SANTA CLARA – Enough fans settled into Levi’s Stadium seats, from Row 1 to the top of the sun-blinding eastside stands, to make the 49ers’ preseason win seem important enough Sunday night.
For Brock Purdy, it was a chance to get the first hits out of the way, despite dangerous landings on his throwing shoulder.
For 49ers newcomers and roster longshots, they got to state their case in the 16-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Not everyone fared well, such as wide receivers Ronnie Bell and Danny Gray, who caught 3-of-10 targets combined. Jake Moody made his first two field-goal tries, but when he missed a 51-yarder, he did so wide right enough to spark reminders of last season’s late woes.
Here are five guys who did impress:
1. JACOB COWING
Cowing, making his 49ers’ debut, looked worthy of a fourth-round pick. He caught all three targets his way before halftime, including a 38-yard, over-the-shoulder snag at the 4-yard line. “That’s that I’ve been doing for a long time now, being able to display my speed and also my route ability,” Cowing said. “At the same time it was a great play call and good execution on both ends.”
(Note: Coach Kyle Shanahan ceded play-calling duties for a second straight preseason game to pass-game specialist Klay Kubiak, with no indication whatsoever that will stay the same in the regular season.)
Shanahan said of Cowing: “I was happy with him. Just the poise on the punt returns (two for 19 yards) was good to see. He made good decisions. He made a couple of plays, on the jet sweep and in the pass game. Good to see him out there.”
Not out there: Brandon Aiyuk (watched from a suite, Shanahan said), Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall plus three receivers who’ve already gone on Injured Reserve (Terique Owens, Malik Turner, and Frank Darby).
On the 49ers’ first possession after halftime, Cowing took a handoff, outraced a defensive end to the sideline, and turned upfield for a 19-yard gain. The only pass Cowing didn’t catch came in the fourth quarter, but his effort prevented a potential pick-six of rookie quarterback Tanner Mordecai’s red zone throw. “I just got a lot more confident within my abilities within my playbook. It allowed me to play fast, play my game, play fast,” said Cowing, who’s been hindered in camp by a hamstring injury until this past week.
2. RENARDO GREEN
Green’s first action at Levi’s Stadium saw him line up at left cornerback in place of Pro Bowler Charvarius Ward. Green made a Ward-like play on the second series. Showing sticky coverage like he has most of training camp, Ward broke up a potential third-down conversion to Cedrick Wilson Jr. deep in Saints’ territory.
“Wherever the team needs me to do,” Ward said of his ability to line up outside or to slide inside and defend slot receivers. “I did it in college — inside, outside. I primarily played outside though, so I would say I’m more comfortable outside, but I can do it all. Whatever the team needs me that’s where I’ll be at.”
Darrell Luter and Sam Womack took over for Green as he retreated to the sideline with the 49ers’ other top cornerbacks who did not suit up – Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Isaac Yiadom.
3. TANNER MORDECAI
Purdy proclaimed last week that undrafted rookie Tanner Mordecai could rip it, and indeed he did in his pro debut. Mordecai completed his first four passes for 44 yards in the fourth quarter, with the last of that quartet being a 13-yarder to former SMU teammate Danny Gray.
“Man, when I got out there (initially), I was looking on the scoreboard and literally thinking to myself how grateful I am to be in this position. Not many guys get to do this and how lucky I am to have the opportunity,” Mordecai said. “Once we got out on the drive, we got in a little rhythm. It was so fun to get out there and play football again.”
He said he felt comfortable with the play calls and scheme. And he obviously draws inspiration from Purdy’s rise from 2022 fourth-string rookie.
“Everyone’s story is different, but it’s hard not to appreciate someone doing something that special, being the last pick, people didn’t have a bunch of expectations,” Mordecai said. “He kept his head down and went to work. There’s a reason why he is where he is now: because of his work ethic and the way he does things.”
Mordecai played last season at Wisconsin after transferring from SMU (2021-22) and before that Oklahoma (2018-20); he overlapped at Oklahoma with current Saints backup Spencer Rattler, whom Mordecai said he by chance latterly ran into on the sideline after a scramble out of bounds.
4. PRESSLEY HARVIN III
Mitch Wishnowsky’s knee irritation prompted the 49ers to sign Harvin for preseason duty, and the way he’s performed, Pressley Harvin III is nailing his audition, be it for the 49ers or a job elsewhere in the NFL.
All three of Harvin’s first-half punts landed inside the 10-yard line, as did his first after halftime. A 2021 seventh-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s pinned 75-of-217 career punts inside the 20-yard line (34.6%), with a 39.4-yard net punting average.
If Wishnowsky, 32, has a lingering issue that could jeopardize his availability, then the 49ers have a great insurance policy with Harvin. Of Wishnowsky’s 288 punts over the past five seasons, 44.1% were inside the 20-yard line, with a net average of 41.1 yards per punt.
5. ALEX BARRETT & CO.
Having spent most of the past five seasons on and off the 49ers’ practice squad, defensive end Alex Barrett made one of his best plays yet with a fumble-forcing sack of Rattler in the second quarter, while T.Y. McGill also crashed the pocket.
Barrett, who goes through pregame stretch in bare feet, needs to keep making impact plays to crack a defensive-line rotation that is craving another edge-rushing presence. He is undersized (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) but his hustle and system knowledge bolster his roster bid. He also stopped Rattler for no gain on a botched snap.
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The 49ers had plenty other defensive highlights, from Ji’Ayir Brown (tackle for loss), Jalen Graham (sack, six tackles), Tatum Bethune (nine tackles), Yetur Gross-Matos (quarterback hit), Sam Womack (third-down hit), Darrell Luter (fourth-down pass defense in end zone) and Malik Mustapha, who made some jarring hits; Mustapha appropriately wore a Ronnie Lott replica jersey postgame and was star struck when he recently met the Hall of Fame safety in the team cafeteria.
