San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledges Brock Purdy's strong performance, noting his impressive stats and leadership qualities, but stops short of labeling him an elite quarterback just yet. Shanahan also discussed the competition for the backup QB spot, praising both Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen for their preseason performances, though Dobbs appears to have a slight edge. Rookie wide receiver Jacob Cowing impressed in his preseason debut, but Shanahan remains cautious in his praise, preferring to challenge young players to ensure continued improvement. Shanahan's coaching philosophy includes giving assistants like Klay Kubiak play-calling experience during preseason games, a practice he did not extend to former assistants now heading other teams.