Tyreik McAllister showcased his athleticism by maneuvering through the air to snag a pass from Carter Bradley, sprinting into the end zone for a touchdown as the Raiders faced off against the San Francisco 49ers in a preseason game.
In Las Vegas, Brock Purdy displayed efficiency, completing 9 of 12 passes for 96 yards during the game, although he did throw a red-zone interception. His coach, Kyle Shanahan, felt a mix of concern and relief when Purdy made a touchdown-saving tackle after the interception. “When it happened, I was hoping he wouldn’t tackle him,” Shanahan remarked after the game ended in a 24-24 tie. “It’s preseason; let him score. But I’m glad he didn’t get hurt.”
The Raiders (0-2-1) equalized with a 43-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson with just 16 seconds remaining, while Joshua Dobbs connected with Jacob Cowing for a 10-yard touchdown pass, briefly putting the 49ers (1-1-1) ahead 24-21 late in the third quarter.
Both teams approached the game differently as they prepare for the regular season in two weeks. The 49ers showcased many of their starters in the first quarter, while the Raiders relied on backups vying for a place on the roster.
Coaches must finalize their rosters to 53 players by Tuesday. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce recognized the difficulty in making cuts, stating, “It’s not easy cutting 37 men and telling them they got to find somewhere else to play.”
Quarterback Nathan Peterman unexpectedly started the game after Pierce had indicated Carter Bradley would begin. Peterman completed 12 of 19 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in the first half, while Bradley ended up with 9 of 21 completions for 169 yards, one touchdown, and an interception.
McAllister, competing for a roster spot, returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown and also caught a 35-yard TD pass during the game.
The 49ers focused on evaluating their starters, with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle making their preseason debuts. Kittle stood out with a spectacular 19-yard reception and concluded the evening with three catches for 34 yards, marking a significant improvement from his previous preseason totals.
Not all of the 49ers’ top players were on the field. All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey missed the game due to a calf injury. Also absent were All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and second-team All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk, both involved in contract negotiations that remain unresolved as the season approaches.
Aiyuk was present at Allegiant Stadium and even had a brief conversation with Pierce prior to kickoff. Aiyuk had not traveled with the team for an earlier game and opted to watch from a private box last week.
Purdy’s playtime extended into the second quarter, where he led the team to a 10-0 start and nearly built an even larger lead. “It felt good to get out there with the guys and move the ball,” he said. A 49-yard field goal was followed by a 12-play, 85-yard touchdown drive. However, Purdy’s pass to Samuel was intercepted at the Raiders’ 16-yard line, prompting him to make a surprising tackle to contain the play.
“It happened so quick,” he acknowledged regarding the tackle, expressing that he didn’t want to be making tackles during the preseason.
As the game progressed, it transitioned to the backup players on both teams.
Injury updates revealed that 49ers defensive ends Yetur Gross-Matos and Leonard Floyd left the game with sprained knees; both players will undergo MRIs on Saturday.
Looking ahead, the 49ers will host the New York Jets on September 9 to kick off their season, while the Raiders will travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers on September 8.