Tyreik McAllister leaped to catch a pass from Carter Bradley before racing into the end zone for a touchdown, contributing to a dynamic game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders.
In Las Vegas on Friday night, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy demonstrated efficiency, completing 9 out of 12 passes for 96 yards. However, he experienced a setback with a red-zone interception, which led to a tense moment for his coach, Kyle Shanahan. “When it happened, I was hoping he wouldn’t tackle him,” Shanahan commented after the game, which ended in a 24-24 preseason tie. “It’s preseason, let him score. But the fact he tackled him and got him down and didn’t get hurt, I’m glad he didn’t.”
Daniel Carlson tied the game for the Raiders (0-2-1) with a 43-yard field goal just 16 seconds before the end, following Joshua Dobbs’ 10-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Cowing, putting the 49ers (1-1-1) ahead 24-21 in the third quarter.
The two teams approached the game differently as the regular season approaches. The 49ers utilized most of their starters in the first quarter, while the Raiders showcased backups competing for spots on the roster.
With the deadline to trim rosters to 53 players looming on Tuesday, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce expressed the difficult nature of making cuts. “It’s not easy cutting 37 men and telling them they got to find somewhere else to play,” he noted.
Quarterback Nathan Peterman unexpectedly started after Pierce had indicated Wednesday that Carter Bradley would be under center. Peterman played the first half, completing 12 of 19 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Bradley directed the tying drive for the field goal, finishing with 9 of 21 for 169 yards, including a touchdown and an interception.
Among those vying for a position was Tyreik McAllister, who returned a punt for an 81-yard touchdown and caught a 35-yard TD pass.
The 49ers aimed to assess the majority of their starters, marking the preseason debuts of wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle. Kittle impressively caught a 19-yard pass amid two defenders and concluded the game with three catches totaling 34 yards. This performance was notable as his previous preseason career total stood at four catches for 47 yards.
Though some starters were absent, including All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey due to a calf injury, and both All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and second-team All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who are entangled in unresolved contract disputes, the team made strides. Aiyuk was present at the stadium and conversed with Pierce, who previously coached him at Arizona State.
Purdy played into the second quarter while facing the Raiders’ reserves. He started strong, leading the team to a quick 10-0 advantage before nearly extending the lead by another score. “It felt good to get out there with the guys and move the ball,” Purdy remarked. “We were all in rhythm.” The 49ers scored first with a 49-yard field goal by Jake Moody, and Purdy orchestrated a 12-play, 85-yard touchdown drive. However, a pass to Samuel was intercepted, leading to a unique moment as Purdy made a tackle on the play, marking his third career tackle across all formats.
In the final stretch, the game transitioned to the reserves for both teams.
Injury updates noted that 49ers left defensive ends Yetur Gross-Matos and Leonard Floyd exited the game with sprained knees and will undergo MRIs.
Looking ahead, the 49ers will host the New York Jets on September 9 to kick off the season, while the Raiders will visit the Los Angeles Chargers on September 8 for their season opener.