The San Francisco 49ers are set to open their preseason schedule with a home game against the Houston Texans. Follow along here for live updates throughout the contest.
Pregame
Unlike the regular season, team's are not required to distribute an inactive list prior to kick off. Still, the 49ers announced that seven players will not play Sunday night against Houston: Eric Rogers, Colin Kaepernick, DeAndre Smelter, L.J. McCray, Eric Reid, Glenn Dorsey and Arik Armstead.
Kaepernick and Armstead are the most notable on the list. The quarterback will rest his sore right shoulder while the team's 2015 first-round pick is also dealing with an upper-body injury. Both injuries are not considered serious.
First Quarter
Some notable starters:
- The starting offensive line remained the same as we've seen at practice. From right to left, Joe Staley - Zane Beadles - Daniel Kilgore - Andrew Tiller - Trent Brown.
- Garrett Celek was the first tight end in the game.
- Defensively, Eli Harold started at outside linebacker, Michael Wilhoite started at inside linebacker next to NaVorro Bowman and Chris Davis started at nickel cornerback.
The teams traded stops to open the game. Tramaine Brock recorded an impressive pass breakup on a ball intended for Texans stud receiver DeAndre Hopkins up the right sideline.
San Francisco's second drive began with a 22-yard run by Pierre Garçon and was followed by an 11-yard completion from Blaine Gabbert to Garrett Celek. Houston, however, was able to pry the ball free on Hyde's next carry. Texans linebacker John Simon recovered the loose ball and returned it 41 yards for the scoop and score.
Nick Novak added the extra point to give Houston an early, 7-0, lead. (11:43)
The 49ers responded with an impressive touchdown drive. Chip Kelly opted to roll the dice and go for it on 4th-and-1 from their own 40-yard line. Hyde converted with a 5-yard run. Three plays later, Gabbert moved the chains again with a 13-yard scramble.
That set up San Francisco's first touchdown of the preseason. Gabbert hit a wide open McDonald near the right sideline. The tight end made a nifty cut back up-field to break a tackle and find the end zone for the 43-yard score.
Phil Dawson was true on the PAT to tie the game, 7-7. (7:35)
Houston's 3-and-out gave the ball right back to the 49ers. Ahmad Brook's sack highlighted the defensive series.
Thad Lewis entered the game, ending Gabbert's night. Gabbert finished the game 4-of-10 passing for 63 yards and one touchdown. Erik Pears entered the game at left tackle, Joshua Garnett came in at left guard and Marcus Martin took over at center. Tiller and Brown remained in the game for the drive.
Shaun Draughn ran over a Texans defensive back on his way to a 15-yard gain. Mike Davis followed with a 44-yard burst up the right side of the field.
The scoring drive ended with a Phil Dawson 25-yard field goal to give the #49ers their first lead of the game, 10-7. (1:50)
San Francisco out-gained Houston 183-42 in the first quarter and ran a total of 28 plays to the Texans 10.Second Quarter
The 49ers defense continued it's impressive play early on with a stop on fourth down. Davis broke up a pass intended for Texans rookie wideout Braxton Miller to gie the ball back to San Francisco's offense. A methotical drive got the 49ers inside the Texans 5-yard line. DuJuan Harris posted runs of 7-, 6- and 10-yards on the possession. Harris fumbled on first-and-goal which was recovered by the Texans.
San Francisco's continued to pitch a shutout in the first half. It was a strong first impression for Jim O'Neil's group.
Lewis and the offense got the ball back with 33 seconds remaining before halftime. A 14-yard pass to Jerome Simpson, a 13-yard pass to DeAndrew White and a 10-yard pass to Simpson helped get the 49ers into field-goal range.
Dawson was true again, this time from 50-yards out to extend the 49ers lead to 13-10. (0:06)
San Francisco went into the halftime locker room with 302 yards of total offense (161 rushing), 18 first downs and 16:37 of time of possession. The offense ran 50 plays in the first two quarters of the Chip Kelly era.Third QuarterThe teams traded stops to open the second half.
Houston got three points back on their ensuing drive. The Texans marched down the field, highlighted by a 24-yard reception from Miller. The possession ultimately stalled thanks to a Keith Reaser PBU and Nick Bellore tackle for loss. It was Bellore's second TFL of the game as he had a sack in the first half.
Ka'imi Fairbairn drilled a 45-yard field goal to make it 13-10 49ers. (7:26)
The Texans took the lead on their next drive. A 17-yard pass to Kenny Hilliard and a 20-yard pass to Jaelen Strong got Houston into the red zone.
Tom Savage completed the touchdown drive with a 7-yard pass to tight end Stephen Anderson to put Houston up 17-13. (3:47)
Jeff Driskel entered the game for the first time on San Francisco's ensuing possession but the offense still couldn't get anything going in the third quarter.Fourth QuarterHouston added to its lead in the fourth quarter. The 49ers defense aided the drive with two penalties: a pass interference against Kenneth Acker and a personal foul for a facemask against Marcus Rush. Texans wideout Josh Lenz carried the possession with three cathces for 52 yards.
Running back Akeem Hunt capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown catch from Tom Savage to extend the Texans lead to 24-13. (9:28)
Jeff Driskel used his legs to spark the offense. The rookie quarterback ran the ball five times for 61 yards.Still, the 49ers were unable to put points on the board in the second half.
The 49ers dropped the preseason opener 24-13. San Francisco will travel to Denver next week for two practices against the Broncos, followed by their second preseason contest on Aug. 20.
