to send his message on the field. That’s not to say he didn’t engage in the trash talk throughout the week, though. According to reports from practice, Ward and San Francisco star Fred Warner went at it, though it was all in good competitive spirit.

“Yeah, [Warner was talking a lot]. I got him riled up a little bit. But that’s what I want to see. I want him to be at his best, so when I’m at my best, I know what I can and can’t do in a game,” Ward said after the Titans’ joint practice with the Niners. “He helped me out a lot. I started talking (expletive). The right things to say to a guy like that, because they don’t hear that a lot from specific quarterbacks.”

While Warner will likely play limited snaps as well in the opening week of the NFL Preseason, Ward is looking to send a message in the few plays he goes up against the 49ers’ starting defense, and show them he is nothing to play with entering his sophomore year in the league.

“Just soreness, tendinitis,” Shanahan said during his press conference. “It’s a pretty normal thing with ACLs. Talking to our guys, they say it happens with about 90 percent of the [time]. So, it’s a normal thing. We’ve got to be smart here week to week, but no concerns about it being any more than that.”

With Mykel Williams on the PUP list, it will be key for Shanahan to have Bosa available from Day 1 of next season. To achieve that, caution regarding his recovery is a top priority.

Nick Bosa’s lengthy layoff

Nick Bosa suffered a serious knee injury during a September 21, 2025 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, ultimately undergoing surgery on September 26 to repair a torn ACL. The setback derailed his campaign and underscored his recent durability challenges, as the 28-year-old star has not posted a double-digit sack season since 2023—the last time he managed to appear in all 17 regular season games.

In fact, Bosa has played in just 17 total games over the past two seasons combined, recording 11 sacks during that stretch as he works to regain his status as one of the NFL‘s premier edge rushers.

San Francisco’s upcoming games

Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers will kick off their 2026 preseason action at home on Thursday, August 13, hosting the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Following their opener, the 49ers hit the road for back-to-back exhibition road tests against AFC West opponents, traveling to face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Thursday, August 20, before closing out their preseason slate against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, August 27.

The 49ers must avoid more injuries

The 49ers saw their 2025 season severely impacted by major injuries to several of their foundational stars. Fred Warner suffered a season-ending fractured and dislocated ankle against Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while George Kittle was sidelined early with a hamstring strain before suffering a torn Achilles in the postseason.

Additionally, Christian McCaffrey dealt with persistent calf and leg issues that limited his effectiveness, leaving San Francisco without its key playmakers for crucial stretches of the year.

“He’s a little sore, but he’s doing fine, so we’ll just kind of manage him as we go,” the Offensive Coordinator said during his press conference. Overworking certain players during this stage of the 2026 training camp could be detrimental, and there is no need to take that risk.

“Christian always kind of has his rep count in any camp,” Kubiak also added. “You guys are aware of the adjustments we’ve made to our schedule to kind of keep them from having too many off days.

“But in terms of his rep load, we’re right on track with where we want to be. And, he’s a veteran player, so you have to monitor him and get him ready for the first week.” San Francisco will make its debut against the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 in Australia.

Injuries, 49ers’ Achilles’ heel

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a brutal wave of injuries throughout their 2025 campaign, losing key starters on both sides of the ball for extended stretches. George Kittle missed six regular-season games with soft-tissue and ankle injuries before tragically tearing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs, while star linebacker Fred Warner played through a severe injury that ultimately sidelined him late in the year.

To make matters worse heading into the offseason, Kyle Shanahan confirmed that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will undergo knee surgery to repair a meniscus tear sustained in the regular-season finale, capping off a nightmare medical stretch for the franchise.

San Francisco’s important backfield

It is clear that coach Shanahan has Christian McCaffrey as his main presence in the backfield in the Bay Area. Beyond him, this team’s depth chart promises to be an important source of help for Brock Purdy.

• Jordan James
• Kaelon Black
• Isaac Guerendo
• Khalil Herbert
• Patrick Taylor Jr.
• Sincere McCormick

“Yeah, it depends if he stays healthy,” Shanahan told reporters on Saturday. “Mike to me is always, if you’re a starting receiver, you’re out there a ton which everyone is. I forget what it was last year, maybe hamstring, where he missed time and when that happens you miss games.

