Inman: Highs, lows, good deeds from 49ers’ preseason-opening loss to Broncos

SANTA CLARA – All was not lost Saturday night, even if the 49ers’ preseason opener was, in 30-9 fashion to the Denver Broncos.

Caution must be exercised when judging a preseason game, much less this debut in which almost all would-be starters were safely stashed out of uniform. A strong start against the Broncos’ true starters (and 49ers alumni club) was followed by clumsy efforts from the 49ers’ reserves.

Here are the highs, lows and good deeds that went down at Levi’s Stadium:

HIGHS

(UNDRAFTED) ROOKIE DT FLASHES

The Hulk, also known as undrafted defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez, made a Marvel-ous NFL debut, so much so that Kyle Shanahan said he “flashed the most” in the preseason-opening loss to the Broncos.

The 49ers drafted and debuted two rookie defensive tackles – second-rounder Alfred Collins and fourth-rounder C.J. West – but Valdez isn’t feeling unworthy or like an underdog.

“There’s always some doubt, there’s always some feeling of being overwhelmed, but there’s never a feeling like I don’t belong here,” Valez said at his locker, which bookends a bank of temporary metal ones. “I know that once I get the chance or opportunity like tonight, I’m going to show out and do what I can and what I know I can.”

Valdez said sacking quarterbacks “tastes a little better” than stopping the run; he split a sack with Robert Beal Jr.

As for “The Hulk” nickname given to him by the 49ers’ offensive linemen – perhaps Nick Zakelj started it – Valdez said: “It’s funny, because my dad calls me it, since maybe high school. It’s a pretty cool name. I’ll take it.”

Said Shanahan: “He’s flashed a lot in practice. He’s been a problem in one-on-ones and he played the run well today. Our O-line coach talks about him in practice and that means he’s doing some stuff and it was good to see it carry over to the game.”

NO ‘TUSH PUSH’ FOR MAC

Mac Jones opened in place of Brock Purdy and completed his first three passes, including a 50-yarder to rookie Jordan Watkins. Once Jones converted a fourth-down run for a 2-yard gain to the 5-yard line, Patrick Taylor Jr. followed with a touchdown run on the next snap for a 7-0 lead.

Jones’ fourth-down plunge did not come on a derivation of the Philadelphia Eagles’ controversial yet successful “Tush Push.” Said Jones: “Yeah, I don’t need the extra help. I’m 230 (pounds).” Jones added that he requested the quarterback sneak from Saturday’s play caller, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak.

BETHUNE’S STUDY HABITS

Tatum Bethune’s extra study habits this offseason led to his impressive start Saturday night in place of Fred Warner as the starting middle linebacker. Bethune made six tackles, two of which came after he returned from a right ankle “nick.”

Bethune, the 49ers’ last pick of the 2024 draft at No. 251 overall, would meet with linebackers coach Johnny Holland for one-on-one ink board sessions after workouts during the spring. Of course, Bethune has been “a sponge” studying Warner up close for over a year, too.

“My first walk-through last year, he jumped in and to me he sounded like a robot,” Bethune recalled. “I was like, ‘Damn, that’s what a starting linebacker looks like and that’s what I want to be someday.’ So I’m just copying everything he does.”

SIGLE’S SAFETY SURPRISE

Rookie Marques Sigle is a fifth-round pick who’s been overlooked as a potential starter on a young defense, and he lined up with veteran Jason Pinnock on the first-string defense Saturday. He left with what Shanahan suspects is a knee bruise, but not before making seven tackles and tapping into his 4.3-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

“He’s had a heck of a week here and finished it off today,” Shanahan said.

Sigle’s confidence offset any opening-night nerves. “I’ve been living this dream my whole life and now it’s finally here, so I can’t be nervous,” Sigle said.

‘ENERGIZER BUNNY’ LUCAS

Chase Lucas learned two hours before kickoff he’d play nickel back all game, because rookie Upton Stout would be out with a tight calf. Lucas had a blitz that resulted in a first-quarter safety, he totaled a team-high eight tackles, and he had a great pass breakup in the red zone.

Shanahan called him the 49ers’ “Energizer Bunny,” and it was Lucas’ swagger that nearly sparked fights in special teams drills during Thursday’s joint practice. “Man, I’ll play anywhere. If I had 20 more pounds on me I’d probably be playing safety as well,” Lucas said. “I feel like my natural position is corner, but whatever a team needs, I’ll be there. Nickel, safety, Mike backer, I don’t care. As long as I’m on the field and contributing to the team in any way I possibly can.”

WATKINS A ‘TYPICAL’ ROOKIE?

Watkins made a 50-yard catch for his first professional reception, and it came on the 49ers’ initial third-down snap of the preseason to spark a touchdown drive. Great work, indeed.

It wasn’t a perfect night for him, and that actually is a positive thing. The 49ers can identify what holes are in his game, such as a busted route that led to Jones’ third-series interception, an inability to shield a defender from breaking up on a contested pass, and committing a false-start penalty. Said Shanahan: “Typical rookie game. Some positive stuff. But a lot of stuff we can challenge him with when watching tape Monday.”

