![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ee32b90b6aa48b39cd317d8e28c29f8a-1024x576.jpeg)
What we learned as Purdy, 49ers stars gel in preseason tie vs. Raiders initially appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
LAS VEGAS — Though there was no phrase of a decision in the entire Brandon Aiyuk saga, the optics definitely instructed he’s nonetheless very a lot a member of the 49ers.
Aiyuk, participating in a “hold-in” till he has a brand new contract, made the trip to Las Vegas with the workforce for the 49ers’ preseason finale.
San Francisco wrapped its exhibition schedule with a 24-24 tie with the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday evening at Allegiant Stadium.
The 49ers final performed right here on Feb. 11 in Tremendous Bowl LVIII, dropping to the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 in additional time.
San Francisco hopes to return to the massive recreation this season and begins its lengthy journey again on Monday, Sept. 9, in opposition to the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium.
Because the 49ers shut in on the regular-season opener, issues definitely haven’t gone as deliberate this summer time.
Aiyuk and All-Professional left sort out Trent Williams have not practiced due to their respective contract points. The 49ers stay hopeful that each shall be on the sector for the opener, however how sharp can they be with out participating in coaching camp?
The 49ers canceled two joint practices with the New Orleans Saints final week once they feared they didn’t have sufficient wholesome gamers for the rigorous exercises in opposition to one other workforce.
In Friday’s preseason assembly with the Raiders, it was all about getting ready for the beginning of the common season.
Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle had been the most important stars to take the sector. They exited the sport unscathed. However two key additions to the workforce’s protection won’t have been as lucky.
Listed here are the takeaways from the 49ers’ remaining preseason recreation:
Accidents at key place
The 49ers via the years haven’t been capable of finding a constant pass-rush risk reverse Nick Bosa.
This was alleged to be the 12 months.
Whereas Bosa watched the sport from the sideline, the 49ers began their subsequent two defensive ends: Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos.
Each gamers left the game with right knee injuries within the first quarter. The extent of their accidents was not instantly recognized, however any knee downside is an apparent cause for concern.
In what might be seen as a optimistic growth, Floyd returned to the 49ers’ sideline within the second half to observe the conclusion of the sport.
The 49ers signed Floyd to a two-year, $20 million contract within the offseason, after he registered 39.5 sacks over the earlier 4 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills.
Gross-Matos, a four-year veteran, is coming off a career-best 4.5-sack season with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. The 49ers signed him with the expectation that he might be a rotational participant at defensive finish on base downs and transfer inside to hurry the passer.
The 49ers’ high defensive ends after Bosa, Floyd and Gross-Matos are Robert Beal Jr., Alex Barrett and Sam Okuayinonu.
High quality begin from the 1s
The 49ers didn’t wait lengthy to indicate what they hope shall be a preview of the common season.
Purdy instantly involved the 49ers’ star offensive players. He lofted a deep go towards the left sideline for Samuel on the primary snap of the sport. Samuel went as much as make the seize in entrance of Raiders rookie cornerback M.J. Devonshire for a 27-yard achieve.
On the following play, Purdy discovered Kittle hanging out between the hash marks for a 15-yard pitch and catch.
Purdy and Kittle teamed up for the throw and catch of the sport on the 49ers’ subsequent drive.
On a third-and-6 play, Purdy delivered a go a split-second earlier than Raiders defensive finish Charles Snowden smacked him. Kittle went up excessive to come back down with a 19-yard completion between Las Vegas defensive backs Jaydon Grant and Kana’i Mauga.
The 49ers went on to attain on Jordan Mason’s 4-yard landing run for a 10-0 lead within the first quarter.
Purdy accomplished 9 of his first 11 go makes an attempt for 96 yards earlier than his remaining throw of the night was picked off. Cornerback Sam Webb deflected a go supposed for Samuel, and the ball went to security Chris Smith, who grabbed it and returned it 31 yards.
First glimpse of Guerendo
The 49ers favored working again Isaac Guerendo a lot round draft time that they traded as much as choose him within the fourth spherical.
Guerendo, the quickest working again on the 2024 NFL Scouting Mix, lastly had a possibility to indicate his pace Friday evening.
And his 93-yard kickoff return may stand as Exhibit A as to why special-teams coaches across the league might decide to instruct their kickers besides the ball via the tip zone.
Below the NFL’s new kickoff rule, the place to begin after touchbacks is the 30-yard line. By means of two weeks of the exhibition season, the typical place to begin after kickoff returns was the 28.3-yard line.
However, as Guerendo demonstrated, the draw back of permitting a kickoff return might have a big impact on video games.
Guerendo confirmed his 4.33 pace when he fielded Daniel Carlson’s kickoff on the 3-yard line, made it via the Raiders’ first line of protection close to the left sideline and broke a Webb sort out try. Guerendo made Carlson miss, then angled all the best way again throughout the sector.
Webb lastly caught as much as him and tackled him on the Raiders’ 4-yard line.
Two performs later, Patrick Taylor Jr. scored on a 3-yard landing run for the 49ers.
The 49ers favored Guerendo’s mixture of measurement, pace and potential, although he by no means began a recreation in school throughout his 27 video games over 5 seasons at Wisconsin and 14 video games final season at Louisville.
Guerendo sustained a hamstring damage within the 49ers’ first apply of coaching camp and returned to apply this week — simply in time to get into the preseason finale.
