5 49ers Players to Follow in First Preseason Game Against the Titans

Keep a close on these five 49ers.

Aug 6, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (15) during training camp at SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The first preseason game for the San Francisco 49ers is finally here.

No longer will they be confined to the practice field. They get to unleash their players at Levi’s Stadium in front of a crowd against the Tennessee Titans. However, the majority of the starters will not play.

That’s typical for a preseason game, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t players to be intrigued by. With that said, here are five 49ers to follow closely against the Titans.  

WR De’Zhaun Stribling 

One of the most hyped players of training camp has been De’Zhaun Stribling. His skills have only been on display to reporters and some fans in the last two weeks.

Now, everyone gets to see what all the fuss is about. This is Stribling’s first step in cementing himself as a key role player in the 49ers’ offense. He needs a sound showing after the time he missed due to a hamstring injury.

LB Jaden Dugger

Another rookie who has been receiving praise in camp lately is Jaden Dugger. He’s slowly been seeing an increase in reps with the first team, which is indicative of what the coaches think of him.

Dugger has shown enough to them that he’s ready to be a role player on the starting defense. This preseason game will showcase exactly what his role could look like and how sweet he’s looked in camp. 

LB Nick Martin

There hasn’t been much noise from Nick Martin in training camp. It’s probably been tough for him to stand out more with Dugger flashing in the last week or so.

He needs a solid performance against the Titans. Last year, he had a mediocre performance against the Denver Broncos. He couldn’t execute a tackle to save his life. 

And with Dugger leapfrogging him on the depth chart, Martin could find himself buried or on another roster after final cuts. The Titans have been a team I’ve cited as one that could want Martin, since Robert Saleh was the one who wanted him.

DE Romello Height

The only noteworthy move the 49ers made at defensive end this offseason was drafting Romello Height. He’s their only real option at edge rusher outside of Nick Bosa.

His performance against the Titans will reveal what he’s been looking like in camp. The 49ers will hope he can stand out, as they need him to pan out, especially with Bosa’s knee tendinitis causing issues. 

OL Connor Colby

For the last week, the 49ers have stopped giving Connor Colby reps at left guard with the starters. They’ve been allocating them to Robert Jones, which the 49ers say is part of the plan.

However, whoever gets the nod to start the game will indicate where each player stands for the starting job. Plus, it’ll be intriguing to see how Colby looks.

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