SANTA CLARA — As it often goes in Week 1 of the preseason, reactions can sometimes be exaggerated.
We’ll see how this all plays out by the end of week 18.
Interestingly, the standout rookie receiver at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday night wasn’t the one drafted fourth overall by Commissioner Roger Goodell back in April.
No, it was a player who went much later, after 29 picks and five other receivers.
“I’m aware of who was picked before me,” noted DeZone Stribling, the No. 33 overall pick, who clearly shone in the 49ers’ preseason opener, which ended in a 19-13 defeat to the Titans.
In their respective NFL debuts, Stribling surpassed No. 4 overall pick Colonel Tate, who struggled to secure any catches, going 0 for 3 on targets across three drives. Meanwhile, Stribling achieved a game-high 63 yards on three drives, with an impressive seven receptions.
“My journey is my own,” he reflected. “I’m not going to compare myself to others because that just makes it harder to appreciate where I am. This is about my path, and I’ll focus on making the most out of what I’m given for the team.”
Stribling also faced off against the Titans’ starting secondary. Tate, on the other hand, missed out on a touchdown chance thanks to fourth-round rookie Efesians Prysock, who stepped up after Jack Jones, another second-team player, exited with a hand injury.
With many of their starters resting, Stribling was among several rookies and reserves who actually performed well against Tennessee’s first team on both sides of the ball.
That was one of the few positives to take away from a game that saw many key players missing. The 49ers’ hopes this season will largely hinge on the health and performance of their star veterans like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa.
But the last few seasons have taught the 49ers that health is uncertain. Depth is essential. From what was seen in Thursday’s preseason opener, it looks like they have that covered.
Kyle Shanahan has every reason to feel optimistic about how his second and third stringers fared against a group of NFL starters who won just three games last year.
Meanwhile, Robert Saleh pulled three starters midway through the second quarter, with the score at 7-all.
The defense, which struggled with sacks last season, managed to consistently pressure Cam Ward, bringing him down three times against backup Will Revis, including a particularly notable sack that left Titans running back Tatum Bethune shaken.
One significant force on the defensive line was rookie Graycen Hulton, who initially canceled out a 14-yard sack of Ward due to a defensive holding penalty downfield. Hulton made a notable impact in the game, more so than his peers Alfred Collins or fellow rookie Romello Hite, who received a penalty in practice and another for hands to the face on the first drive.
Overall, this was a promising debut for new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
For the offense, Shanahan let Clay Kubiak take over play-calling duties, like he did last preseason, though he remained active on the sidelines following last month’s accident.
Shanahan’s offense managed to show some effectiveness with third-string quarterback Curtis Rourke, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards in his NFL debut before he was sidelined with a rib injury, leading to a night at a local hospital.
Nonetheless, the city of San Francisco is hoping that McCaffrey’s “stiffness” is nothing serious. The 49ers lacked their top four running backs and struggled to accumulate just 84 yards over 25 carries.
Yet, the highlight of the night mirrored what fans saw during the initial weeks of training camp.
This bodes well for a receiver group currently dealing with the absence of Kittle, Christian Kirk (calf), Mike Evans (quad), and recently lost Ricky Pearsall (knee).
Brock Purdy is in need of a playmaker, and Stribling appears to be just that.
Shanahan is known to be tough on rookie receivers, but Stribling even earned a light compliment for his debut performance. He did drop his first target on a jet sweep for a loss but soon showcased his impressive hands with a catch that netted a 10-yard gain. From there, Stribling took charge, executing a remarkable 32-yard catch against a seasoned cornerback.
“He seemed alright,” Shanahan remarked. “I had a bit of a rough start on the first drive, but I handled three drives well and did what was required of me.”
