Notes from 49ers dreadful preseason showing against the Broncos

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5 days ago

One down!
The San Francisco 49ers got one of their three preseason games out of the way with a 30-9 loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday at Levi's Stadium.
While the games don't count, the 49ers were sloppy in a way that doesn't bode well for the regular season. The good news is they have time to clean up some of the issues that plagued them in their exhibition defeat.
Here are our notes from each quarter of Saturday's loss:
First quarter
Nice play by Mac Jones to find Demarcus Robinson on the first snap of the game. A free rusher got home and Jones did well to make a side arm throw to Robinson for eight yards.
Whew! What a throw by Jones to rookie wide receiver Jordan Watkins. He dropped a dime over Watkins' right shoulder on a third down for a 50-yard gain into the red zone. That's a really nice rep for Watkins who could see a ton of playing time this year with injuries at the top of the receiving corps.
Patrick Taylor is the starting running back and he found paydirt on his second carry. He showed off good vision to bounce his run outside where he motored in untouched for a score and a 7-0 49ers lead.
It's interesting that Upton Stout isn't with the starting group for the 49ers. That he isn't suiting up for the first preseason game says a lot about where he stands on the depth chart.
Woof. Starting safety Jason Pinnock, who could be the team's starter in Week 1, whiffed a tackle attempt on rookie RB RJ Harvey. It would've been a tackle for loss and instead went for seven yards to set up a third-and-3. That's a rep the veteran defensive back will want back.
Rookie WR Junior Bergen showed why the 49ers made him their final pick in the 2025 draft. He was a punt return star at the University of Montana and flashed that ability on his first attempt Saturday. Bergen made a slick move to force a missed tackle before galloping 28 yards to put the 49ers at their own 43 to start their second series. If he can flip field position like that consistently it will be hard to keep him off the roster.
Jones is throwing dimes. It's clear the veteran is comfortable in the 49ers' offense. He started four-for-four for 75 yards before a throwaway on a third-and-17 on his second series. Broncos starting DE Nick Bonitto was a terror on that series. The 49ers couldn't block him and he blew up everything San Francisco was trying to do offensively.
Nice stop for rookie safety Marques Sigle on a screen to Harvey. He was one-on-one with the RB and wrapped him up for a short gain. Sigle could push his way into the starting conversation with a strong preseason showing.
Wow. What a disaster for the Broncos starting offense. 49ers CB Chase Lucas forced an incompletion by getting home on a corner blitz to start the drive. Then he generated a safety by pressuring Broncos QB Bo Nix and forcing him to throw the ball away in the end zone for intentional grounding. Really great work that series by the 49ers reserves. 49ers 9, Broncos 0
And that's why Jones is working his way back into a starting role in the NFL. He had all day to throw and badly missed on a throw to Watkins. There was no chance for the receiver to make a play and Broncos CB Ja'Quan McMillian jumped it for the takeaway. Tough couple of series for the 49ers offense.
Another great play by Lucas to break up a deep shot on a third-and-5. He's usually a special teams guy, but his defensive showing may help him secure a roster spot.
End of first quarter: 49ers 9, Broncos 0
Second quarter
What a night for the 49ers reserve defensive backs. Dallis Flowers came up with a really nice run stop on an outside run. His tackle-for-loss was followed by a pass breakup on a deep throw by CB Darrell Luter Jr. to force a 42-yard Broncos field goal. 49ers 9, Broncos 3
Jones' night is over with Carter Bradley stepping under center in the second quarter.
Undrafted rookie Corey Kiner is the second RB up. He lowered his shoulder for a heavy hit to finish off his first carry which went for five yards.
Second-year linebacker Tatum Bethune started as the Mike LB and he's put together a really nice night all around. He could be in the mix to be the starting Sam LB, a spot occupied by Luke Gifford to start Saturday's game.
A sack by Robert Beal! He has a long way to go before becoming an impact player on the 49ers defensive end rotation, but getting home for a sack in the preseason is a good step toward that.
