On Saturday August 8, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. the San Francisco 49ers are taking on the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California for their first 2025 NFL preseason game.
After a highly competitive joint practice session between the two teams on Thursday August 7, 2025, fans can’t wait to see how each team will fare in game action.
Here are five unheralded, but key players that 49ers fans should keep their eye on during the game.
1. Junior Bergen, Wide Receiver, No. 86
Injuries to several key 49ers have put Junior Bergen in prime position for a breakout game versus the Broncos.
Bergen was the 49ers 7th round, 252nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of the University of Montana.
He had some solid performances at wideout over the years, including a 7 reception, 150 yards, 1 touchdown outing against Eastern Washington during his senior season in 2024.
But Bergen is a player to watch because of his elite punt and kick return abilities.
He tied the record for most punt return touchdowns in FCS history with 8 during his career with the Grizzlies. He’s also third in the FCS all-time in average yards per punt return with 16.71.
Jacob Cowing handled punt returns for the 49ers last season, but with Cowing sidelined, Bergen is the next man up.
Bergen is also a likely candidate to handle kickoff returns with Isaac Guerendo sidelined.
There’s nothing more exciting in the preseason than a kickoff or punt return touchdown. Bergen could make an immediate impression on 49ers fans — and coaches — with that kind of play.
2. Carter Bradley, Quarterback, No. 17
On August 4, 2025, the 49ers cut their incumbent third string quarterback Tanner Mordecai.
The move to cut Mordecai loose, given that he had been with the 49ers all of 2024, was a little puzzling, especially considering his competition for the third string QB job, Kurtis Rourke, is recovering from an ACL injury.
But the move makes more sense in the context of another move the 49ers made just a few days prior: signing former Las Vegas Raiders QB Carter Bradley.
But instead of celebrating their new quarterback, many 49ers fans and analysts questioned the move, because Bradley’s father Gus is the 49ers’ assistant Head Coach.
The onus is on Carter Bradley to prove that his signing wasn’t based on nepotism, but his talent. That’s an intriguing storyline in and of itself.
But now, as of August 8, 2025, Mordecai is back with the 49ers and expected to play in the preseason game. This has turned into a full on competition, and once again, Bradley is going to get the brunt of the scrutiny.
It will be fascinating to see who makes a good impression on the 49ers staff ahead of Rourke’s eventual return to the mix.
3. Ameer Abdullah, Running Back, No. 38
Like Bradley, Ameer Abudllah is a player the 49ers signed on July 31, 2025 after spending 2024 with the Raiders. And like Bergen, he’s a player that’s going to benefit massively from recent injury trends.
In recent days, the 49ers have lost two backup running backs, Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James, to injury. Starter Christian McCaffrey is not going to play much in this game, if at all. So that leaves Abdullah, Patrick Taylor Jr. and rookie Corey Kiner to battle it out for carries.
Abudllah is the guy to watch out of that group because he brings veteran experience in a very young running back room. If he can outperform the young bucks, the 49ers will want to keep him around and lean on his veteran experience.
4. Dallis Flowers, Cornerback, No. 35
This may be Dallis Flowers’ best opportunity to prove that he deserves to start for the 49ers.
Flowers is a guy who went undrafted in 2022 and has been trying to prove that he belongs in the NFL ever since. He currently sits behind Renardo Green at cornerback on the 49ers depth chart, but Green is another 49er nursing an injury.
Watching an undrafted player compete for a key roster spot is what the preseason is all about. Flowers has the kind of underdog story that 49ers fans can get behind.
5. Ross Dwelley, Tight End, No. 82
Ross Dwelley is on this list mostly because it will be fun to see him return to the 49ers after 6 prior seasons with San Francisco from 2018-2023.
Dwelley briefly left the Niners last season and spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons. But now, he’s reunited with his good friend George Kittle in the 49ers tight end room.
Kittle and 49ers fans will be happy to see him in red white and gold again.
On the field, he may be able to help new 49ers quarterbacks Bradley and Mac Jones settle in as someone who knows the 49ers offense well.
49ers fans, who are you most excited to watch in the Niners preseason game against the Broncos?
5 Unheralded San Francisco 49ers Players To Watch In First Preseason Game