LOWS

PASS-RUSH WOES

Celebrated pass-rusher Bryce Huff made his 49ers debut, but it was a quiet one, when the 49ers needed anyone to help cover for Nick Bosa (healthy scratch) and top pick Mykel Williams (hyperextended knee, might return in a week).

Homegrown defensive linemen Kalia Davis and Robert Beal Jr. emerged from the shadows to record sacks, although Beal shared his with Valdez. The other defensive ends: Jonathan Garvin, Jaylon Allen and Bradlee Anae. “I didn’t feel a lot with pass rush out there but have to watch the tape for sure,” said Shanahan, who can simply look at the stat line of the Broncos’ three quarterbacks (26-of-36, 222 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, 115.7 rating).

MARTIN’S MISTAKES

Linebacker Nick Martin, a third-round pick, had multiple missed tackles, including on back-to-back plays in the third quarter before a Broncos penalty nullified an open-field whiff.

He’s played as the second-string weak-side linebacker all camp behind Dee Winters as the 49ers try filling Dre Greenlaw’s void.

Shanahan on Martin’s debut: “He ran around, got a lot of playing time. He had a couple misses, especially on a big third down on a shallow cross. But I like how Nick’s been going. But he has a lot of tape to watch to get better.”

QUARTERBACK HICCUPS

Carter Bradley and Tanner Mordecai struggled in relief of Jones, who was 4-of-7 for 74 yards. Bradley served as Saturday’s QB2 and completed just 6-of-14 passes for 32 yards, including a 19-yard completion to tight end Jake Tonges. Mordecai, re-signed earlier in the day after a week on the street, fumbled after a play-action fake and finished 3-of-6 for 21 yards. The combined passer rating of Purdy’s backups: 22.2.

CORNERBACK DEPTH

Cornerback depth is always concerning. This outing underscored that. Darrell Luter Jr. and Dallis Flowers each surrendered a touchdown catch as the starting cornerbacks in place of Deommodore Lenoir (healthy scratch) and Renardo Green (may return this week from a hamstring strain).

Luter Jr. looked around aghast after apparently blowing coverage on the Broncos’ opening touchdown, which Lucas Krull scored on an 8-yard lob from Jarrett Stidham. Luter started at cornerback along with Dallis Flowers, who yielded a 36-yard touchdown catch to ex-49er Trent Sherfield 1:30 before halftime.

JAUAN JENNINGS’ CALF

Two weeks since he last practiced, Jauan Jennings was the first player to leave the locker room, and did so without comment, which isn’t an issue other than he hasn’t spoken to the media all camp. Shanahan insisted postgame that Jennings’ absence from practice is not business-related as last season’s 975-yard receiver seeks a contract extension, adding that Jennings has “not at all” relayed that to his coach.

More concerning, perhaps, is that Jennings’ calf injury could be chronic. Shanahan said it not only traced to spring’s organized team activities (and kept him out of the mandatory minicamp) but also hindered Jennings in last year’s camp. He did not play in the 2024 preseason, then had a career-best year.

TURNOVER RATIO

The 49ers committed four turnovers, including an interception off each of the three quarterbacks and a lost fumble by running back Ameer Abdullah on a third-quarter carry that injured his ribs.

Saleh’s defense had no takeaways. Tre Brown did force a fumble, punching the ball free as Jarrett Stidham scrambled and got wrapped up by Martin. The Broncos recovered that ball, however, on their opening drive after halftime. Linebacker Stone Blanton forced another fumble that Denver recovered.

GOOD DEEDS

GET WELL, PAPA

Guy Haberman opened CBS 5’s television broadcast by paying homage to Greg Papa, the 49ers’ play-by-play voice who’s battling cancer. “Greg, we love you, we miss you and we can’t wait to have you back,” Haberman said from the booth next to long-time color analyst Tim Ryan.

DEFENDING BURFORD

Would you have believed it a year ago if we said Spencer Burford would open this preseason as the starting left tackle (while Trent Williams rests)? The same Burford whose blocking gaffe foiled the 49ers in overtime of the Super Bowl?

Burford is making the switch from guard to tackle, and he got defended by Shanahan after Saturday’s game for a sequence in which Jones got sacked twice before a third-down incompletion. Shanahan blamed the first sack on tight end Luke Farrell, then the next snap on a misalignment that allowed the defensive end to jump the snap, while Burford was expecting help on the third-down play. “Those three plays in a row were a little unfair to Spence,” Shanahan said.

LOCKER ROOM DECOR

The 49ers’ locker room got updated and seems more homey, more of a den. White walls got painted red or covered in wood to match the players’ lockers. A tan carpet still smells new and lacks the stains of past trials and triumphs. New slogans (that the media is not permitted to disclose) adorn the walls above locker banks.

By the way, here are some of the locker replacements of 49ers’ starters who’ve left: Demarcus Robinson in Deebo Samuel’s stall, Upton Stout in Aaron Banks’ stall, Richie Grant in Talanoa Hufanga’s, Luke Farrell in Dre Greenlaw’s (next to Purdy), Jonathan Garvin in Charvarius Ward’s, Bryce Huff’s in Mitch Wishnowsky’s, and Jon Weeks’ in fellow long snapper Taybor Pepper’s.