49ers open preseason schedule at Broncos
July 31 marks the earliest the 49ers can open training camp, that being 15 days prior to their scheduled exhibition opener at Denver.
Of course, Santa Clara County and other government health officials may say otherwise on when or even where the 49ers camp and exhibition games can be held.
Santa Clara County has yet to move to Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan.
The 49ers’ first exhibition at Levi’s Stadium is set for Aug. 21, when they would welcome in the relocated Las Vegas Raiders that Friday at 7 p.m.
Santa Clara County’s shelter-in-place order runs at least through the end of May.
General manager John Lynch has said the 49ers are exploring contingency plans in case they are unable to congregate for training camp and beyond.
The NFL announced Friday that teams are able to reopen their facilities as early as Tuesday if they meet health criteria and local government protocol, although no coaches are allowed in and only rehabilitating players can enter.
The 49ers’ regular season is scheduled for Sept. 13 against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium (1:25 p.m.).
The league has stated it plans to start the season on time, while preparing to adjust if recommended by medical and health officials plus government regulations.
Conceivably, the 49ers could train in Denver ahead of their Aug. 15 exhibition opener (6:05 p.m.). The teams have made a habit of holding joint practices at the Broncos’ facility, doing so in 2015, ’ 16 and ’ 19.
The 49ers’ third exhibition, typically the most important, is scheduled for Aug. 29 at the Chicago Bears (10 a.m.), and the exhibition season is to conclude Sept. 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers (7 p.m.).
While the league mandates that training camps open no sooner than 15 days before exhibition openers, rookies and quarterbacks plus rehabilitating players may report a week earlier, so July 24 in the 49ers’ case.
• Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, a fixture in the 49ers’ research and development department the past six years, has been hired as the Cleveland Browns’ vice president of football operations. Adofo-Mensah will essentially serve as the assistant general manager under Andrew Berry, according to Cleveland.com.