Coach Kyle Shanahan is anxiously awaiting the NFL's directive on the rules governing practices this summer during training camps.
Certainly, on-field time will be lost for the 49ers and the other 31 teams as a greater ramp-up time is expected from strength and conditioning to practice sessions.
But the advantage of no exhibition games this summer is that it will allow teams to get more work accomplished in practices.
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“What’s cool is this is the first time we’ve gone without preseason,” Shanahan said on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast. “That does help a lot because usually you got to put in those travel days for that. I don’t care as much about the game, but you miss practice the day before, practice the day of, practice the day after.
“So knowing that we don’t have those, even if we have less days, we might be able to make it up because we don’t have to travel to games. So we might be able to get the same amount of work in.”
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Shanahan said he has witnessed advantages to playing preseason games when it comes to evaluating young players whom he has never seen react in game situations.
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“I’m all for the preseason because there are a couple guys we’ve never seen in a game who are pretty good in practice and you throw them out there in a preseason game and they freak out and you’re like, ‘All right, they’re not ready, we got to put them on the practice squad,’” Shanahan said. “And that’s good to know.
“It’s also good when we can’t decide. They’re neck and neck. It’s nice to just let it play out and see what happens. But this year is different.”
The biggest disadvantage, Shanahan said, is for under-the-radar players who this summer will have no opportunity to impress other teams. Each team has scouts who watch every preseason game around the league to look for players to claim after rosters are trimmed. This season, players will have no chances to get on the radars of outside personnel departments.
“How bad does it suck for guys not to get film who won’t make the team?” Shanahan asked. “That film (gives them) a chance to make other teams. They won’t get that.
“There are good reasons to have preseason. But this year our goal is get to the season and have a year. And that does make it harder.”
In a typical NFL training camp, teams bring in 90 players. Shanahan said he believes that is the correct number to get through six weeks of practices with four preseason games leading up to the start of the regular season. Teams must then reduce their rosters to 53 players for the start of the regular season.
Rookies, quarterbacks and injured players reported to the 49ers' practice facility in Santa Clara on Thursday for COVID-19 testing. Players are self-isolating Friday and Saturday before reporting back Sunday for another test. Those with two negative tests are allowed to begin attending the team's headquarters beginning Monday.
Shanahan said the 49ers organization still is in the process of determining the right number of players to bring to camp this year during a global pandemic when there are no preseason games.
“I don’t know,” Shanahan said. “No one does. We’ve never done this before. I don’t think it takes 90. That’s what we’re all trying to figure out. It does make sense that it’s going to be a lot easier to social distance and stuff with less people.
“That’s what I’m trying to think of right now because we’re trying to do our best job social distancing. And that’s going to be a hell of a lot easier with 53 than 90.”
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It appears likely the NFL will set roster limits at 80 players for the start of training camp, which means teams soon will be required to cut 10 players for compliance. Shanahan said he is getting antsy as he awaits the official guidelines for training camp.
“I’m not panicked about it, just a little bored,” he said. “I want these rules because I came back ready to work, shaved my beard, ready to go, got my mindset on coming in here.”