Kyle Shanahan Sheds Cast, Gets Candid on Recovery at 49ers-Titans Joint Practice
Kyle Shanahan hit the field for all of Tuesday’s joint practice against the Tennessee Titans, and he did it without the bulky black cast that’s covered his left hand since mid-July. In its place: a slimmer brace, a small but visible sign that the 49ers head coach’s recovery from a serious car accident is moving forward.
Shanahan crashed his Tesla into another vehicle in Palo Alto on July 14, an accident that left him with a concussion, a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken left hand, and more than 40 stitches above his eye. He’s taken full responsibility for the crash, and last weekend he added a new detail: the car was on Autopilot at the time, and he’d taken his eyes off the road for a couple of seconds to reach for a phone that had slipped out of reach, according to NBC Sports. He hasn’t blamed the vehicle for what happened.
Assistant head coach Chris Foerster and the rest of San Francisco’s staff picked up Shanahan’s day-to-day duties in the early weeks of camp while he worked through concussion symptoms. Tuesday’s practice, held at the SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, marked a step back toward normal. Shanahan was out there the entire session, running the offense against Tennessee’s defense.
Purdy Carves Up the Titans
Whatever rust San Francisco’s offense might have been carrying, it didn’t show. Brock Purdy completed 21 of 27 passes during team drills, threw three touchdowns, and didn’t turn the ball over once. Two of those scores went to veteran receiver Demarcus Robinson. The third found tight end Luke Farrell.
The stat line, first reported by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner and relayed by 49ers Webzone, included a couple of standout throws — a ball threaded between three defenders to rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling that would’ve gone the distance, and a layered pass over linebacker Cody Barton to tight end Jake Tonges for a big gain.
Shanahan, never one for hollow praise, kept his postgame assessment simple. “Brock’s a really good player, so I expect him to have good plays,” he said. “I notice all the bad plays, and I didn’t notice many bad plays today, so I think he had a hell of a day.”
Purdy’s role has shifted some with Shanahan working his way back. NBC Sports Bay Area reported that Purdy has taken on more of a vocal leadership role in practice as he heads into his fifth NFL season, filling gaps when the offense’s pace starts to slip.
“Somewhat Embarrassing”
Shanahan isn’t the type to dwell on his own health in front of a microphone. But when reporters asked for an update after Tuesday’s practice, he gave a rare, unguarded answer, according to a transcript provided by the team’s communications staff.
“Evaluating my health is somewhat embarrassing, and I think getting old to everybody. So don’t take it personal — I’m trying not to anymore. I was messed up, and I’m getting a lot better.”
It’s a small window into a coach who’s spent nearly two decades in NFL locker rooms avoiding exactly this kind of vulnerability. He’s previously described lingering headaches and fatigue as the main symptoms still hanging around from the concussion, but said his ribs and overall condition have improved significantly since the crash.
What Comes Next
San Francisco and Tennessee meet again Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium for both teams’ preseason opener, though most of the 49ers’ starters — including Purdy — are expected to sit or see limited snaps, with backups getting the bulk of the work. Shanahan has said he intends to coach the game himself, continuing the same gradual return to full duty he’s followed since training camp opened.
For a 49ers team with Super Bowl aspirations, getting its head coach back in his usual spot — calling plays, teaching, watching the tape late into the night — matters more than any single practice period. Tuesday’s session, cast-free and mistake-free from Purdy, was a step in that direction.
