San Francisco 49ers Week 4 Preview and Player Updates
Get the San Francisco 49ers Week 4 preview with injury updates and analysis on handling Denver's pressure defense.
49ers Week 4 Preview: How San Francisco Can Handle Denver’s Pressure, Plus the Injury Questions
The quick list
- Best overall: First-down run and play-action package, for the 49ers offense if it wants to keep Denver from dictating protection downs.
- Best value: Quick-game and hot-route answers, for Brock Purdy and the receiving corps when Denver shows pressure.
- Best for small spaces: Condensed formations with Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey, for creating leverage without relying on long-developing routes.
- Best protection-first option: Extra tight end and back help, for a 49ers line facing a blitz-heavy front while managing uncertain health.
- Best defensive swing factor: A healthy Nick Bosa-led rush, for San Francisco if its injury report clears enough edge depth to affect Denver’s timing.
The decision for San Francisco is straightforward, even if the answer is not. The 49ers do not need to prove they can throw through pressure or run over a defense because a September ranking says they should. They need to decide which offensive structure gives Purdy the clearest answers before the snap and the quickest outlets after it.
Denver has blitzed on 40.7 percent of opposing dropbacks through three games, according to Sharp Football Analysis. [3] That is the relevant number, not the broad claim that every pressure is a Cover Zero all-out rush. Public data establishes Denver’s 3-4 structure and blitz frequency, but it does not provide enough detail to declare which pressure is coming in any down-and-distance situation. [2][3]
That distinction matters. The 49ers can prepare for tendencies, personnel and pressure volume. They cannot responsibly build a preview around claims of knowing Denver’s exact calls without access to the same full tape, tendencies and internal scouting tools available to coaching staffs.
| Option | Personnel and formation layout | What it costs | Primary benefit | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-down run and play-action | Standard 11 or 21 personnel, with McCaffrey or Samuel influencing the box count | No financial cost, football cost is accepting modest gains | Keeps the offense out of obvious passing downs | Denver can crowd early-down run looks and force second-and-long |
| Quick game and hot routes | Spread or reduced splits, receivers prepared to replace blitzers | No financial cost, football cost is fewer deep-shot chances | Gets the ball out before pressure arrives | Requires precise sight adjustments from Purdy and receivers |
| Condensed Deebo and McCaffrey packages | Tight alignments, motion, receiver-back exchanges | No financial cost, football cost is added assignment load | Forces Denver to communicate through motion and matchup changes | Can become predictable if San Francisco runs the same answers repeatedly |
| Extra-protection package | Tight end or back stays in, fewer eligible receivers release | No financial cost, football cost is a smaller route concept | Gives Purdy a cleaner pocket against pressure | Reduces available targets and can invite tighter coverage |
| Nick Bosa-led pass rush | Four-man rush or simulated-pressure looks, depending on available personnel | No financial cost, football cost is thinner rotation if injuries linger | Can make Denver’s offense play on schedule less often | Dependent on Bosa’s game status and available edge help |
The matchup is about staying ahead of Denver’s pressure menu
The most tempting framing is that Denver ranks 17th in scoring defense at 23.3 points allowed per game, so the 49ers should attack a merely average unit. [2] That is too broad for a Week 4 game plan.
A defense can be middle of the pack in points allowed and still present a specific problem. Denver’s issue for San Francisco is not that it is unbeatable. It is that a 40.7 percent blitz rate changes the arithmetic of every long-yardage dropback. [3]
On the 49ers’ official media availability, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak called the Broncos a challenge because Vance Joseph knows when to “call a shot” with pressure. Kubiak’s more useful point was that Denver’s rush and coverage work together, rather than functioning as independent gambles.
That is why the answer cannot be reduced to “the line has to block better.” Kubiak said protections can be solved several ways, including resetting the mike point, throwing hot, changing the line slide or assigning a back to help. The coordinator determines the tool by the protection called and the defensive picture shown.
The first-down run game is still the best overall option because it controls the situations in which those tools are needed. Kubiak said San Francisco has averaged more than five yards per carry on first-down runs, a number that has helped the offense avoid second-and-long and third-and-long. That efficiency, not raw rushing volume, is the point.
A four-yard run that sets up second-and-six does more against this opponent than a low-percentage deep dropback after an incomplete pass. Denver can still blitz on second-and-six, of course, but its range of calls and the offense’s menu of answers both expand when the down is manageable.
Do not overread the Broncos’ run-defense ranking
The 49ers’ staff pushed back on a common early-season mistake: treating a run-defense ranking as a complete scouting report. Kubiak noted that Denver’s ranking near the bottom of the league against the run had been shaped in part by one early game and said the film showed an active, capable front.
That is the correct read. Three-game totals can identify an area to test, but they are not a permission slip to build the entire script around one tendency. Denver’s front has enough disruption potential that San Francisco cannot assume outside-zone calls will automatically produce favorable down-and-distance.
