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What we learned when the 49ers started the preseason with a loss to the Titans Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Coach Kyle Shanahan decided there was no reason for any of the 49ers’ star players to play in Your 2024 NFL preseason opener.
Although some of their biggest names remained in the Bay Area, Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel made the trip.
But their biggest activity came before kickoff, when they signed autographs behind the 49ers bench for grateful fans.
Playing mostly with backups and individuals fighting for roster spots, the 49ers struggled in a 17-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium.
Quarterback Brandon Allen was named the starter. He did not appear in a game last season as the 49ers’ No. 3 quarterback behind Purdy and Sam Darnold.
Allen is competing with Josh Dobbs for the backup job this season after Darnold signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.
Allen played the entire first half, completing seven of 13 passing attempts for 98 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Allen’s best pass came on a third-and-nine play deep in 49ers territory. He connected with newly signed receiver Frank Darby on a 33-yard pass up the middle.
Dobbs took control early in the second half.
Dobbs completed 14 of his 20 passing attempts for 146 yards and had a rushing touchdown that included a leap into the end zone. He also threw an interception on a desperation pass as he tried to lead San Francisco to a comeback victory with one second left in the game.
Here are three takeaways from the 49ers’ first preseason game against the Titans:
Mason presents a strong case
Running back Jordan Mason has He did everything in his power to supplant Elijah Mitchell and become the team’s primary backup behind starter Christian McCaffrey.
Mason carried over his intense training camp activity into his light workload in the preseason opener.
Mason ran the ball six times for 34 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown run to cap the game’s opening drive.
Mason is set to begin his third NFL season after being named to the team as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech. He opened both seasons as the 49ers’ No. 3 running back. In two years, he has 83 carries for 464 yards and four touchdowns.
Mitchell has been productive when he has played, but he missed 24 games in his first three seasons due to a variety of injuries.
Mitchell is currently unavailable for the 49ers after suffering a hamstring injury in practice two weeks ago.
Ordering the offensive line
The 49ers dressed two starters on their offensive line, as left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Colton McKivitz each played one series.
Rookie right guard Dominick Puni, a fourth-round draft pick out of Kansas, saw extended action with Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano out with injuries.
All-Pro Left Tackle Trent Williams remains absent from the team, and the fines accumulate during his contract suspension.
Williams has missed 13 practices and is subject to mandatory fines of $50,000 per day. Additionally, as outlined in the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, players are fined a check from a regular-season game for each preseason game they miss. For Williams, that means a $1.1 million fine.
Jaylon Moore played left tackle for the first two weeks of training camp, but Moore sat out Saturday’s game and veteran Chris Hubbard took the start. Hubbard is a 10-year veteran who started nine games for the Titans last season.
First problems in kick coverage
It didn’t take long for the 49ers to experience problems with the NFL’s new kickoff setup.
After a touchdown on the opening drive, the 49ers gave up a 63-yard kickoff return that the Titans quickly converted into a touchdown of their own.
Under the new rule, neither the kicking team nor the nine players lined up between the 30- and 35-yard lines can move until the ball reaches the returner.
Tennessee returner Kearis Jackson started on the right side, where most of the 49ers’ blockers and defenders were positioned between the right hash and the numbers at the 30-yard line.
Jackson cut to the left, one step ahead of the pursuing Jalen Graham. Jackson found a crease Between Ambry Thomas and Brayden Willis, then outran Sam Womack. Graham eventually caught up to Jackson at the 49ers 30-yard line.
Special teams coordinator Brian Schneider and Shanahan inadvertently stepped into the path of the referee on the 49ers sideline and were assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for an additional 15 yards at the end of the play.
The 49ers’ coverage unit’s next opportunity came on the opening kickoff of the second half. Rookie safety Malik Mustapha broke through and stopped Jackson after a return of just 18 yards.