Kyle Shanahan plans to coach 49ers preseason opener

Kyle Shanahan preseason return

Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, told reporters he plans to coach next week's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Shanahan has been limited at training camp since a July 14 car accident left him with a severe concussion, among other injuries.

ESPN reported that the crash, which occurred in Palo Alto on the evening of July 14, also left Shanahan with a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand, and more than 40 stitches in his face. He was taken to a local hospital that night and later released. Shanahan told San Francisco media the accident was his fault, saying he briefly took his eyes off the road to retrieve his phone, then looked up to find he had crossed the center line and collided head-on with an SUV.

What this means for the 49ers coaching setup

While Shanahan has been limited, assistant head coach Chris Foerster has taken on some of his duties. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, and special teams coordinator Brant Boyer have been leading their respective groups, per the SF Standard citing 49ers GM John Lynch.

Lynch said Shanahan is recovering well from most of his injuries but still had lingering concussion symptoms. The 49ers have no defined concussion protocol for staff members, so Shanahan is following a process similar to what players go through for clearance.

Fantasy takeaway

If Shanahan coaches the August 13 home game against Tennessee as he stated, it suggests the offensive structure should remain intact as the regular season approaches. Fantasy managers with 49ers skill-position players should watch whether Shanahan resumes full duties before Week 1, since his involvement directly shapes the offense those players run.