“But Mike’s going to be a starting receiver here and we don’t like any of our guys to go every play. We want our guys going full speed and it’s hard to go full speed every play. So, we’re always going to spell guys. But hopefully, he’s got a little quad right now, which I know Mike probably believes he could be back right now. We’re being smart with him, but he’s going to be good to go.”

Brock Purdy has an elite wide receiver in Evans, who can make a difference when healthy. Can this duo lead San Francisco back to the top of the NFL?

An elite weapon for the 49ers

With the addition of Mike Evans, the San Francisco 49ers added one of the most reliable wide receivers of his generation. Although injury issues limited his final 2025 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to just 8 games—finishing with 30 receptions, 368 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns—his broader resume speaks for itself.

Evans holds the NFL record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start a career with 11 straight from 2014 to 2024, bringing a elite, proven deep-ball and red-zone threat to the 49ers’ offense.

What injury is Evans dealing with?

After missing several games in 2025 due to a hamstring strain and a broken collarbone, Mike Evans is currently recovering from a strained quadriceps suffered during the first week of 2026 training camp with the San Francisco 49ers.

The first challenges for Shanahan and the 49ers

Kyle Shanahan wants to take San Francisco back to the Super Bowl, and to do so, he will need to get off to a strong start in the upcoming NFL season.

• vs Los Angeles Rams, Week 1
• vs Miami Dolphins, Week 2
• vs Arizona Cardinals, Week 3
• vs Denver Broncos, Week 4
• at Seattle Seahawks, Week 5

Earlier this week, the 49ers also re-signed Deebo Samuel, updating their wide receiver depth chart. However, they had already secured a top-tier wideout in Evans, a player Purdy is thrilled to work alongside.

“Mike is a different breed when it comes to playing X-receiver,” Purdy told NFL Network. “Having all the abilities and gadgets to run quick routes, medium routes, and then go deep. And honestly, when it looks like he’s covered, still giving him a chance and having him go up and get it—I’ve never really had that in my career.“

Mike Evans lands in an ideal offensive scheme

In head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers possess one of the finest offensive minds in the NFL. Shanahan has guided Brock Purdy into an elite distributor, even while navigating persistent injuries across the skill positions over recent seasons.

Now, the Niners made the deliberate decision to provide Purdy with a physical, dominant boundary receiver in Evans. While the veteran dealt with an injury-disrupted 2025 campaign, he enters an ideal environment in San Francisco to showcase that he remains a upper-tier playmaker.

A six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, Evans brings immediate game-changing utility to Purdy’s offense. Paired with fellow veteran Deebo Samuel, the 49ers’ intention is clear: give their quarterback two reliable, experienced sets of hands to elevate his execution and maintain command over the NFC West.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, De’Zhaun Stribling did not practice on Saturday due to what the 49ers called hamstring tightness. Stribling is one of the most controversial rookie WRs in this class due to his position in the NFL Draft.

Stribling was the first player chosen in the second round by the 49ers where there were other names better ranked. Hence, Stribling has to deliver due to his draft position, and of course, due to the Niners’ necessities right now.

How does Stribling fits into the 49ers WR room?

Rookie De’Zhaun Stribling fits into the San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver room as an developmental vertical target and potential Z receiver option. Playing alongside veteran addition Mike Evans and the returning Deebo Samuel, Stribling benefits from an elite supporting cast while fighting for rotational snaps.

The three of them make a very physical, tough WR room. Samuel is notorious for yards after catch and withstanding contact. Evans is famous for his toughness, and Stribling fits that mold.

Kyle Shanahan must be tired from all the injuries

Evans has suffered serious injuries last season, as well as Deebo Samuel, and now Pearsall will miss the season and Stribling is dealing with hamstring issues. Hence, once again Kyle Shanahan is dealing with a hurt WR room, who can get even more hurt if luck doesn’t join them.

