The year was 1985. Snowballs rained down on a bewildered Ray Wersching at Mile High Stadium, turning a potential game-winning field goal into a chaotic, frozen footnote in 49ers–Broncos lore. Forty years later, inside the pristine confines of Levi’s Stadium, a different kind of chill settled over the San Francisco sideline during their preseason opener against Denver. It wasn’t weather-induced. It was the frost of frustration emanating from head coach Kyle Shanahan, a feeling as old as the rivalry itself but freshly sharpened by a cascade of concerns.

“That was frustrating,” Shanahan admitted post-game, the sting of the 30-9 loss evident in his clipped tone. “I liked how we started out but after that there wasn’t much to be excited about. We didn’t get many first downs, four turnovers, the three picks, the fumble…. We made too many mistakes.“

The offensive sputter – Mac Jones’ promising opening drive capped by a Patrick Taylor Jr. TD quickly devolving into disarray – was one thing. But the real gut-punch came with the mounting medical report. Like a cruel game of ‘Madden NFL’ where your depth chart gets decimated by RNG, bodies kept dropping. Linebacker Tatum Bethune (ankle), safety Marques Sigle (knee), running back Ameer Abdullah (ribs), and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (groin) all exited prematurely. Sharing the injury update felt like reading a casualty list.

“Alright guys, injuries from the game,” Shanahan began, the routine nature of the announcement belying the underlying tension. “Tatum Bethune left with an ankle, he returned. Sigle had a knee, didn’t return. Abdullah left with ribs and Rob Beal at the end there left with a groin.“

The locker room lashing wasn’t televised, but you could sense it in Shanahan’s demeanor – the tightened jaw, the intensity simmering beneath the surface. This wasn’t just about a meaningless preseason L. It was about the precious reps lost, the momentum halted, the sheer volume of red jerseys piling up.

Injury bug bites hard as Shanahan faces early depth test

Nineteen players didn’t even dress due to injuries, not counting PUP list guys or healthy scratches. When asked about Sigle, a rookie whose blazing 4.37 speed flashed brightly before the knee issue, Shanahan offered measured hope tinged with pragmatism: “I don’t think so. I mean, I don’t want to speak too soon. It looked more like just a knee bruise and stuff, but we’ll have to see.” But, he added, “I thought he was one of the guys who flashed a lot tonight… he’s had a hell of a week here.“

Updates trickled in like injury timeouts: rookie Upton Stout (tight calf, held out), Mykel Williams (hyperextended knee, “probably a week or so“), Richie Grant (knee issues, similar timeline). Hope lingered for Jacob Cowing and Renardo Green, but Shanahan’s caution was palpable: “I hope so. It depends how their workout goes tomorrow… I don’t want their first practice to be against another team.“

The looming joint practices in Las Vegas felt less like an opportunity and more like a logistical nightmare. “Yeah, we are [healthy enough], but it’s definitely getting hard,” Shanahan conceded, the weight of the wounded evident. “Hopefully we can get a bunch of guys back for Monday. It’s real important that we get two good practices in… so hopefully we’re in a better spot Thursday.“

Amidst the frustration, glimmers of hope flickered – the defensive stand spearheaded by Chase Lucas’ blitz forcing a safety, Darrell Luter Jr.’s acrobatic pass breakup on Courtland Sutton (‘Stick skills on point,’ as the gamers might say), Junior Bergen’s promising 26-yard punt return, and Kalia Davis’ disruptive push up front. But these bright spots were overshadowed by the turnovers and, more pressingly, the parade to the training room.

Shanahan’s post-game vibe wasn’t just about a loss; it was a visceral reaction to seeing the foundation he’s meticulously building feel suddenly, frustratingly fragile. The preseason journey had begun, not with a roar, but with a concerning whisper of strain and the unmistakable sound of a coach demanding more – more care, more focus, more resilience from a roster already feeling the grind. The ‘Faithful’ know: When Kyle’s intensity surfaces, it’s rarely without cause. This early test of depth and discipline just got real.