49ers face AFC powerhouse Chiefs in exhibition clash; Jimmy G gets start and Trey Lance throws touchdown pass.
Rookie quarterback Lance looks electric in his first professional game
SANTA CLARA » Trey Lance faked a handoff, rolled left and instead of keeping the ball or throwing short, he went for the deep shot. He got it: Touchdown, 49ers.
Affirmative, the 49ers have themselves quite a new quarterback.
Lance’s pro debut Saturday night made for arguably the most enticing preseason opener in 49ers’ history. In addition to unveiling their QB of the future, near or nearer, the 49ers welcomed fans back to Levi’s Stadium for the first time in 19 months.
The 49ers were trailing 10-9 in the third quarter when this edition went to press. For the final score and more about the game, visit mercurynews.com/49ers.
Lance replaced Jimmy Garoppolo after one series, as planned.
The incumbent completed all three of his passes for 28 yards and went three-and-out.
But, on the first snap of the next series, Lance made magic. He connected with Trent Sherfield on an 80-yard touchdown play, floated the ball over two Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs.
Sherfield caught Lance’s pass in stride at the Chiefs’ 43-yard line, a replay of their deep-threat connections
that have been a regular part of training camp practices.
That’s how you announce yourself, and that’s how you answer a touchdown drive on the previous snap by your opponent (a Chad Henne touchdown pass).
Levi’s Stadium roared with approval, with the stands about half full. It was the first game fans were allowed in since the NFC Championship Game rout of the Green Bay Packers in January 2020.
The overall first impression: Lance looks as special as a No. 3 overall draft pick should look.
He completed just 5-of14 passes for 128 yards — a stat line marred by three drops. (By the same token, the Chiefs dropped two interceptions.) After 26 firsthalf snaps, he returned in the third quarter with a three-and-out that included two incompletions toward Travis Benjamin.
Lance had no official carries, so the zone-read option remains tucked away in Kyle Shanahan’s playbook for later.
Highlighting Lance’s seven-series workload was his touchdown pass to Sherfield, who had just one career touchdown in 33 games for the Arizona Cardinals the previous three years. Lance could have opted to target Aiyuk for a 10-yard pass but went for the gusto, instead.
Garoppolo was among those to immediately congratulate Lance once he reached the 49ers’ sideline.
Shanahan opened training camp three weeks ago insisting there was no quarterback competition, that Garoppolo is the entrenched starter. With plays like Saturday’s touchdown throw, more Lance magic might make Shanahan reconsider, or at least further ponder a franchise-altering move, before the Sept. 12 regular-season opener in
Detroit.
STARTING DEFENSE SITS » The 49ers did not suit up their projected Week 1 defensive starters, except for linebacker Dre Greenlaw and strong safety Tavon
Wilson (or rookie safety Talanoa Hufanga).
Those not expected to play were defensive linemen Nick Bosa (knee), Dee Ford (back), Javon Kinlaw (knee), Arik Armstead (groin), Samson Ebukam (knee) and D.J. Jones; linebackers Fred Warner and Azeez Al-Shaair; and, defensive backs Jimmie Ward, Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, Emmanuel Moseley and HaHa Clinton Dix.
FIRST INTERCEPTION » Rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir recorded the 49ers’ first interception of the preseason, grabbing a ball that tight end Noah Gray juggled late in the first quarter.
SHUTOUT BID ENDS FAST » Cornerback B.W. Webb, 10 days after joining training camp, surrendered a touchdown pass on the Chiefs’ second possession. Byron Pringle was wide open for the 5-yard scoring strike from Chad Henne, who relieved Patrick Mahomes after the Chiefs’ three-andout
opening series.
MCKINNON ON CHIEFS » Running back Jerick McKinnon made his Chiefs debut, after pocketing $17 million from the 49ers the previous three years. A knee injury kept McKinnon out his first two seasons with the 49ers, from 2018-19. He is slated to back up the Chiefs’ Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams.
KNAPP HONORED » A celebration of life was held Saturday morning in Danville for ex-49ers offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who was hit and killed last month by a car while riding his bike. Former 49ers defensive coordinator Jim Mora is among those who spoke in the two-hour service, which also was attended by Steve Young, Steve Mariucci, Tom Rathman and current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
Knapp was entering this season as the New York Jets’ passing-game specialist, and they held a moment of silence in his honor prior to their Saturday night game.
Notes
• Robbie Gould made a 36-yard field goal, but only after hitting the right upright and missing the pointafter kick following Sherfield’s touchdown.
• Most of the first-half workload went to Sermon. The third-round draft pick from Ohio State had eight carries (21 yards) and two catches (14 yards) in the first half.
• Other would-be offensive starters who got the night off were tight end George Kittle, running back Raheem Mostert, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Wide receivers Jalen Hurd (knee) and Mohamed Sanu did not play, either.
• Jaylon Moore, a fifthround draft pick, started in Williams’ place to protect Garoppolo’s then Lance’s blindside, and Jake Brendel started at center in place of Mack. Other fill-in starters: tight end Charlie Woerner and fullback Josh Hokit.
• Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell, a sixthround draft pick who’s had an active training camp, surprisingly was among those not anticipated to play.
• Five years after Colin Kaepernick began his social-equality push by protesting during the national anthem at 49ers’ preseason games, no current players knelt or raised fists during Saturday’s national anthem.