Week of August 10, 2026
5 stories
Season recap, August 10 - 16, 2026: the biggest stories of the week, curated from the original reporting. Not a complete daily record.
NBC Sports Bay AreaArticle
The 49ers opened the 2026 preseason with a 19-13 loss to the Titans on Thursday, August 13 at Levi's Stadium. Rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling caught seven passes for 63 yards, including a 32-yard grab, before sitting out the second half. Third-string quarterback Kurtis Rourke completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards before leaving with a rib injury, and Adrian Martinez threw for 159 yards in relief, while Patrick Taylor Jr. scored the team's only touchdown on a 1-yard run and Eddy Pineiro went 1-for-2 on field goals.
YardbarkerArticle
Kurtis Rourke, a seventh-round pick in 2025, saw his first game action since his Indiana college days after missing all of last season recovering from a torn ACL. He was sharp in the first half against the Titans' early starters, connecting on 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards before departing with a rib injury. Fellow rookie De'Zhaun Stribling filled a role similar to the one vacated by departed free agent Jauan Jennings, while second-year receiver Jordan Watkins added six catches for 59 yards and rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton flashed with a tackle for loss.
Niners NationArticle
The 49ers held a joint practice session against Robert Saleh's Titans on August 11 in Santa Clara, two days before the preseason opener. Shanahan coached the August 13 game against Tennessee as part of his recovery from the July car accident, working the game largely as he normally would. The joint session was the first of two scheduled for the month, with a second set against the Chargers in El Segundo on August 18.
NFL SpyArticle
Robert Saleh earned a win in his debut as Titans head coach, 19-13 over the 49ers. Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward led a 95-yard touchdown drive on the game's first possession but finished just 5 of 12 for 57 yards in the first half. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears ran effectively behind an offensive line that opened holes against San Francisco's backup-heavy defense, while the Titans' starting secondary was tested by Rourke and the 49ers' young receivers.
49ers.comArticle
San Francisco re-signed cornerback Eli Apple on August 12, ten days after waiving him, along with defensive end Xavier Thomas and running back Zamir White. To make room, the team waived receiver Junior Bergen, punter Jack Bouwmeester, and waived-injured defensive lineman K.J. Henry, who was later placed on injured reserve on August 13. Earlier in the week, the 49ers had signed lineman Doug Kramer Jr. and released lineman Nick Zakelj.
