How to fake it: Your guide to 49ers training camp
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49ers quarterback Brock Purdy practices at a team mini camp last month. Photo: Thearon Henderson/Getty Images
49ers training camp is underway as the team tries to bounce back from its second Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the past five years.
Driving the news: Players reported for camp on Tuesday and Niners fans will have a chance to watch the team beginning Thursday as part of open practices at Levi's Stadium.
Zoom in: Here are three major storylines to watch as training camp unfolds.
Chasing the glory
The Niners lost in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII, but if history is any indication, this won't be their year either.
- Since 1977, only three teams have lost the Super Bowl and then won it the following season, ESPN reports. That's a tough pill to swallow for a team that's had championship expectations since hiring head coach Kyle Shanahan in 2017.
Brandon Aiyuk's future
Aiyuk, the Niners wide receiver who reportedly requested a trade last week, showed up to training camp, but he will reportedly be a "hold-in," Yahoo Sports reports.
- That means he could attend team meetings but not practice with theother players until his contract situation gets resolved. He's entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to make $14 million this year.
- It's a "tough" situation for the Niners, Shanahan said at a press conference on Tuesday, especially because Aiyuk is one of the best players on the team.
- Shanahan added, "Anytime you don't really get prepared the right way in training camp, it's a challenge for all those players. …"
Left tackle Trent Williams is also holding out of camp over a contract issue.
QB Brock Purdy's looming payday
There's a big payday on the horizon for Purdy, who's also still on his rookie deal but is eligible for a contract extension after this season.
- The seventh-round pick has more than exceeded expectations for his draft position but many sports pundits have debated his role in the 49ers' success, labeling him a "game manager" and not a "game changer."
- Though, fans will see how the team views him based on the contract they offer him. The 10 highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL make at least $43 million a year, and only three of them have made it to the Super Bowl like Purdy has.
What to watch: The preseason begins Aug. 10, when the Niners face the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
- The Niners kick off the regular season Sept. 9 against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium, when familiar foe Aaron Rodgers comes back to town.