Purdy uninjured in 49ers GM2 preseason win over Saints
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, passing in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday during a preseason game, stayed in for three series and 11 plays. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.08.18 – Brock Purdy exit uninjured in the San Francisco 49ers’ 16-10 preseason win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.
After several nervous moments with Purdy playing behind a Scotch-taped offensive line and zero-star supporting cast, the Faithful finally could exhale after Purdy exchanged his helmet for a baseball cap.
Purdy played three series with a collection of mostly backups. The results weren’t good as the Niners generated one first down and had two three-and-outs.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he was “conservative” with the plays he called with Purdy in the game, a reason Shanahan cited for not hesitating in playing him.
“You always think about that stuff,” Shanahan said. “If we thought it was an issue, we wouldn’t have done it.”
The Niners were missing three starting offensive linemen, their top four receivers, their top three running backs, All-Pro tight end George Kittle and All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk either because of injuries, contract disputes or rest.
2024.08.18 (Saints vs 49ers) Game Highlights
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) looks downfield in the first half against the New Orleans Saints in a preseason game Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
2024.08.18 (Saints vs 49ers) Game Highlights – (FL-Highlights)
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (NBC Sports Post Game)
Purdy went 2 for 6 for 11 yards in his first game action since Super Bowl LVIII, but all that really mattered was that he was in one piece when his 11-snap cameo was over. The 49ers played without the starting left side of their offensive line — his blindside protection — and Purdy absorbed three hits that qualified as more than love taps with All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams absent because of a contract holdout and left guard Aaron Banks sidelined with a broken pinkie.
On Purdy’s first dropback, a 6-yard completion to tight end Brayden Willis, Purdy was whacked in mid-throw by 315-pound defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd. Three snaps later, on a third-down in-completion, Purdy was drilled by 305-pound defensive tackle Bryan Bresee. On the first snap of his second series, Purdy rolled left and was tattooed by 265-pound pass rusher Chase Young as he heaved a deep cross-field pass that was nearly intercepted.
“I think it was good just to get out there, get a feel for the game speed and getting hit and trying to go through reads and stuff and just get the feel again,” Purdy said. “Obviously it wasn’t as productive as I would have liked it to have been, myself. But that’s why it’s preseason. Get out there and get a feel for it.”
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (95.7 the Game Post Game)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr, passing in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday during a preseason game. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (95.7 the Game Post Game)
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (95.7 the Game Post Game)
Derek Carr and the Saints starting offense finally got going with an efficient 95-yard touchdown drive against San Francisco’s backup defenders.
“It’s always hard in the preseason because you’re just calling kind of the basic stuff. No one wants to show anything,” Carr said. “But the competitor in you still wants to go out there and compete and make something happen. So being able to go down, get a touchdown punched in. It definitely was like a monkey off the back, kind of a relief. We can score. It definitely felt nice to do that.”
The offensive line opened up holes for the running game and Carr completed 5 of 6 passes for 42 yards, including a 7-yarder to rookie Bub Means on a fourth-and-5.
Taysom Hill capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down.
“I thought we had a really nice long drive,” coach Dennis Allen said. “I thought we ran the ball well in that drive and we were able to convert that with a red zone score. I was really pleased with overall what we were able to get.”
Carr finished the night 7 for 9 for 47 yards and is now 9 for 15 for 59 yards in his first two preseason games under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
49ers’ quarterback Joshua Dobbs #5 scores in the first half of a preseason game Sunday against the New Orleans Saints at Levi’s Stadium. (AP photo / Godofredo A. Vasquez)
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2024.08.18 – Saints vs 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
After Purdy’s ineffective start, the Niners turned the offense over to Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen, who are battling for the backup job.
Dobbs led a TD drive at the end of the first half with an 11-yard scramble, a perfectly placed 38-yard throw to Jacob Cowing and a 1-yard TD run on fourth down.
Dobbs completed 12 of 21 passes for 133 yards and added 25 yards on three carries. His evening ended fittingly: On 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line with five seconds before halftime, Dobbs faked a handoff and juked safety Jordan Howden at the 3 before diving into the end zone.
“He did a good job,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He led us on a few drives, scoring drives. Made a couple of plays when nothing was there.”
Allen had two drives with one ending in a punt and the other a missed 51-yard field goal by Jake Moody.
Moody kicked three field goals for the 49ers (1-1), who rested most of their front-line players.
INJURIES
Saints: Rookie CB Kool-Aid McKinstry left in the first quarter with a knee injury that is not believed to be serious. … TE Dallin Holker sprained his ankle in pregame warmups and didn’t play.
49ers: Newly signed DT Nick Williams injured his knee in the first half. … RB Jordan Mason (sore hip), LB Dee Winters (bruised knee) and WR Jauan Jennings (oblique) didn’t play because of minor injuries.
UP NEXT
Saints: Head home after training camp in California and will host the Titans on Sunday.
49ers: Visit the Raiders on Friday night.
Related: 49ers fall to Titans in preseason GM1 with a QB2 battle
Related: See below – 49ers Mostert Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
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