During the San Francisco 49ers’ 19-13 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday in Santa Clara, California, rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling starred with 63 receiving yards.
The San Francisco 49ers opened their preseason slate with a 19-13 defeat against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night in Santa Clara, California.
Potential Week 1 starters were largely absent from the field for San Francisco. Quarterback Brock Purdy watched from the sidelines, and his backup, Mac Jones, spent the evening in street clothes. That absence opened the door for younger players and roster hopefuls to make their cases under the lights.
De’Zhaun Stribling Shines in Preseason Debut
Among the standout performers, rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling quickly asserted himself as the focal point of the offensive game plan. Stribling hauled in seven catches on eight targets for 63 yards, leading all pass-catchers according to Ninersnation.
His night featured several highlight-reel plays, including a second-quarter sideline grab on third-and-6 where he kept his feet inbounds to move the chains. Replays confirmed he managed to keep a toe just a grass-blade width from the sideline with his heel hovering above the stripe, setting up an 11-yard gain to the Tennessee 4-yard line. The Titans challenged the ruling, but the call stood, paving the way for a 1-yard touchdown run by Patrick Taylor Jr.
Stribling also hauled in a 32-yard reception down the right sideline, snatching the ball above cornerback Cor’Dale Flott, who has started 37 NFL games over four seasons. Coaches showed their confidence in the rookie by giving him the rest of the night off with nearly eight minutes left in the second quarter.
“It seemed good. We’ll see when we watch the film. I thought he struggled a little bit on that first drive, but I think he got three drives after that and seemed like he executed all the stuff that went to him. I liked how his hands looked out there, and he played physical.”
Kyle Shanahan, coach
Reflecting on his performance, Stribling admitted to some initial nerves. My first time being out there, I was just a little excited, a little nervous,
he noted. But getting the first hit out of the way, the first catch out of the way, I started getting into a groove. And then everything started rolling.
Kurtis Rourke’s Impressive Debut Cut Short by Rib Injury
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke started ahead of Adrian Martinez in the battle for the third-quarterback role.
Rourke displayed poise by keeping plays alive with his legs. On an early fourth down during the opening drive, he escaped pressure from Cody Barton to pick up six yards and extend the possession.
However, Rourke’s night ended prematurely. While lowering his head to run near the goal line, he suffered a rib injury on a 3-yard carry. He stayed on the field to finish the drive—drawing a delay of game penalty that frustrated coach Kyle Shanahan—which culminated in a 49ers touchdown.
Rourke did not return to the game and was transported to the hospital after experiencing trouble breathing. Shanahan stated after the game that he did not believe the issue was serious. The team announced on Friday morning that Rourke had been released from the hospital.
Defensive Standouts and Roster Battles
Defensively, several players seized the opportunity to make an impression during limited action. Rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger, locked in a battle with Nick Martin for the SAM linebacker spot, made an immediate impact.
On Tennessee’s second play from scrimmage, Dugger diagnosed a scramble by quarterback Cam Ward, meeting him at the 24-yard line to hold the play to a two-yard gain. He followed up with an arm tackle that stopped Tyjae Spears for a four-yard gain.
Defensive tackle Gracen Halton also flashed a disruptive streak. He worked through Titans starting linemen Peter Skoronski and Dan Moore Jr. to record what would have been a sack, though a holding penalty negated the play. On the subsequent snap, Halton tossed an offensive lineman aside to wrap up Spears for a one-yard loss.
“Once I get hot, it’s over with. I win one, and then next thing you know, I’m in my head like, ‘OK, I got this.’ So I build that confidence, and it’s over.”
Gracen Halton, defensive tackle
Meanwhile, cornerback Ephesians Prysock filled in for an injured Jack Jones, who was sidelined with a hand issue. Prysock broke up a pass in the end zone intended for draft pick Carnell Tate and maintained tight coverage throughout the evening.
Looking Ahead to Roster Cuts and Preseason Matchups
With Rourke creating separation in the third-quarterback race before his injury, and Adrian Martinez serving as the only other healthy quarterback dressed for the game, the 49ers will monitor health and depth closely.
The team continues its preseason preparations ahead of upcoming dress rehearsals, keeping an eye on players who may secure roles for the regular-season opener scheduled for September 10 in Australia.
