Packers vs. 49ers: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2016 Preseason

With Aaron Rodgers, Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick all in action for Week 3 of the preseason at Levi's Stadium on Friday night, the Green Bay Packers' 21-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers did not lack compelling storylines.

Not only did Rodgers acquit himself nicely in his first appearance of the preseason, but the 49ers' quarterback battle between Gabbert and Kaepernick also took center stage after the dual-threat signal-caller missed the team's first two exhibition contests.

Gabbert again drew the start, but head coach Chip Kelly limited his exposure to get a better look at Kaepernick.

Gabbert posted 14 yards on 2-of-3 passing, although he didn't get credit on the stat sheet for his biggest play of the night: a backward pass to Quinton Patton behind the line of scrimmage that went for a three-yard touchdown in the first quarter, as NFL Network documented:

Kaepernick had a chance to put pressure on Gabbert as the first half progressed, but he looked out of sync at the controls of the Niners offense.

The 28-year-old's struggles shouldn't have come as a big surprise given the injuries he has battled throughout the offseason, according to the San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami:

Kaepernick's evening was largely defined by a couple of uneventful three-and-outs, and he finished 2-of-6 while passing for 14 yards. He also ran four times for 18 yards. 

According to Kawakami, Gabbert's emergence as the superior quarterback for the time being may be in the team's best interest as the 49ers gear up for their first season under Kelly's tutelage:

San Francisco running back Carlos Hyde added four rushes for 30 yards, but those numbers are slightly misleading. While he averaged 7.5 yards per carry, Hyde ripped off a 27-yard run that set up Patton's touchdown. His other three carries went for a grand total of three yards. 

The Packers offense wasn't pristine when judged by the team's high standards, but it was in comparison to the Niners' lackluster unit.

Rodgers completed six of nine passes for 60 yards and a score, which was the result of a quick screen pass to Randall Cobb, via the NFL: 

Cobb finished with three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown, but tight end Jared Cook stood out as the Green Bay's most dynamic receiving threat in the regular-season dress rehearsal. 

Not only did the 6'5", 254-pounder haul in four passes for 54 yards, but he was also targeted in situations that indicated he could become a safety blanket for Rodgers, per Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's official website:

Assuming Jordy Nelson, who was inactive Friday, continues to recover from last year's preseason ACL tear in timely fashion, Rodgers should have a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal when the regular season rolls around in September.

Speaking of players who make the Packers' high-octane offense go, running back Eddie Lacy continued to look spry as he seeks to redeem himself after a lackluster 2015 season that was plagued by questions about his weight.

Although his snaps were limited to the early stages of the first half, the 234-pounder made the most of his opportunities, racking up 45 yards on seven carries.

As those numbers indicate, the Packers have the foundation to come out and make a statement against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 of the regular season.

The same can't be said for the 49ers, who appear to be working through kinks galore on both sides of the ball during the early stages of Kelly's reign.

A Week 1 meeting with the Los Angeles Rams represents a winnable contest for the 49ers, but San Francisco will need to hope its offense establishes enough continuity by then to better defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' stingy unit.

Postgame Reaction

Following the game, Rodgers and Kaepernick exchanged pleasantries at midfield, per the NFL's official Twitter account:

"Very productive night for our football team," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said, according to the team's Twitter account. "Feel very good about what we've accomplished so far in the preseason."

Rodgers echoed that sentiment despite being limited to a couple of first-quarter possessions. 

"I feel good about the work we put in tonight," he said, per the Packers' Twitter account. "We put in two good drives."

As for the 49ers, the postgame focus revolved around the quarterback competition. 

According to ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner, Kelly said Kaepernick was "up and down like all of us on offense," and added that "we will sit down as a staff and see where we are" with regard to evaluating San Francisco's two primary signal-callers. 

"We’re never going to make a decision walking off the field," Kelly emphasized, per the 49ers' Twitter account. "There's no timeline on naming starting QB." 

Kelly also reiterated the team has no plans to part ways with Kaepernick as the regular season approaches.

"We've never had a conversation about that," he said, according to the Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows. "We've never had a conversation about cutting Kaepernick."