49ers vs. Titans preseason Week 1 preview and how to watch free on DAZN

The Niners may simply be hoping to emerge unscathed, with 20+ injured players on their roster and new additions forced into more expanded roles.

A new era starts for the Titans under head coach Robert Saleh, who has Cam Ward and rookie first-round wideout Carnell Tate to build around.

Free to watch on DAZN like every preseason game these next three weeks, here's everything you need to know about 49ers vs. Titans

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49ers vs Titans: Players to watch

Everyone's eyes will be on Saleh, who is making his HC debut with the Titans... against his former team.

After struggling to a 20-36 record during his tenure as HC of the Jets between 2021-2024, Saleh returned to the 49ers last year as their defensive coordinator, where he led them to the Divisional Round.

Eager to prove himself more successful in the top job this time around, Saleh knows how important this season will be to rebuilding his reputation.

Returning for his sophomore season, Ward is one of the QBs to watch this season. After a successful college career, he is still trying to find his rhythm in the NFL, and the hope is that new OC Brian Daboll can help him unlock his potential.

Once again, the 49ers' injury list keeps growing, with injuries to several key players, including Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle, Mike Evans, and even HC Kyle Shanahan.

That being the case, San Francisco's primary focus must be to get through the game in one piece.

Deebo Samuel will be making his return to the 49ers on a one-year deal after spending a season with the Washington Commanders.

He was one of the key players on the 2023 49ers team that got to the Super Bowl, and will be eager to rekindle the connection he enjoyed with Brock Purdy during that spell.

It remains to be seen whether the starters will play much, if at all, but in a long and gruelling season, every rep for depth players is important.

49ers vs Titans: Keys to the game

• Patience from Ward and Saleh: Ward and Saleh have to trust the process as the offense continues learning Daboll's scheme.
• Can 49ers backups make their mark?: As mentioned, injuries are not atypical for San Francisco, who may use this game to explore whether certain backups are deserving of more expanded roles.
• Practice makes perfect: Neither side will lose sight of the fact that this is a preseason contest. The team willing to keep their starters or second-stringers in for longer will probably walk away with the result.

49ers vs Titans: Kickoff date, time, and location

• Kick-off time (UK): 2am BST, Friday, August 14, 2026
• Kick-off time (US): 9pm ET, Thursday, August 13, 2026
• Kick-off time (US): 6pm PT, Thursday, August 13, 2026
• Venue: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

49ers vs Titans: Prediction

The star players may not appear in this game, but it will be a great opportunity for both teams to test different personnel groupings, for rookies to get used to the NFL environment, and for fans to see their teams back on the field.

This feels like it should be a win for the 49ers, considering they have more experience and greater depth, but these preseason ties can go either way.

49ers 24-17 Titans