The better approach is variation within the same overall objective. Shanahan can use motion, condensed splits, toss action, play-action boots and receiver-back exchanges to make Denver declare its edge and coverage responsibilities before the ball is snapped.
That is where Samuel matters. Denver’s Joseph said this week that Samuel’s ability to play receiver on one snap and halfback on another demands front and coverage adjustments. The value is not merely giving Samuel touches. It is forcing the defense to communicate correctly before he receives one.
Samuel’s reunion also has a human and schematic context. He returned to San Francisco in August on a one-year deal after his prior trade, and reporting on his relationship with Shanahan has consistently described a bond that survived earlier contract friction and roster movement. [8][9]
That does not mean sentiment will earn Samuel snaps. It means Shanahan has a player whose history in the system should reduce the learning curve on motion, run-game assignments and the adjustment-heavy details of this offense.
The protection statistic is real, but it is a team statistic
San Francisco allowed zero sacks through its first two games, which is a meaningful result given the concern around offensive-line depth and the unresolved left-guard competition. [7] The line should receive credit, particularly for functioning amid a preseason competition shaped by the release of veteran Robert Jones. [5][6]
But zero sacks is not a clean grade for five linemen. Kubiak made that point directly in his press conference, crediting the line while also noting contributions from tight ends, running backs, receivers and Purdy’s ability to escape. He also acknowledged some luck.
That is not coach-speak designed to downplay the line. A sack statistic cannot tell readers whether a quarterback beat an unblocked rusher with movement, whether a tight end stayed in to chip, whether a receiver uncovered quickly, or whether a defender missed a finish.
George Kittle made a similar point in the 49ers’ player availability. He credited the group’s continuity and said the offense has adapted between run-oriented games and pressure-oriented games. His important qualifier was that the same core linemen have played together for years, even if outside concern has centered on depth.
Purdy’s own season line supports the idea that the quarterback has helped the protection picture. He has completed 72.3 percent of his passes with a 133.1 passer rating in 2026, improvements on his 69.4 percent completion rate and 100.5 rating in 2025. [4]
Those figures do not prove Purdy is immune to pressure. They show an offense currently operating efficiently. The duplicated Week 2 and Week 3 completion and passer-rating figures circulating in some data sets should not be repeated as precise game-level evidence until verified against official NFL statistics.
Against Denver, the protection challenge gets more difficult because the defense does not need to win every rush with an outside linebacker. Joseph said defensive backs such as Ja’Quan McMillian, Brandon Jones and Talanoa Hufanga can be effective blitzers when their timing is right.
That creates the value of San Francisco’s quick-game option. A slant, flat, glance route or immediate outlet to McCaffrey is not a concession if Denver has vacated the area to send an extra rusher. It is the proper punishment for a pressure call.
The player update: availability is still the central variable
The 49ers’ official injury report through Thursday leaves too many core players unresolved to make definitive lineup calls. Bosa, Evans, Greenlaw, Hodge, Thompson and White did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. [1]
Trent Williams, Romello Height and Mykel Williams were limited participants. [1] McCaffrey, meanwhile, was rested Wednesday and practiced fully Thursday, which is stronger evidence of readiness than the wording around several other injured players. [1]
The distinction between a rest day and a missed practice should matter in a preview. McCaffrey’s participation points toward a normal role, although only the final game status and Sunday usage can establish that. The other names require more caution.
Bosa’s knee and calf listing has the largest strategic implications. If he cannot play or is limited, the 49ers lose more than a pass-rush snap count. They lose the player offenses must account for in protection, which can change how freely Denver releases backs and tight ends into routes.
Greenlaw’s quad status matters differently. Linebacker availability affects the 49ers’ ability to match personnel, fit the run and handle the underneath stress created by backs and tight ends. Those responsibilities cannot be measured by sack totals or one splash play.
Evans’ rib issue also deserves attention because the 49ers’ offensive plan benefits from reliable perimeter targets against pressure. Kubiak praised Evans’ ability to make difficult catches, but the coaching staff cannot build a plan around a player’s highlight ability until his health permits a full role.
What Denver should expect, and what San Francisco must avoid
Denver should expect Shanahan to test its communication with motion and shifting personnel. Samuel’s flexibility, McCaffrey’s receiving value and Kittle’s blocking versatility allow the 49ers to show similar personnel while presenting different run-pass pictures.
San Francisco should expect Denver to force Purdy to identify where the extra rusher is coming from. The Broncos do not need constant exotic pressures to create hesitation. A well-timed nickel or safety blitz works when the quarterback, center, back and receiver do not arrive at the same answer.
Joseph praised Hufanga’s growth in coverage and ball skills, describing a player who has become more complete after arriving as more of a vision-and-break defender. That is the kind of defender Purdy must account for without becoming overly cautious.
