The second preseason game is typically the one in which Kyle Shanahan tends to play his starters to get them at least some game time ahead of the regular season.

But the 49ers head coach has not made a decision on which of his starters, if any, will feature in Saturday's game with the Broncos.

So it is not clear yet whether starting quarterback Brock Purdy will get a chance to put his surgically repaired elbow to the test in a game before the regular season, having this week been cleared to practice three days in a row without a day off.

Purdy watched from the sideline last Sunday as the 49ers lost their preseason opener against the Raiders in Las Vegas.

While Shanahan isn't sure what to do with Purdy for the Denver game, he has an idea of what he will do with Trey Lance and Sam Darnold, who are competing for the primary backup job. 

Lance started the first half against the Raiders and delivered an uninspiring and hesitant display, while Darnold took over after the half and caught the eye with his comparative poise and a couple of impressive downfield throws outside the numbers.

Shanahan indicated he will flip the order in which those two quarterbacks enter the game this week.

"What I said last week, we wanted Trey to get the majority of the first half so Sam could get the next week," Shanahan said. "So that’s what we’re planning on, but we’ll see how the next two practices go before we decide for sure.”

The 49ers will see what they need to from Purdy in practice. They do not need him to play a preseason game to reaffirm their confidence in their starter. However, the Niners still need more information to make the decision about who will be his top deputy, and that insight may arrive in earnest against Denver.

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