Joint practices are a significant part of training camp for NFL teams, as it gives them a chance to measure up where they’re at in a competitive sense by scrimmaging against another team.
Since most starters don’t play during preseason games, teams rely on these joint practices to get enough reps in to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.
The San Francisco 49ers had a joint practice scheduled with the New Orleans Saints this week in Southern California, but they canceled it, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said they did so because “the risk was too much” given how many injuries they have, per 95.7 The Game.
“The risk was too much. Outweighed the reward.”
Kyle Shanahan on the decision to cancel joint practice with the Saints pic.twitter.com/1QNDjXReD8
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) August 12, 2024
A number of key 49ers players are currently dealing with injuries, including running backs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, defensive end Drake Jackson, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and cornerback Ambry Thomas.
In addition, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left guard Trent Williams haven’t been practicing with the team because they’re unhappy about their current contract situation.
If a team has to experience a rash of injuries, this is the time of year to do it, but it is still problematic, as multiple injuries can cause a ripple effect that can elevate the risk of more injuries since other players have to take on a greater workload.
San Francisco will play the Saints in their second preseason game this weekend, and it looks like they are prioritizing recovery and treatment over practicing and training for the next few days or so.
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