The priority is decisive football, not conservative football. Kubiak said Purdy must know where such playmakers are while still playing aggressively. If Purdy starts passing up open throws because he is waiting for the perfect confirmation, Denver’s pressure plan has already worked.
Who each option suits
First-down run and play-action package: This suits the full 49ers offense, especially if McCaffrey is active without restriction and Trent Williams can play through his neck issue. It is the best route to manageable downs, but it requires better execution than Denver’s raw run-defense ranking suggests.
Quick game and hot-route answers: This suits Purdy, Samuel, Evans and McCaffrey when Denver increases pressure. It is the cleanest value option because it directly attacks vacated space, though it depends on exact alignment and post-snap communication.
Condensed formations with Samuel and McCaffrey: This suits Shanahan’s preference for versatility and is particularly useful against a defense required to adjust fronts and coverages to Samuel’s location. The trade-off is that San Francisco must avoid becoming too repetitive with its motions.
Extra-protection package: This suits obvious passing situations and any series in which Denver’s pressure timing has created confusion. It can protect a thinner offensive line, but it limits the number of routes and should not become the base offense.
A Bosa-led defensive plan: This suits San Francisco only if the injury report turns favorable. If Bosa or other front-seven contributors cannot go, the 49ers may need to win more with coverage structure and disciplined rush lanes than with pure edge pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the San Francisco 49ers' game plan for Week 4 against the Broncos?
The 49ers plan to focus on efficient first-down plays, particularly runs that gain more than five yards, to avoid third-and-long situations where Denver’s high blitz rate is most dangerous. Their approach includes using a mix of first-down runs and play-action, quick passes with hot routes, condensed formations with Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey, and extra protection packages to handle Denver’s pressure.
Which 49ers players are injured or returning for Week 4?
As of the latest injury report, Christian McCaffrey returned to full practice after a rest day, but key players like Nick Bosa, Mike Evans, Dre Greenlaw, KhaDarel Hodge, James Thompson Jr., and Keion White did not practice and have uncertain availability for the game. Other players such as Romello Height, Mykel Williams, and Trent Williams had limited practice participation.
How can the 49ers handle Denver's blitz-heavy defense in Week 4?
The 49ers can counter Denver’s 40.7 percent blitz rate by emphasizing quick-game passes and hot routes to get the ball out rapidly, using extra protection with tight ends or backs staying in to block, and employing condensed formations that create matchup confusion. Maintaining efficiency on early downs to avoid long-yardage passing situations is also key to limiting Denver’s blitz effectiveness.
What offensive strategies will the 49ers use in Week 4?
San Francisco will rely on a combination of first-down runs and play-action passes, quick passing concepts to beat the blitz, condensed formations featuring Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey, and extra protection packages to help the offensive line. These strategies aim to provide Brock Purdy with quick, clear options and protect him against Denver’s aggressive pass rush.
How does Deebo Samuel's return impact the 49ers' Week 4 game plan?
Deebo Samuel’s return adds a versatile, formation-changing element to the offense, allowing the 49ers to use tight alignments and motion to create leverage against Denver’s defense. His ability to shift between receiver and backfield roles forces Denver to adjust their communication and coverage, providing San Francisco with more tactical flexibility.
How we researched this
This article was assembled from 4 video sources across 2 channels, 11 cited references.
Nothing here is based on hands-on testing. Where a figure or finding appears, it belongs to the source cited beside it, and the writing says so rather than implying otherwise. Every source is listed below so you can check it.
Sources
Deebo, Pettis, Kittle, Juszczyk Preview Week 4 Matchup vs. Broncos | 49ers — San Francisco 49ers
DC Vance Joseph, STC/Asst. HC Darren Rizzi and OC Davis Webb meet the media ahead of Week 4 vs 49ers — Denver Broncos
Morris, Kubiak Preview Broncos Blitz-Heavy Defense Ahead of Week 4 | 49ers — San Francisco 49ers
Morris, Kubiak Preview Broncos Blitz-Heavy Defense Ahead of Week 4 | 49ers — San Francisco 49ers
2026 Denver Broncos Advanced Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com
NFL Defensive Tendencies & Stats, All 32 Teams – Sharp Football Analysis
49ers Left Guard Competition Remains Unsettled as Camp Continues - Fantasy Nerds
49ers' biggest mistake on 53-man roster cutdown day ahead of 2026 NFL season
49ers' Offensive Line Is Quietly Setting the Tone for a 2-0 Start | 49ers Webzone
The "BS" from Deebo Samuel's contact squabble is irrelevant to his 49ers' reunion - NBC Sports
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan describes Deebo Samuel relationship – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
49ers Players Describe their Relationship with Kyle Shanahan
Reporte: Deebo Samuel participó en entrenamientos obligatorios de 49ers
Watch San Francisco 49ers Week 4 Preview and Player Updates on Youtube
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