San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't see a whole lot of value in a four-game preseason.
So with several players, including first-round draft pick Nick Bosa and running back Jerick McKinnon nursing injuries, and others such as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo coming back from one, the 49ers aren't expected to play many front-line guys in their exhibition opener against Dallas on Saturday night.
"You absolutely don't need four preseason games," Shanahan said. "I'd rather have zero than four, preferably I'd like two. One to evaluate the people trying to make the team and then just one to knock a little rust off.