Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers Picks and Prediction for Thursday, August 13, 2026

By: David Anicetti Published 08/10/2026, 01:32 PM ET

The Tennessee Titans visit the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday at 10:00 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for their preseason opener. Tennessee enters a new era under head coach Robert Saleh, while San Francisco is coming off a 12-5 season that ended with a divisional-round loss to Seattle. The Titans are three-point road favorites after San Francisco opened at -2.5, while the total is 38.5. With regular starters likely to have limited roles, quarterback depth and roster battles become important. Build your bankroll with our free NFL picks.

Tennessee Titans Preview

Tennessee’s offense is undergoing major changes with Brian Daboll taking over as offensive coordinator and continuing the development of second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis give the Titans two experienced options behind Ward, which could be valuable during the preseason. The backfield also has competition behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, with rookie Nicholas Singleton and Kalel Mullings pushing for roles. At receiver, first-round pick Carnell Tate joins Calvin Ridley and Wan’Dale Robinson after a strong offseason.

The Titans also have several defensive positions to evaluate under Saleh. Rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is competing with Cody Barton in the middle, while Kevin Winston Jr. is looking to build on a strong offseason at safety. Tennessee has plenty of depth along the defensive front behind Jeffery Simmons, including Jermaine Johnson II, Keldric Faulk and Oluwafemi Oladejo. Those players should receive opportunities once the regular starters leave the game.

Injuries: Sanoussi Kane (IR, undisclosed).

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San Francisco 49ers Preview

San Francisco has added several veterans to a roster trying to return to the top of the NFC West, but the preseason should be more about evaluating depth behind its established stars. Brock Purdy is the starter, with Mac Jones projected as the primary backup. Developmental quarterback Kurtis Rourke is another player to monitor if available. The 49ers also have competition at receiver behind Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and Ricky Pearsall, with De’Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing among the younger options seeking roles.

The 49ers have important defensive competitions that should continue deep into this game. Dre Greenlaw returns at linebacker, while Luke Gifford, Jaden Dugger, Garret Wallow and Nick Martin are competing for snaps around him. Safety is another unsettled area, with Ji’Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha and Marques Sigle among the options. San Francisco also has young defensive linemen such as Alfred Collins, C.J. West and rookie Romello Height who could receive significant preseason work.

Injuries: Ricky Pearsall (IR, knee). Christian Kirk, Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling and Osa Odighizuwa are questionable.

Tennessee Titans vs. San Francisco 49ers Prediction

Quarterback depth gives Tennessee an interesting advantage in a game where the starters are unlikely to determine the outcome. Trubisky and Levis both bring NFL starting experience behind Ward, giving the Titans multiple options as the game moves into the later quarters. San Francisco has Jones behind Purdy, but several injuries at receiver could limit some of the 49ers’ offensive options. Tennessee also has young players competing for jobs throughout the roster under a new coaching staff, creating plenty of motivation in the preseason opener. With the line moving from San Francisco -2.5 to Tennessee -3, the Titans are the better choice to capitalize on their depth. Final Score Prediction: Tennessee Titans win and cover ATS 23-17.