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4 San Francisco 49ers Players With the Most to Prove in Preseason Week 1 vs. Titans
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- 4 San Francisco 49ers Players With the Most to Prove in Preseason Week 1 vs. Titans
The San Francisco 49ers will kick off their preseason slate on Thursday night with a game against the Tennessee Titans . The Titans have been in town all week for joint practices, and now the teams will square off on the field.
The 49ers are not expected to play starters in this game, as they want to avoid injuries and evaluate the depth. As a result, some players will get huge opportunities to prove they belong in 2026.
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Today, let's identify the four players who have a lot to prove in tonight's preseason opener.
QB Kurtis Rourke
Kurtis Rourke has had an up-and-down summer, so it's time for him to show some consistency. Rourke will get plenty of snaps tonight since Brock Purdy won't play, and the Indiana product has to take advantage.
Rourke is trying to prove he's worth keeping around as QB3. There's no guarantee the 49ers even keep a third quarterback, so Rourke needs to show the team they can't afford to cut him. Mac Jones won't be around as the backup forever, so Rourke has a perfect opportunity to show the team that he can be the backup of the future.
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OL Connor Colby
Connor Colby has been locked in a three-way battle for the starting left guard spot this summer. Colby is competing with veteran Robert Jones and rookie Carver Willis for the spot.
Colby is the only one of the three who was with the 49ers last year, so that should help his case. The guard has also earned praise from the coaching staff this summer, but he has yet to pull away in the competition. On the team's first depth chart, Colby was listed behind Jones.
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Against the Titans, Colby needs to prove that he can handle starting duties.
DL Bryson Eason
Bryson Eason needs to prove that the hype he's been getting is warranted. The undrafted free agent has been impressive at camp, and he seems to be working his way toward a roster spot. Raheem Morris even praised the rookie for his strength and motor.
It's one thing to look good in practice and another to look good in a game. If Eason shows up against the Titans makes his presence felt, he will prove that he belongs. The 49ers aren't that deep on the interior, so the spot is there for the taking.
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CB Ephesians Prysock
The 49ers just used a fourth-round pick on Ephesians Prysock this offseason. Prysock's roster spot is likely safe , but how big of a role will he play? The rookie has been mostly quiet this summer, so it's time for him to prove he belongs on the field.
It would be nice to see Prysock make some plays against the Titans and separate himself from the other depth corners. We've seen impressive play from Renardo Green, Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs, and Darrell Luter Jr., but we haven't seen much from Prysock. That needs to change on Thursday.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
