LISTEN: Way Too Early 49ers Roster Prediction →
placeholder image

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports


49ers’ 24-21 preseason win over Cowboys proves costly with injuries

Aug 9, 2018 at 11:11 PM


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Tot
DAL 7 7 7 0 21
SF 0 7 3 14 24

The San Francisco 49ers pulled off a come-from-behind 24-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of the preseason Thursday night. But as the injuries piled up, the victory seemed more costly than rewarding.


On a positive note, the San Francisco 49ers are 1-0 this 2018 preseason, and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo still hasn't lost a game in which he's started. This, despite Garoppolo going only 3-of-6 on his first, and only, drive of the contest Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium.

Overall, head coach Kyle Shanahan's first-team offense struggled to move the ball at all during the opening quarter. While Garoppolo did connect with wide receiver Marquise Goodwin on two third-down tries, the quarterback's first drive ended in a punt.

Dallas, however, managed to score on its opening possession -- capped off by a 30-yard touchdown pass by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to rookie wide receiver Michael Gallup, who was being covered by the veteran, Jimmie Ward. Ward apparently didn't see the ball in the air, due to sunlight glare. But Ward wasn't exactly locked in on coverage with Gallup either.

While the Cowboys garnered most of the momentum early, San Francisco's eventual victory was marked more by injury than anything else.

Shortly after registering a combined sack with defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, fellow lineman Solomon Thomas suffered what appeared to be a concussion after taking a foot to the helmet. He was able to walk off the field with some assistance, but it's likely he'll see some time away.

Meanwhile, linebacker Malcolm Smith -- Smith was playing in his first actual game in a 49ers uniform after missing 2017 with a pectoral injury -- exited early with a hamstring injury. It's not expected to be serious, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan (h/t KNBR 680's Brad Almquist), but there were a few other injuries that easily could be.

On that first 49ers offensive drive, tight end George Kittle attempted to run a deep route down the center of the field. Garoppolo's pass sailed over Kittle's head, and the second-year tight end fell awkwardly on his right arm as shown in the clip below:


Kittle immediately got back up but was nursing his right shoulder in what appeared to be a clavicle injury.

Additionally, running back Matt Breida suffered a shoulder injury.

"Kittle and Breida have a shoulder injury," Shanahan told reporters after the game. "I don't know how long, but it's going to be some time before [they're back]. I'd be surprised if they were back next week."

Shanahan also confirmed both Thomas and swing tackle Garry Gilliam left with concussion-like symptoms.

49ers.com's Joe Fann later confirmed Kittle's injury wasn't to his collarbone, which is good news. But it's likely Kittle will be out for some time.

The Niners fell behind 14-7 entering the second half but managed to close the gap after a field goal on their second drive. Rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis helped set up that play with a 53-yard grab from quarterback C.J. Beathard, who was 10-of-20 for 181 yards and an interception off a tipped pass during the game.

Beathard had three tipped passes, and he could have had a fourth had it not been negated by a Cowboys penalty.

In Pettis' debut, the rookie wideout out of Washington had only that one grab, dropped another and mistimed a route connection with Beathard. But that 53-yard grab was something notable.

However, San Francisco's most impressive rookies were wide receiver Richie James and defensive tackle Jullian Taylor. James ended up with a team-leading four receptions for 46 yards and the game-winning touchdown off the hand of third-string quarterback Nick Mullens. Taylor, who was starting in place of defensive tackle Arik Armstead at the big end, stayed in the game throughout the contest. All Taylor did was register three tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack.

Not bad for a rookie seventh-round pick, who seems poised for placement on the 49ers' 53-man roster.

James' touchdown grab with 18 seconds remaining in regulation capped off 14 unanswered points from San Francisco, and it seems as if Shanahan will have a tough time keeping the rookie receiver off the roster too.

The 49ers will have a day off on Friday and a players' day off Saturday before resuming training camp practice this Sunday, Aug. 12 before preparing for their preseason Week 2 contest against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Aug. 18 from NRG Stadium.


