Shanahan to coach preseason opener, nearing full strength three weeks after car crash

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan intends to coach the team's preseason opener Thursday against the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's reporting, marking his first full game on the sideline since a July 14 car crash in Palo Alto, California.

Shanahan disclosed the extent of his injuries on Saturday when he answered media questions for the first time since the collision. The crash left him with a concussion, three broken ribs, and a broken left hand, per ESPN. The accident occurred when Shanahan dropped his phone under his seat while driving his Tesla Model S on autopilot, took his eyes off the road, and collided with a 21-year-old female driver.

In a public statement Saturday, Shanahan said: "As far as the important stuff, I feel it's about 100%." He reported that fatigue and headaches persist, and that overexertion causes him to pay for it later. He remains in a cast on his left hand, and his ribs feel better except when sneezing. On concussions specifically, Shanahan said: "My head feels so much better. Concussions do linger a little bit. All the things I really deal with now is just headaches and fatigue."

Shanahan acknowledged that his recovery has not been linear. A week prior to Saturday's media session, he felt "out of the woods," but felt worse the next day. He had considered holding a media session earlier but woke up feeling worse and decided against it. Throughout his recovery, he has limited certain activities to avoid exacerbating symptoms, per ESPN.

During his absence, Shanahan delegated responsibilities to assistant head coach Chris Foerster and coordinators Klay Kubiak (offense), Raheem Morris (defense), and Brant Boyer (special teams). Regarding his use of autopilot, Shanahan stated he has had the feature "in some form for nine years" and is "pretty comfortable" using it. He expressed remorse over the accident: "Anytime you cause an accident that can be avoided, you feel pretty stupid, especially when you have a chance to hurt someone else."

Quarterback Brock Purdy commented on Shanahan's return, per ESPN: "With Kyle back in the element, he's like the Godfather of this thing and understands how it's supposed to be ran. He brings, just his presence. When he's there, everyone is on top of his stuff."