5 Biggest Takeaways from San Francisco 49ers' Preseason Week 4 Win
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is ready for the regular season, apparently.
Kaepernick completed just five of 13 pass attempts in the first three preseason games, posted a passer rating of 47 and generally seemed uncomfortable and out of sync. But head coach Jim Tomsula decided Kaepernick needed no more live action before the regular season.
So, Kaepernick stood and watched from the sideline Thursday night during the Niners' 14-12 win over the San Diego Chargers. Kaepernick will start the regular season on fire, because he’s just that good.
Here are five more things we learned about the 49ers from their preseason Week 4 win over the Chargers.
WR Bruce Ellington Is Good
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With the starters on the sideline Thursday night, second-year wide receiver Bruce Ellington was the best player on the field.
On the first pass play of the game, Ellington made a short catch over the middle to convert a 3rd-and-5. Then he turned upfield without breaking stride and ran 70 yards untouched for the score. He finished the first half with three catches for 86 yards and one touchdown.
Ellington also returned a punt 26 yards in the second quarter. He is clearly one of the Niners' most explosive players, if not the most explosive player on the team. He should be the No. 3 receiver and possibly a punt returner, too.
WR DeAndrew White Is Good, Too
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If Ellington is the team’s most explosive player, undrafted rookie receiver DeAndrew White may be the team’s second-most explosive player.
White should be a lock to make the final roster after a good game against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night. In the second quarter, he jumped and caught an underthrown deep pass over a cornerback’s head for a 36-yard gain.
Later in the second quarter, White fielded a punt deep in his own territory on the left side of the field, ran all the way to the right side of the field and gained 34 yards. And in the third quarter, White returned a punt 36 yards down the right sideline.
And he wasn’t done. In the fourth quarter, White made a 31-yard catch on a back-shoulder fade. He was terrific all game.
Can the 49ers figure out ways to use both White and Ellington on special teams and offense?
RB Kendall Hunter May Be History
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Kendall Hunter didn’t practice most of the offseason. He tore his ACL during training camp last year, and the Niners were bringing him back slowly. It seemed they were trying to keep him fresh and healthy for the regular season.
Hunter returned to practice the week before preseason game No. 3 against the Denver Broncos, and the coaches immediately threw him in with the starters. Some days Hunter led the offense in touches during practice. It seemed he was poised to have a big role in the offense.
Then he played in actual games—first against the Broncos, then against the Chargers. In those games, he carried the ball 17 times for 36 yards—2.1 yards per carry. Brutal.
It seems unlikely Hunter will have a big role in the offense. It also seems unlikely he will make the final roster.
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RB Mike Davis May Be the Niners’ No. 2 Running Back
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The Niners probably expected Hunter to be their second-best running back and their change-of-pace back.
Reggie Bush will be a key player, but San Francisco will utilize him mostly on passing downs as a receiver out of the backfield—not so much as a change-of-pace guy. He doesn’t seem like much of a running back anymore, although he's still explosive in the open field.
On Thursday against the Chargers, rookie fourth-round pick Mike Davis seemed like the second-best running back on the team behind starter Carlos Hyde. In fact, Davis seemed like the second-best running back on the team all preseason. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
NT Mike Purcell Will Probably Make the Team
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Nose tackle Mike Purcell had two monster games in Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason, then he struggled in Week 3.
However, he was back playing like a monster again in Week 4. He made three tackles against the Chargers and was the only 49ers player who recorded a tackle for a loss in the first half.
The Niners may not have a role for Purcell in their starting defense, but he seems too good to cut. If the Niners keep him, he will likely take Hunter’s spot on the 53-man roster. Purcell could become a key player later in the season if other defensive linemen suffer injuries.
All quotations and practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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