DAL Team Stats SF
23 First Downs 26
338 Total Yards 454
233 Pass Yards 356
105 Rush Yards 98
13 (88) Penalties (Yds) 6 (38)
0 Turnovers 3
6 (40) Punts (Avg) 4 (35)
30:35 Time of Pos. 29:25

Cowboys Player Stats
Passing Cmp/Att Yds TDs INTs
C. Rush 15/23 145 1 0
Mi. White 6/11 63 0 0
D. Prescott 3/3 39 1 0
Rushing Att Yds TDs Lg
B. Scarbrough 9 33 1 28
R. Smith 8 32 0 15
D. Jackson 6 21 0 13
D. Prescott 1 12 0 12
J. Chunn 3 8 0 6
Tr. Williams 1 0 0 0
C. Rush 1 -1 0 -1
Receiving Rec Yds TDs Lg
M. Murdock 2 36 0 31
M. McKay 2 27 0 14
T. Austin 2 25 0 13
B. Jarwin 2 21 0 18
B. Scarbrough 2 19 0 11
Tr. Williams 2 13 0 10
T. Williams 2 7 0 6
L. Lenoir 2 3 1 2
M. Gallup 1 30 1 30
D. Jackson 1 14 0 14
A. Hurns 1 13 0 13
R. Jeune 1 11 0 11
R. Gathers 1 9 0 9
J. Olawale 1 7 0 7
R. Smith 1 6 0 6
D. Schultz 1 6 0 6
Fumbles Fum Lost Rec Yds
C. Tapper 0 0 0 0
Kicking FG Lg XP Pts
B. Maher 0/1 0 3/3 3
Punting No Avg I20 Lg
B. Maher 5 43.6 2 53
C. Jones 1 47 0 47
Kickoff Returns No Avg TDs Lg
D. Thomas 1 28 0 28
Tr. Williams 1 27 0 27
Punt Returns No Avg TDs Lg
L. Lenoir 3 1 0 5
Defense T-A Sck INTs FF
J. Thomas 3-2 0 1 0
B. Price 3-2 0 0 0
C. Ward 4-0 0 0 0
L. Vander Esch 4-0 0 0 0
T. Johnson 2-2 0 0 0
K. Kelly 2-1 0 0 0
C. Awuzie 1-2 0 0 0
M. Huff 2-0 0 0 0
D. Thomas 2-0 0 1 0
T. Robinson 2-0 0 0 0
A. Brown 2-0 0 0 0
M. White 2-0 0 0 0
J. Showers 2-0 0 0 0
J. Ward 1-1 0 0 0
D. Olumba 1-1 0 0 0
D. Armstrong 1-1 0 0 0
J. March-Lillard 1-0 0 0 0
D. Lawrence 1-0 0 0 0
K. Frazier 1-0 0 0 0
C. Tapper 1-0 0 0 1
J. Lewis 1-0 0 0 0
D. Jones 1-0 0 0 0
D. Wilson 1-0 0 0 0
A. Larkin 1-0 0 0 0
L. Neal 1-0 0 0 0
J. Smith 0-1 0 0 0
B. Jones 0-1 0 0 0
J. Saint Fleur 0-1 0 0 0

