The preseason has arrived! The San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of the preseason.This is your fourth quarter open thread. I’ve included a few helpful links, and also embedded the 49ers media Twitter list if you want to see what the media has to say during the game. NFL.com score center 49ers roster sortable by uniform number, position 49ers depth chart Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA Game time: Thursday, August 9, 7:00 p.m. PT TV channel: NFL Network/KPIX CBS5 locally Online streaming: NFL Game Pass, DirecTV Now, Sling TV (all free 7-day trials) Radio: 680-AM, 107.7 (Bob Fitzgerald, Keena Turner) | Full listings<doc-sep>SANTA CLARA—The San Francisco 49ers welcomed their favorite foe, the Dallas Cowboys to kick off the NFL pre-season on Thursday, August 9 at the gorgeous Levi’s Stadium. Although the Boys struck first, the 49ers rallied from eleven points in the closing minutes, scoring the game winning TD with only 18 seconds remaining in the game, earning a 24-21 victory. On the opening drive, Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott looked sharp in limited action. Going 3 for 3 including a 30 yard touchdown strike to rookie wideout, Michael Gallup. The Cowboys lost Tight-End Jason Witten, who retired as well as Wide Receiver Dez Bryant, released this off-season, leaving fans and pundits to wonder who will become Dak’s guy. Prescott is entering his third season, and his support of standing during the National Anthem has angered some fans and players. An artist from Dallas named Trey Wilder painted a giant mural depicting the Cowboys QB, a tear streaming down his eye, with the words, “Get Out.” This is the ugly side of when sports and politics collide, the media assumes every single player ought to have an opinion on every social issue. Football, and sports in general, must remember these games are an opportunity to escape the conflict and divisive nature encompassing Washington D.C. The 49ers first possession proved Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has plenty of work to do. The 49ers gave Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo a huge contract earlier this year. In his only possession, he was 3 for 6 for 34 yards. His best moment was a third down pass to Wide Receiver Marquise Goodwin as the Cowboys defensive line was right about to smother Garoppolo in the turf. Dallas Cowboy Linebacker Jayon Brown was sensational, his lateral speed should restore the D, which was plain awful in 2017. Next week, the 49ers will visit the Houston Texans, where Garoppolo will play a majority of the first half. Pre-season means nothing, try telling that to the five fallen 49ers who went down early with injuries Thursday night. Tight end George Kittle hits the turf, then has a Cowboys defender land on top of him. He left the game with a shoulder injury and did not return. Others to leave Thursday night included defensive end Solomon Thomas (concussion symptoms), offensive tackle Garry Gilliam (concussion symptoms), linebacker Eli Harold (lower leg), running back Matt Breida (shoulder), and linebacker Malcolm Smith (hamstring). After the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he didn’t know for sure the extent of every injury, but said of Kittle and Breida, “I have a feeling it could be some time. I’d be surprised if they were around next week. But I didn’t get anything official there, I just know that from the game.” SF 49ers Kicker Robbie Gould trimmed the lead, 14-10 in the third quarter, the Cowboys quickly answered with a 73-yard drive. Culminating with a two yard TD pass, extending the lead to 21-10. The 49ers refused to surrender. Remember for a second, these men are fighting for a spot on the 53 man roster, and frankly, most of them won’t make the team unfortunately. For these third stringers, this is their one shining moment, their Super Bowl if you will, to impress the coaching staff. Case in point, 49ers backup Nick Mullens pulled a Joe Montana comeback out of his hat the final two minutes, scoring two touchdowns, the game winning 1 yard TD pass to Richie James sealed the deal with just with only 18 seconds left. The fans were losing their minds, pace yourself guys and gals, it’s only August. Anytime the 49ers defeat the Cowboys, it’s a big deal.<doc-sep>The preseason has arrived! The San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of the preseason.This is your second quarter open thread. I’ve included a few helpful links, and also embedded the 49ers media Twitter list if you want to see what the media has to say during the game. NFL.com score center 49ers roster sortable by uniform number, position 49ers depth chart Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA Game time: Thursday, August 9, 7:00 p.m. PT TV channel: NFL Network/KPIX CBS5 locally Online streaming: NFL Game Pass, DirecTV Now, Sling TV (all free 7-day trials) Radio: 680-AM, 107.7 (Bob Fitzgerald, Keena Turner) | Full listings<doc-sep>We'll have to wait a little while longer to see Richard Sherman wear a red and gold jersey on game day. Sherman will reportedly sit out the next week of camp, and according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, that means he will also be out for the 49ers' preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Sherman landed in San Francisco on a three-year $39.15 million deal (up to $19 million guaranteed) earlier this offseason. He had previously been cut by the Seahawks, the only team for which he had played during his spectacular seven-year NFL career. The Seahawks elected to cut ties with Sherman after he tore his Achilles down the stretch of the 2017 season. He was having another strong campaign, coming on the heels of five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, but he was not necessarily still at his peak. Sherman had 26 interceptions from 2012 through 2016, eight more than the next-closest cornerback and four more than the next-closest player overall (safety Reggie Nelson). His 80 passes defensed during that five-year span were second in the NFL to only Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He had two interceptions and seven passes defensed at the time of his injury last season. The Seahawks have been remaking their defense throughout the offseason, with players like Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, and Kam Chancellor being cast aside in addition to Sherman. The only member left of the Legion of Boom is Earl Thomas, and he is refusing to report to camp as he is locked in a contract stalemate with the team. The 49ers were happy to snatch Sherman up just a day after the Seahawks released him. He seems likely to start across from Akhello Witherspoon in the defensive backfield once the season begins, assuming this hamstring issue does not keep him out for too long.<doc-sep>
Finally! We are heading into game week for the San Francisco 49ers, with them hosting the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday evening. As always, it’s the Cowboys, and we know the history the 49ers have with them. Anytime the 49ers have a chance to do anything to the Cowboys, it’s got me watching TV. Just one problem: It’s preseason. As much as we want to get into the competitive spirit against the Cowboys, that backdrop kind of ruins things a little bit. Still, it’s 49ers, and football. And football, even bad preseason football against a rival where it doesn’t matter is enough to get me tuned in. So I guess now it’s like any other 49ers preseason game: what should we watch for? Personally I’d like to see how Jimmy Garoppolo does in his first series. It’s a coin flip if he even plays, oftentimes teams will rest a good deal of their starters in Week 1 of the preseason, but if we can get a series or two out of Garoppolo, I’d be happy. There is no game planning, but just seeing him calling plays would be nice. Behind him, I’d love to see C.J. Beathard’s development as a quarterback into year two. Beathard got some starting time as a rookie in between the transition from Brian Hoyer to Jimmy Garoppolo and while he was impressive as a rookie, he also showed he was a rookie. Beathard earned the respect of the locker room in his starts, so it will be interesting to see how he is in his second year. Beyond the quarterbacks, show me the wide receivers and the cornerbacks. Both of those groups are young and full of rookies. It will be interesting to see how the young ones do in their first (kinda/sorta) glimpse of in-game action. But again, it’s the Cowboys. So even though I’m looking more at 49ers development, I still would love to see some chaos on the field. Last time the 49ers had the Cowboys in preseason, I got both as I got to watch the 49ers embarrass the Cowboys special teamers with a rugby player who had no idea how to play football. It was not only insightful and enjoyable, but watching the Cowboys players—players who have played football their whole lives—struggle against someone who never played football before was therapeutic. So here we go into a bittersweet preseason week. What are you watching for from the 49ers?