49ers vs. Packers Preseason Live Blog
SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog for the 49ers' preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
2:52 Preseason games are tricky to cover and evaluate, because they're not really games -- they're exhibitions. The teams don't gameplan to attack each other's weaknesses. The coaches don't call play to gain yards or score points. Winning and losing is irrelevant.
The purpose of the preseason is to evaluate individual players. Each team will call certain plays featuring specific players just to evaluate how that player performs.
If this were a real game, the 49ers would feature their best players on offense as much as possible -- George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Kyle Juszczyk and Elijah Mitchell. But the 49ers already know how good those players are. There's nothing more to learn about them in a preseason game.
So instead of featuring those players tonight, we might see the 49ers feature guys they need to learn more about. Guys such as Trey Sermon, a running back who was a third-round pick that hardly played last season as a rookie. Or Ray-Ray McCloud, a wide receiver they signed this offseason who has caught just five passes from Trey Lance in training camp. Or Danny Gray, a rookie third-round pick who could earn a role in the offense right away as the designated deep threat. Or Ty Davis-Price, an explosive rookie running back who could take Deebo Samuel's carries. You get the picture.
5:15 The following 49ers are inactive: Brandon Aiyuk, Azeez Al-Shaair, Arik Arstead, Nick Bosa, Samson Ebukam, Jimmy Garoppolo, Dre Greenlaw, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Elijah Mitchell, Jaylon Moore, Emmanuel Moseley, Charles Omenihu, Hassan Ridgeway, Deebo Samuel, Charvarius Ward, Jimmie Ward, Fred Warner, Trent Williams and Jeff Wilson Jr. That means all the good starters are starting and Trey Lance has to play. Strange way to set up the kid for success.
5:33 The Packers will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
5:38 On 3rd and 4 from the Packers 17, Jordan Love throws deep to Josiah Degurah, but he's covered well by Tarvarius Moore, and the pass is incomplete. The Packers punt.
5:43 On 3rd and 9 from the Packers 32, Lance throws to Danny Gray who's opening running an out route, but the pass leads Gray out of bounds, and it's incomplete. Robbie Gould makes a 50-yard field goal to give the 49ers an early lead. Trey Sermon ran 4 times for just 9 yards on that drive.
49ers 3, Packers 0.
5:52 On 4th and 3 from the 49ers 34, Tarvarius Moore gives up a long touchdown catch to Romeo Doubs. Moore got burned. He looked like he was stuck in mud when he tried to turn and run. He clearly hasn't regained the athleticism he had before his tore his Achilles. What a shame.
49ers 3, Packers 7.
5:59 On 3rd and 9, Lance lofts a perfect deep pass to Danny Gray who catches it and runs for a 76-yard touchdown. That looked easy.
49ers 10, Packers 7.
6:09 On 1st and goal from the 14, linebacker Marcelino McCray-Ball intercepts a tipped pass and returns it all the way to the Packers. What a play by the undrafted rookie.
SECOND QUARTER
6:10 Nate Sudfeld just replaced Lance at quarterback.
6:12 First play of the drive, Sudfeld hits a wide open Ray Ray McCloud in the end zone for a touchdown.
49ers 17, Packers 7.
6:27 On 3rd and goal from the 49ers 45, Samuel Womack intercepts Jordan Love. Phenomenal pick while playing man coverage.
6:30 On 3rd and 6 from the 49ers 45, Nate Sudfeld throws an errant pass intended for Danny Gray, and the 49ers go 3 and out. The Packers take over at their 20 after the punt.
6:40 On 3rd and 8 from the 49ers 45, Womack intercepts another pass and returns this one to the Packers 16. What a performance! He's taking the starting nickel job.
6:42 On 3rd and 3 from the 9, right tackle Justin Skule gets pushed into the backfield and Trey Sermon gets tackled for a 3-yard loss. Then Robbie Gould makes a 30-yard field goal.
49ers 20, Packers 7.
6:44 Drake Jackson has a shoulder injury and is questionable to return.
6:56 On 3rd and 4 from the 49ers 33, Ka'Dar Hollman gives up a touchdown catch to Danny Davis.
49ers 20, Packers 14.
6:58 The kickoff hits JaMycal Hasty in the knee and rolls out of bounds at the 49ers 5-yard line.
7:05 On 1st and 10 from the Packers 48, Ray-Ray McCloud catches a pass over the middle, but fumbles after taking a hit. Green Bay recovers. McCloud had fumbling problems in Pittsburgh.
THIRD QUARTER
7:23 The 49ers start from their 38. Sudfeld is still the quarterback.
7:27 On 3rd and 6, Sudfeld completes a 2-yard pass to KeeSean Johnson. Checking down on third down should be illegal in preseason games.
7:28 Drake Jackson has a shoulder injury and will not return.
7:38 On 3rd and 2 from the Packers 17, Alex Barrett gives up a catch up the sideline to running back B.J. Baylor, then George Odum missed a tackle and Baylor runs for 68 yards. A few plays later, the Packers miss a 32-yard field goal.
49ers 20, Packers 14.
7:45 On 3rd and 2 from the 49ers 49, Austin Mack drops a pass, and then the 49ers punt. JaMycal Hasty had a 12-yard run on that drive, and Ty Davis-Price had a 10-yard run. So far, Hasty has been the 49ers' best running back. Davis-Price has just 18 yards on 7 carries.
7:50 The Packers throw a screen pass on 3rd and 13, and George Odum makes the tackle after a gain of 7, which forces a punt. The 49ers take over at their 34.
7:55 On 3rd and 17, Sudfeld tries to scramble but gets sacked by his shoelace. He has the mobility of a refrigerator.
8:02 On 2nd and 9 from the 49ers 22, Amari Rodgers catches a pass in the flat, makes both Dontae Johnson and Tayler Hawkins miss tackles and then scores.
49ers 20, Packers 21.
8:06 Brock Purdy is the 49ers' quarterback.
8:14 On 3rd and goal from the 5, Brock Purdy scrambles to his right and hits Tanner Hudson for a touchdown. Nice improvisation by Purdy. Then the 49ers go for 2, and Purdy hits KeeSean Johnson in the back left corner of the end zone. Nice sequence.
49ers 28, Packers 21.
