Rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling starred and quarterback Kurtis Rourke sustained a rib injury during the San Francisco 49ers’ 19-13 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday in Santa Clara, California, as coach Kyle Shanahan evaluated roster battles ahead of the 2026 season.
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their preseason schedule on Thursday night at home against the Tennessee Titans, dropping a 19-13 contest that served primarily as an early evaluation ground for roster hopefuls and rookies. While established starters like quarterback Brock Purdy watched from the sideline in street clothes alongside backup Mac Jones, several newcomers seized the spotlight in front of a home crowd in Santa Clara.
De’Zhaun Stribling Shines in Preseason Debut
Top draft pick De’Zhaun Stribling quickly justified the hype surrounding his training camp performance. Playing against a Titans defensive unit that featured established starters, the rookie slot receiver hauled in seven catches for 63 yards, leading all pass-catchers on the night.
Stribling’s night included a key second-quarter sideline grab where he kept one toe inbounds by a grass-blade width to secure an 11-yard gain, setting up a short touchdown run by Patrick Taylor Jr. He also pulled down a 32-yard reception down the right sideline, showcasing the body control that has turned heads during practices.
Coaches showed their confidence in the rookie by giving him the rest of the evening off with nearly eight minutes left in the second quarter, well ahead of other offensive starters. But getting the first hit out of the way, the first catch out of the way, I started getting into a groove.
And then everything started rolling.
“It seemed good. We’ll see when we watch the film. I thought he struggled a little bit on that first drive, but I think he got three drives after that and seemed like he executed all the stuff that went to him. I liked how his hands looked out there, and he played physical.”
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers coach
Kurtis Rourke Impresses Before Injury Exit
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke started the game ahead of Adrian Martinez in the competition for the team’s third quarterback spot. Rourke completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards while working against a Tennessee defense anchored by Jeffery Simmons.
Beyond his passing numbers, Rourke flashed mobility by escaping collapsing pockets and extending plays with his legs. However, his night ended prematurely after he put his head down to run near the goal line and sustained a rib injury on a 3-yard run.
Rourke stayed on the field to finish the drive, which culminated in a 49ers touchdown, but he drew a delay of game penalty after losing track of the play clock. He did not return to the game and was transported to the hospital after experiencing trouble breathing. Shanahan stated after the game that he did not believe the issue was serious, and the team announced Friday morning that Rourke had been released from the hospital.
Standout Defensive Performances from Dugger and Halton
On the defensive side of the ball, several rookies made strong cases for roster spots and extended playing time. Linebacker Jaden Dugger, locked in a battle with Nick Martin for the SAM linebacker role, made an immediate impact by meeting Titans quarterback Cam Ward in the backfield for a short gain on Tennessee’s second play from scrimmage.
Defensive tackle Gracen Halton also disrupted the line of scrimmage, working through Titans linemen Peter Skoronski and Dan Moore Jr. on consecutive snaps to register defensive pressure and a tackle for loss.
“Once I get hot, it’s over with. I win one, and then next thing you know, I’m in my head like, ‘OK, I got this.’ So I build that confidence, and it’s over.”
Gracen Halton, 49ers defensive tackle
Elsewhere in the secondary, cornerback Ephesians Prysock stepped in for an injured Jack Jones and broke up a pass in the end zone against first-round draft pick Carnell Tate. With roster cuts and regular-season preparations looming, the performance of San Francisco’s rookie class provides the coaching staff with plenty of film to evaluate as camp continues.
Related reading