First, transparency: this deals only with the first half. I want to give details on the players most likely to make the team, some even playing a lot of snaps—a few perhaps starting.
We knew most of the starters would not play. However, what was very useful was that the Tennessee Titans did play theirs. Most of San Francisco's rookies played, and some other players who should be in the mix for at least significant rotational snaps did, too.
Quarterback
The only competition at this position is for the No. 3 spot behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones, but that is not an insignificant battle.
Kurtis Rourke started the game, and it was good to see him get in a game since he red-shirted last year while recovering from a knee injury he suffered midway through his senior year at Indiana. What was even better was that he looked sharp, going 10 for 12 for 101 yards. He was poised in the pocket, showed escapability to rush for a first down, and toughness when he got hit trying to score. The one negative is he apparently hurt his rib when trying to score. Hopefully, it will not be serious.
It is far too early to make a pronouncement, but he showed promise, the kind that can be developed. Mac Jones has only this year left on his contract.
Adrian Martinez has some zip on his ball, but he was not accurate, and he did not always show good judgment. At the end of the first half, when the 49ers were in field goal range, he escaped the pocket, but rather than throw the ball away, he stepped out of bounds. That was fortunate because he slung the ball underhand, and it was intercepted. But he stepped out of bounds. It was a fourteen-yard loss, and kicker Eddy Piñeiro's attempt from 61 yards out was short. It would have been an easy three points if not for the foolish play.
Wide receiver
Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling played, and that was not a foregone conclusion considering the recent tightness in his calf that kept him out of practice for a few days.
The first word that came to mind was "beast." In less than a half, Stribling had seven catches for 63 yards. He made plays at all levels, and announcer Tim Ryan compared him to former 49er wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Stribling and Jennings have the same number and strong hands, but the former is far more explosive. He certainly looked like he could have easily gone in the first round.
Especially considering all of the praise for his play in training camp, I don't see how he is less than the No. 3 receiver.
Jordan Watkins, drafted in 2025, showed some skill, too. He finished with six catches for 59 yards. He had quickness but was not explosive. It was only the first preseason game, but he will be in the mix to make the roster.
The only other noteworthy receiver was Malik Turner. A fifth-year veteran out of Illinois, he ran solid routes and was targeted six times but had only two receptions. A number of those incompletions were due to inaccuracy by the quarterback, though.
Defensive line
Rookie edge rusher Romello Height should compete for a starting spot opposite defensive end Nick Bosa until defensive end Mykel Williams returns, and he showed the ability to generate pressure. He did not record a sack, but in his first true NFL action, he displayed the bend and quickness that led general manager John Lynch to select him in the 3rd round.
Rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton did not start the game, but when he entered the contest, he made his presence felt. He finished with four tackles, one for a loss, and he put pressure on Titans quarterback Cam Ward and caused an intentional grounding penalty. On one running play, he blew up Tennessee's left guard, Peter Skoronski, who is one of the best guards in the league. Halton has the attacking style and quickness that will earn him, if not a starting role, at the very least a large number of snaps in the rotation.
Defensive tackle Alfred Collins, who is currently one of the starting tackles on the depth chart, had some struggles early, but he settled down and showed why he is currently in that position. He was drafted as a run stuffer but got pressure on the Titans quarterback a few times.
Defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez was stout in the middle and finished with four tackles, one for a loss. He will challenge to earn a place in the rotation.
Linebacker
The two linebackers who stood out were rookie Jalen Dugger and second-year man Nick Martin.
Martin led the team with eight tackles and showed the speed the Niner brass found appealing when he came out of college.
Dugger, who is playing in various positions, finished with only two tackles, but it seemed like a lot more. He was always around the ball.
There is a competition for the third linebacker on base downs, and both have shown they deserve a place in the discussion. What is particularly encouraging is that even if neither gets the nod, they both show the talent that suggests they could develop into really good players in the future.
Defensive back
The one defensive back who stood out was Jakob Robinson, and not in a good way. The Titans quarterbacks targeted him early and found he was often late in coverage. The other cornerbacks (and safeties) were unremarkable.
I do want to mention rookie corner Ephesians Prysock, though. He finished with only one tackle, but he had a beautiful pass defensed, knocking the ball away from the receiver near the goal line with perfect timing and technique. If he can repeat that, he will be a young player with a bright future. It often takes corners a few seasons to develop, and he looked like he might have the skills to be a good one.
Running backs and offensive linemen
I put them together because without the latter, the former can't do much.
That was the case in this game. The final numbers were as ugly as ugly can be, with the running backs collectively rushing 52 yards on 23 carries. Patrick Taylor finished with minus five yards on five carries, with a long of one yard (which went for a touchdown). I can't say for sure he was terrible, though, because he got hit in the backfield so many times.
Sincere McCormick showed a little burst, rushing 38 yards on 10 carries. But that is only 3.8 yards per carry, which will not cut it.
Fortunately, these are only San Francisco's fourth and fifth backs on the depth chart, and it is possible that new acquisition Khalil Herbert, who had success in Chicago a few years ago, will return to that form as he learns the offense.
The OL was awful, to say the least, in the run game. The numbers above prove that. But they were uneven in pass protection as well. They only gave up two sacks, but that was only because Rourke and Martinez were elusive enough to avoid a few others.
Punter
We have a new leg this year, and Corliss Waitman showed incredible hang time, sending three of his four punts inside the 20. He looks like he might even be a weapon.
Yes, it is only the first preseason game of the season. We have two more before the final cutdowns. Still, considering Tennessee played their starters for most of the first half, the 49ers had a solid sampling of what their backups will provide, and on defense, especially at the first two levels, they showed a lot of potential. At worst, it was clear that several young players will really improve the depth the 49ers lacked last year, and they should help increase the pressure that produced only 20 sacks in 2025.
I am really looking forward to seeing the next game.
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