The 49ers come to town this week, starting with joint practices Wednesday and Thursday against the Vikings at TCO Performance Center before Saturday's preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Throughout training camp, head coach Kevin O'Connell and his assistants have pointed to the joint practices as more critical for player evaluations. Starters will get to face another team without live tackling, dampening the threat of injury that kept nine prominent players – from receiver Justin Jefferson to edge rusher Danielle Hunter – from playing in the preseason opener in Las Vegas.
According to O'Connell, how starters are evaluated in joint practices will determine who sees action in the second exhibition on Saturday. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to return from a mandatory five-day quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