Kalia Davis has flashed a couple times and he got home for a sack after missing one earlier. Bradlee Anae made that happen though. He beat the right tackle and forced QB Jarrett Stidham to step up into Davis' arms. Good work by the reserve defensive line. A 32-yard field goal made it 49ers 9, Broncos 6.
Oof. Bradley gave the ball right back to the Broncos on a third-and-4. He threw an interception directly into a linebacker's chest. That is not a good rep for the second-year undrafted free agent. He's battling for a roster spot with fellow second-year UDFA Tanner Mordecai.
The Broncos got an easy touchdown thanks to what must have been multiple coverage breakdowns by the 49ers' defense. There have been a ton of highlight plays for the 49ers secondary, but that play alone is enough to undo some of the strong showings.
Bradley throws the heck out of the ball, but Broncos defenders are frequently getting hands in the way of his throws.
What a throw by Stidham to old friend Trent Sherfield to make it 20-9, Broncos. The 49ers reserves did better against the Broncos starters than they're doing against the Broncos backups.
Halftime score: Broncos 20, 49ers 9
Third quarter
Lucas nearly had an interception on a wide receiver screen and undrafted rookie Jakob Robinson flew in for a tackle-for-loss. Robinson has come up a lot in practice recaps from the SAP Performance Facility.
Tre Brown was one of the players vying for the starting nickel cornerback spot and he punched out a fumble on a scramble by Stidham. That was textbook and the 49ers just couldn't corral a ball that was live for a long time. The scramble did push the Broncos out of field goal range. That Brown is still in the game doesn't bode well for his chances to stay in that starting mix.
There's Jake Tonges. He shined as a pass catcher in the preseason last year. He was badly underthrown by Bradley and still managed to haul the throw in for an 18-yard pick up. It's been a rough night for Bradley. Tonges is in a roster battle with Brayden Willis who hasn't had a reception.
Kiner is good. He showed off good balance after getting hit in the backfield and found eight yards on what should've been a rush for a loss.
There's another bad throw by Bradley. It was an underthrown deep out that was undercut for an interception that was negated by an illegal hands to the face penalty on the Broncos. He's not helping his chances to make the 49ers' practice squad.
Ouch. Third-round rookie LB Nick Martin flat out missed a tackles on consecutive snaps after Abdullah's fumble. There was some expectation he'd be the starter, but it's clear he has a long way to go. Martin made a nice hit later in the drive, but whiffed another open-field tackle on third-and-long.
Bradley can really let it rip. He's thrown a couple of absolute missiles.
Watkins is good. The 49ers are finding different ways to get the ball in his hands and he's shown a little juice.
End of third quarter score: Broncos 23, 49ers 9
Fourth quarter
Chase Lucas: still making plays.
Kiner is still in the game, but it's tough for him to find room behind an offensive line that's not doing an outstanding job.
Oh dear. Tanner Mordecai is in under center and he just dropped the ball on a bootleg for a loss of nine yards. The QB3 battle is not going well for either player.
The 49ers went on a fourth-and-four from Denver's 37. Mordecai completed his pass to WR Robbie Chosen, but the pass went for a yard and a turnover on downs. San Francisco's offense has just been dreadful since the first drive.
Heck of a play by Tre Brown to force a turnover on downs. On fourth-and-6, Watson got to the corner and looked to have the first down, but Brown flew in and cut the RB's legs out and stopped him short of the sticks. That's the second nice play by him for a run stop.
Sweet catch by Tonges on a throw behind him. He's shown some juice as a pass catcher the last two preseasons.
Another disaster from Mordecai. He escaped pressure. Bought time. Then threw blind into a group of Broncos defenders on the sideline. It's not clear if that was a bad throw away attempt or a bad throw into traffic. Neither would be good.
The 49ers have forced two fumbles and had chances to recover both, but couldn't come up with either of them. Undrafted rookie Stone Blanton forced one late in the fourth with a big hit, but San Francisco once again struggled to fall on the loose ball.
Martin was late again on a Broncos TD. It was a short throw to a tight end Caden Prieskorn and Martin didn't recognize it quickly enough. The Will LB job belongs to Dee Winters. Broncos 30, 49ers 9
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers vs. Broncos score: Notes from dreadful preseason loss