On Saturday, 49ers general manager John Lynch announced that Pearsall will be sidelined for the 2026 campaign as he undergoes surgery to repair a lingering PCL injury in his knee.

This unfortunate update shakes up the wide receiver room. Pearsall was projected as a top-three option in the offense, but quarterback Brock Purdy will now have to rely on other weapons in the upcoming campaign.

The 49ers were prepared for Pearsall’s loss

The acquisition of Deebo Samuel earlier this week surprised many 49ers fans. However, the move now makes complete sense, as San Francisco was preparing for the worst regarding Ricky Pearsall’s health.

On the depth chart, Mike Evans stands as WR1, with Christian Kirk working alongside him and Deebo Samuel taking over the WR3 role that Pearsall was expected to occupy for the 2026 season.

Kirk is currently dealing with a calf injury and is listed as questionable, but the 49ers believe he will be ready to start Week 1, creating a solid receiving trio alongside Evans and Samuel.

San Francisco must avoid further injury setbacks

In losing Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers will undoubtedly miss a dynamic weapon in Brock Purdy’s offense. He was set to forge a strong partnership with Evans and Kirk, but Samuel will now step in as his replacement.

In recent years, San Francisco has been one of the most injury-prone teams in the league. However, if the 49ers can stay healthy, they remain a top contender for the 2026 season.

Due to Brandon Aiyuk’s uncertain status and lingering depth concerns, the 49ers decided to bolster their wide receiver room by reuniting with Deebo Samuel. He will join Mike Evans as one of the primary weapons for Brock Purdy, and Evans is thrilled about the addition.

“I met him at the Pro Bowl in 2021. We hit it off. We were hanging out all week. I love the way he plays the game,” Evans said on Friday. “I think he’s gonna bring what he brought before to the team. Energy. Versatility. Hell of a pickup for us.”

Aiming to achieve success in 2026

When the 49ers signed Mike Evans in free agency, the message was clear: winning in 2026 is crucial. Evans remains an elite target, but age is gradually becoming a factor in his career timeline.

With the return of Deebo Samuel, that championship urgency intensifies. Samuel enjoyed standout seasons during his initial tenure in San Francisco, though recent campaigns have been hampered by injury setbacks.

Operating with a veteran tandem whose 2026 season could mark a final championship run together, the 49ers aim to secure a Super Bowl title this year before eventually re-tooling the position.

What will happen with Brandon Aiyuk?

As for Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers still have him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list. The wideout is no longer part of their long-term plans, yet San Francisco has been unable to find a trade partner for him so far.

It appears to be only a matter of time before the 49ers release him. However, rumors suggest an early retirement could also be on the table as he continues struggling to recover successfully from his ACL injury.

With Samuel’s return, here is how the team’s wide receiver depth chart looks:

• Mike Evans
• Deebo Samuel
• Jordan Watkins
• Malik Turner
• Ricky Pearsall
• De’Zhaun Stribling
• Jacob Cowing
• Colton Dowell
• Christian Kirk
• Demarcus Robinson
• Brandon Aiyuk
• Junior Bergen

The 49ers’ decision

The 49ers said Wednesday that Pearsall has swelling in the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that left them with some “concern.” They added that they were exploring “all options,” presumably including surgical procedures that would keep Pearsall out for a long time. In addition to Pearsall’s uncertain status, veteran wideout Christian Kirk also has missed recent training camp practices because of a strained calf.

The 49ers originally selected Samuel in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he was a staple in their offense until the 2025 offseason, when he was traded to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick.

Samuel appeared in 16 games for the Commanders last season, posting 72 catches for 727 yards and five touchdowns. He added 17 carries for 75 yards and another score.

Samuel’s standout characteristics

Samuel called his position “wide back” because of his ability to do both. At his peak in 2021, Samuel had a combined 1,770 rushing and receiving yards with 12 touchdowns from scrimmage, earning Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors in leading the 49ers to an NFC Championship Game appearance.

For his NFL career, Samuel has 219 carries for 1,218 yards and 21 touchdowns, with 406 receptions for 5,519 yards and 27 scores. These are star-caliber numbers that will certainly provide an added boost to the 49ers.