Brock Purdy (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Training camp is underway at the SAP Training Center in Santa Clara, running through Aug. 12, and the San Francisco 49ers arrive with a clear mandate after a 12-5 season ended in a 35-point divisional-round blowout to Seattle. With the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams still loaded, San Francisco spent the offseason adding proven veterans rather than chasing a rebuild, betting that health and experience can close the gap atop the NFC West.
Loading up to catch Seattle and Los Angeles
San Francisco’s offseason additions read like a checklist for contention: wide receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, plus a 2026 draft class where the top three picks, receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, edge rusher Romello Height and running back Kaelon Black, are all 23 or older with extensive college experience. Just as important is what’s coming back: Bosa, Warner, Kittle and quarterback Brock Purdy all dealt with serious injuries last season, and general manager John Lynch’s front office is betting that a healthier version of this roster can pass Seattle and Los Angeles in the division and get back to the top of the conference.
McCaffrey at 30, and a fresh face at defensive tackle
Christian McCaffrey turned 30 in June after a league-high 450 touches and an NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down through the first weeks of camp. He downplayed the milestone directly, saying he doesn’t “make a big deal out of the whole age thing” and that he’s focused only on continuing to improve. Elsewhere on the roster, second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins is working back from offseason shoulder surgery after reshaping his body following a rookie season slowed by a calf injury, and rookie Gracen Halton has been one of the most disruptive interior pass rushers in camp since returning from a knee bone bruise.
Deebo Samuel’s reunion and a receiver room hit hard by injuries
Deebo Samuel is back in Santa Clara after being traded away in 2024, rejoining the 49ers and immediately becoming a factor in the offense with fresh legs and full involvement in team drills. His return comes at a critical time: Evans (quad), Kirk (calf) and rookie Stribling (hamstring) have all missed practice time, and Ricky Pearsall, who looked ready for a breakout before an ankle and knee injury derailed his 2025, is now set for season-ending knee surgery. The pileup has opened the door for Samuel, KhaDarel Hodge and Jordan Watkins to soak up extra reps, though the Niners will want their top four wideouts healthy well before the regular season opener.
Shanahan’s phased return after a car accident
Coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the team for the first time since his July 14 car accident before a recent practice, then stayed on the field through a full session for the first time this camp, at one point coaching the offense directly from behind the huddle. General manager John Lynch said the team is taking a “phased approach” to Shanahan’s return, with no firm timeline set for when he resumes full-time head-coaching duties, but the early signs have been encouraging.
Position battles at guard, linebacker and safety
Left guard is the lone unsettled starting job on the offensive line, with Robert Jones and Connor Colby considered the front-runners over rookie Carver Willis and veteran Brett Toth. At outside linebacker, Greenlaw’s return locks him in on the weak side, but his own injury history makes the competition for the strong-side spot, involving Luke Gifford, Nick Martin, Garret Wallow and rookie Jaden Dugger, genuinely important depth insurance. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has also said every safety combination will be evaluated in camp, with Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha the presumptive starters ahead of Marques Sigle and free-agent addition Ashtyn Davis.
Full 2026 San Francisco 49ers scheduleWeekDateOpponentTime (ET)TV1Thu, Sept. 10vs. Los Angeles Rams (neutral site)8:35 p.m.Netflix2Sun, Sept. 20vs. Miami Dolphins4:25 p.m.FOX3Sun, Sept. 27vs. Arizona Cardinals4:05 p.m.FOX4Sun, Oct. 4vs. Denver Broncos4:25 p.m.CBS5Sun, Oct. 11at Seattle Seahawks4:25 p.m.FOX6Mon, Oct. 19vs. Washington Commanders8:15 p.m.ESPN/ABC7Sun, Oct. 25at Atlanta Falcons1 p.m.FOX8—BYE——9Sun, Nov. 8vs. Las Vegas Raiders4:05 p.m.CBS10Sun, Nov. 15at Dallas Cowboys4:25 p.m.FOX11Sun, Nov. 22vs. Minnesota Vikings (neutral site)8:20 p.m.NBC12Sun, Nov. 29vs. Seattle Seahawks4:25 p.m.FOX13Sun, Dec. 6at New York Giants1 p.m.FOX14Sun, Dec. 13vs. Los Angeles Rams4:25 p.m.FOX15Thu, Dec. 17at Los Angeles Chargers8:15 p.m.Prime Video16Sun, Dec. 27at Kansas City Chiefs4:25 p.m.CBS17Sun, Jan. 3vs. Philadelphia Eagles8:20 p.m.NBC18TBDat Arizona CardinalsTBDTBD
San Francisco’s preseason opens at home against Tennessee on Aug. 13, followed by road games against the Chargers and Raiders.
49ers odds and best bets for 2026
At BetRivers, San Francisco is priced at +1800 to win the Super Bowl, reflecting a roster the market views as a real contender if the health holds up.
MarketSelectionOddsSuper Bowl winnerSan Francisco 49ers+1800To make the playoffsYes-155To make the playoffsNo+125Regular-season win totalOver 9.5-148Regular-season win totalUnder 9.5+120NFC West finishFirst place+300Christian McCaffrey 1,250+ rushing yards & 49ers NFC West winnerYes+1000Mike Evans 1,000+ receiving yards & 49ers to reach the playoffsYes+250George Kittle 8+ receiving TDs & Nick Bosa 10+ sacksYes+575
Odds via BetRivers as of publication. Check RG.org’s NFL sportsbooks hub throughout the season for updated lines and matchup previews.
49ers odds for Canadian bettors (Stake)
Canadian bettors can also find 49ers markets at Stake, where odds are listed in decimal format.
MarketSelectionOdds (Decimal)Super Bowl winnerSan Francisco 49ers19.00NFC Conference winnerSan Francisco 49ers10.00Division finishing position1st place4.00Division finishing position2nd place2.85Division finishing position3rd place2.30Division finishing position4th place15.00Regular-season winsOver 10.52.20Regular-season winsUnder 10.51.67Stage of eliminationTo miss the playoffs2.20Stage of eliminationTo exit in Wild Card round3.70Stage of eliminationTo exit in Divisional round5.25Stage of eliminationTo exit in Conference round9.50Stage of eliminationRunner-up19.00Stage of eliminationSuper Bowl winner19.00
Odds via Stake as of publication and subject to change.
Final outlook
San Francisco’s roster on paper is deep enough to win the NFC West, and the additions of Evans and Kirk give Brock Purdy far more to work with even before Kittle and the receiver corps get fully healthy. The bigger question, as always for this team recently, is health: Bosa, Warner and Kittle are all working back from serious injuries, and the wideout room has already taken a hit in camp with Pearsall done for the year and Evans, Kirk and Stribling all missing time. If the returning stars hold up, the Niners have enough talent to push Seattle and Los Angeles for the division, and the market’s shorter Super Bowl price reflects that upside.