SANTA CLARA — It used to be that NFL teams used training camp to beat their teams into shape.

Now it’s a delicate balance of giving them just enough contact to get ready while at the same time trying to keep the most important players ready to perform for Week 1.

It remains to be seen how extensive the 49ers’ joint practice Thursday with the Las Vegas Raiders in Nevada will be, with coach Kyle Shanahan and Raiders coach Pete Carroll having already talked about the way both teams can get adequate work.

As much as Shanahan believes players get better by playing and practicing — a logical, practical way for any coach to look at things — Job 1 is getting to their season opener on the road Sept. 7 against the Seattle Seahawks with their best players on the field.

If some of them aren’t at p

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