49ers Player Stats
Passing Cmp/Att Yds TDs INTs
C. Beathard 10/20 181 0 1
N. Mullens 11/13 141 1 1
J. Garoppolo 3/6 34 0 0
Rushing Att Yds TDs Lg
R. Mostert 8 57 0 23
J. Williams 11 27 1 15
J. McNichols 3 15 1 9
M. Breida 1 3 0 3
J. McKinnon 3 -4 0 2
Receiving Rec Yds TDs Lg
R. James 4 46 1 21
V. Bolden 3 54 0 24
R. Dwelley 3 44 0 26
K. Bourne 3 31 0 18
S. Dunbar 2 23 0 14
J. Williams 2 15 0 9
D. Pettis 1 53 0 53
A. Robinson 1 33 0 33
M. Goodwin 1 18 0 18
C. Hikutini 1 18 0 18
J. McNichols 1 9 0 9
J. McKinnon 1 7 0 7
M. Johnson 1 5 0 5
Fumbles Fum Lost Rec Yds
R. Mostert 1 1 0 0
Kicking FG Lg XP Pts
R. Gould 1/1 26 1/1 4
Punting No Avg I20 Lg
J. Locke 2 42 0 44
B. Pinion 2 40.5 0 45
Kickoff Returns No Avg TDs Lg
R. James 1 33 0 33
V. Bolden 1 12 0 12
Punt Returns No Avg TDs Lg
V. Bolden 3 2 0 11
Defense T-A Sck INTs FF
E. Lee 6-1 0 0 0
K. Toomer 4-0 0 0 0
C. James 3-0 0 0 0
J. Taylor 2-1 1 0 0
S. Thomas 2-1 0.5 0 0
R. Blair 2-1 0 0 0
D. Reed 2-1 0 0 0
R. Foster 2-0 0 0 0
G. Mabin 2-0 0 0 0
P. Taumoepenu 2-0 0 0 0
A. Colbert 2-0 0 0 0
J. Tartt 2-0 0 0 0
A. Exum 2-0 0 0 0
C. Thornton 2-0 0 0 0
W. Sutton 2-0 0 0 0
T. Moore 2-0 0 0 0
D. Jones 1-0 0 0 0
T. Powell 1-0 0 0 0
M. Nzeocha 1-0 0 0 0
E. Moseley 1-0 0 0 0
E. Harold 1-0 0 0 0
J. Ward 1-0 0 0 0
C. Marsh 1-0 0 0 0
W. Saxton 1-0 0 0 0
N. Toran 1-0 0 0 0
D. Buckner 0-1 0.5 0 0
T. Williams 0-1 0 0 0
  • Written by:
    Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.

Related News





Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

49ers will host Saints in preseason, hold joint practices in Irvine

By David Bonilla
May 14

The San Francisco 49ers will once again engage in joint practices with a preseason opponent, a tradition they've upheld for several years. According to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com, this year's partner will be the New Orleans Saints, one of the team's preseason opponents. The Saints will learn quickly how good they are in 2024. Their joint practices in training camp are against one of the top teams in the league…Here's who the Saints will be playing in their first 2 preseason games of 2024 https://t.co/dhVBY26Z9w— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_)


placeholder image

Biggest contract in 2025: 49ers' Brock Purdy or Cowboys' Dak Prescott?

By David Bonilla
May 17

The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to secure their franchise quarterback with a significant contract next year. When that happens, Brock Purdy will become one of the NFL's highest-paid players—potentially even the highest-paid. However, sports commentator Rich Eisen predicts that Purdy's reign as the highest-paid player won't last long. When asked who will earn the highest average salary starting in 2025, Eisen explained that while Purdy might initially hold the top spot, Prescott's deal will eventually top it. "Oh, it's going to be Dak Prescott," Eisen said. "Absolutely, it's going to be Dak Prescott. ... Purdy is going to wind up the number one paid quarterback in the NFL. And I just don't think he will be by the end of the day because Dak,


placeholder image

49ers reportedly signing DL Shakel Brown after tryout

By David Bonilla
May 13

Shakel Brown was among several players who participated in a tryout in front of coaches during the San Francisco 49ers' rookie minicamp last week. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports that the team was impressed enough with the defensive lineman to sign him. Defensive lineman Shakel Brown @TROYUnews signed with #49ers after rookie minicamp tryout per a league source


placeholder image

An Arsenal of Weapons: The 49ers Have Quietly Become Even More Dangerous on Offense in 2024

By Don Atkinson
May 13

It's not a shock to anyone who looks back at the past two NFL seasons to contemplate that the San Francisco 49ers' offense has finally stepped out of the shadow cast by the team's ever-imposing defense. Since their 2019 Super Bowl run, players like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and former 49ers Richard Sherman and Jimmie Ward have garnered most of the attention when talking about the team. That was indeed the case until 2022, when future Hall-of-Fame running back Christian McCaffrey, who came to San Francisco in a mid-season trade with the Carolina Panthers, changed the conversation. The 49ers' offense was suddenly seen not just as a semi-capable complement to a sterling defense, but rather as a unit that could put up some points, and in a dramatic way. With the


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone