49ers survive Saints: Rapid reactions

Preseason games don't count. And you could tell just by looking at the number of star players who weren't playing for the San Francisco 49ers. Whether it was injuries, contract issues, or to protect the player from the possibility of injury, there were about 15 starters who didn't suit up.

And it looked like a lot of backups, for the most part. But that's what preseason is about. It's about a lot of young players trying to make the team.


Here are my rapid reactions from the 49ers 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints. These are my live observations as the game unfolded.

• Why was Brock Purdy playing when most key players weren't? I thought that was a bad decision. Purdy took some hits, but nothing bad happened.
• Renardo Green is a playmaker. I even saw some national analysts talking him up.

• So is Ji'Ayir Brown. He looks like he will have a strong season.

• The 49ers need to pay Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk soon.
• Was Chase Young actually playing hard? That's new.

• Pressley Harvin III is a good punter. And the 49ers' offense is giving him a lot of practice.
• Cam Latu finally made a couple of catches. But he also had a few bad plays. I don't see him making this team.

• Josh Dobbs looked great, as a passer and as a runner. He made several plays. He may have won the QB2 job, but we'll see.

• It's nice seeing Alex Barrett playing and making an impact. I may have overlooked him.

• Ronnie Bell may not make this team. He's just too inconsistent.
• Jacob Cowing will be a weapon for the 49ers if he can stay healthy. He was one of the best players on the field in this game. He didn't look like a rookie playing in his first game.

• Dobbs is the athlete at QB we hoped Trey Lance would be. He was great against the Saints.

• Dominic Puni is the real deal. Jaylon Moore is not.
• Neither is Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. He will probably make the team because the coaches like him. But I think there are too many younger guys behind him that are either already better or will be soon.
• Curtis Robinson is one of those players who is a better option at linebacker than Flannigan-Fowles.
• Shanahan said Klay Kubiak was calling plays for the 49ers' offense again. it's interesting, but I don't think there's anything to it.
• Matt Breida looks fast.
• Tatum Bethune can play, especially against the run.
• Jake Tonges is better than Latu.
• Danny Gray caught a pass. He almost dropped it, but it's still a catch.

• Tanner Mordecai looks good. And he has some wheels.
• Ke'Shawn Vaughn is a load.
• The kickoff coverage was a little better than last week. They still make me nervous, though.
• I like seeing Darrell Luter, Jr. get on the field. He had some ups and downs, but I liked what I saw.
• There were way too many dropped passes.
• It's time to pay Aiyuk and Williams. Have I already mentioned that?

It wasn't quite the 2011 Divisional Game between Jim Harbaugh's 49ers and Sean Payton's Saints, but it came down to the wire. There weren't any major injuries for the 49ers, and that's the most important development. Up next for the 49ers are the Las Vegas Raiders this coming Friday night.

More San Francisco 49ers News

• 49ers conduct pre-draft meeting with Pitt WR Konata Mumpfield

  The San Francisco 49ers are entering the final stretch of preparations for the 2025 NFL Draft and are continuing to wrap up their pre-draft evaluations. As part of the process, the team is meeting with various draft prospects, with many of those interviews taking place...
  Read Article

• 49ers hold pre-draft visit, workout with Pitt OL Branson Taylor

  The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler reports that the San Francisco 49ers recently visited with Pitt offensive lineman Branson Taylor and held a private workout with the draft prospect. The 49ers recently visited with Pitt OL Branson Taylor (6'6", 321, 33 1/4 arm) and also held a...
  Read Article

• Florio: Brock Purdy may never become a top QB, so why should the 49ers pay him like one?

  Mike Florio's hot takes frequently spark debate among NFL fans, and his latest comments about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will probably be no exception. As the 49ers enter contract extension talks with Purdy—talks expected to make him one of the NFL's...
  Read Article

• 49ers surpass Ravens for rushing records after NFL incorporates AAFC stats

  The 2019 Baltimore Ravens rushed for an impressive 3,296 yards during the regular season, setting what was then the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single season—until now. This week, the NFL announced it would begin incorporating statistics from the All-America...
  Read Article