How 49ers QB Purdy looked in preseason finale vs. Raiders
LAS VEGAS — |A|
Brock Purdy and the |B|
49ers offense showed a |C|
bit more chemistry in |D|
San Franciscos third preseason |E|
game on Friday, but |F|
it definitely wasnt perfect. |G|
Purdy |A| began his first drive |B| with a 25-yard dart |C| to Samuel, followed by |D| a 15-yard completion to |E| Kittle. Then, the drive |F| stalled out after Mason |G| was tackled for a |H| five-yard loss, which was |J| followed by two Purdy |K| incompletions — one to |L| Mason and another to |M| Kittle on a pass |O| behind the tight end.
|P| dir="ltr">The 49ers second drive |Q| was reminiscent of the |R| 2023 season when it |S| appeared that Purdy and |U| Co. could not be |V| stopped. The 12-play, 85-yard |Y| drive involved more of |Z| the offense with completions |A| to tight end Jake |B| Tonges and Kittle as |C| well as runs by |D| Mason and rookie running |E| back Isaac Guerendo, who |F| just returned to the |G| practice field this week.
|H| dir="ltr">Purdy also showed off |J| his own ability to |K| avoid defenders with a |L| 14-yard run to keep |M| the drive alive. Mason |O| capped off the series |P| with a four-yard touchdown |Q| run and when the |R| second-year back returned to |S| the sidelines, running backs |U| coach Bobby Turner gave |V| Mason a pat on |Y| the back and a |Z| “good job.”
Purdys third |A| and final drive started |B| off well with a |C| 15-yard pass to Chris |D| Conley, followed by a |E| five-yard completion to Samuel |F| before a few runs |G| by Mason resulted in |H| a Purdy sack. The |J| third-year quarterbacks ill-advised pass |K| to Samuel was tipped |L| in the air and |M| intercepted by Raiders safety |O| Chris Smith II and |P| returned 31 yards.
Overall, |Q| the 49ers offense looked |R| much more in sync |S| than it did last |U| week, but there still |V| is much to work |Y| on before their Week |Z| 1 matchup with the |A| New York Jets on |B| "Monday Night Football." Purdy |C| finished the game completing |D| 9 of 16 pass |E| attempts for 96 passing |F| yards and one interception |G| with a 63.2 rating.
|H| dir="ltr">Missing from the lineup |J| were fullback Kyle Juszczyk |K| (veteran rest), running back |L| Christian McCaffrey (calf), wide |M| receivers Jauan Jennings (oblique), |O| Brandon Aiyuk and left |P| tackle Trent Williams, who |Q| all are key contributors |R| to the offense. Their |S| returns will help the |U| group return to the |V| well-oiled machine that fans |Y| have seen from the |Z| group in the past.
|A| dir="ltr">One positive development was |B| the success of the |C| rushing attack by the |D| running backs, even with |E| a few offensive linemen |F| out of the game. |G| The starting line on |H| Friday night included: Jaylon |J| Moore at left tackle, |K| Nick Zakelj at left |L| guard, Jack Brendel at |M| center, Dominick Puni at |O| right guard and Colton |P| McKivitz at right tackle.
|Q| dir="ltr">With a few more |R| weeks of practice and |S| a full complement of |U| offensive players on the |V| field, the 49ers have |Y| the potential to be |Z| as good as they |A| have been in the |B| past.
