Unlike last year's opener, the 49ers will have tight end George Kittle in uniform as they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 49ers have sky-high expectations entering the 2023 season, and their first chance to confirm the hype is Sunday in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.
Follow along with our live blog tracking the game.
4Q, 5:30 — 49ers 30, Steelers 7
Jake Moody’s NFL debut continues to go well for the third-round rookie kicker as he nails a third field goal, this time from 40 yards out.
3Q, 14:02 — 49ers 27, Steelers 7
The 49ers did not take long to respond to the Steelers’ first score of the day. Christian McCaffrey bolts 65 yards down the left sideline, following downfield blocks by Brandon Aiyuk and Ray-Ray McCloud.
CMC 65-YARD TOUCHDOWN
: #SFvsPIT on FOX
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/G4uoYVOqQn pic.twitter.com/zi4Pfvw8zv
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2023
Halftime
The 49ers absolutely smothered the Steelers for the first 28 minutes of the game, holding Pittsburgh to minus-9 yards total over its first five drives. San Francisco has controlled the pace throughout as Brock Purdy has 154 yards and two touchdowns to Brandon Aiyuk on 14-of-21 passing.
2Q, 0:10 — 49ers 20, Steelers 7
The Steelers capped a 12-play, 95-yard drive with a 3-yard pass from Kenny Pickett to tight end Pat Freiermuth. Pittsburgh converted two third downs and a risky fourth down attempt within field goal range to keep the drive alive. The initial third down conversion was a 24-yard run from Antioch High grad Najee Harris.
2Q, 8:22 — 49ers 20, Steelers 0
The 49ers’ defense forces a fourth consecutive three-and-out (three punts, one interception), leading to a drive that nearly ended with a Brock Purdy fumble as he was sacked by T.J. Watt at the Pittsburgh 13-yard line. Purdy recovered the fumble, and the 49ers salvaged a 32-yard field goal from Moody.
2Q, 13:30 — 49ers 17, Steelers 0
Brock Purdy hits Brandon Aiyuk for the pair’s second score of the half, this time on a pass down the right sideline. Aiyuk’s toe-tap inside the end zone pylon secures the touchdown.
BA IS A BAD MAN
#SFvsPIT on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/EIVzOExcls— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 10, 2023
1Q, 4:38 — 49ers 10, Steelers 0
Jake Moody makes his first field goal attempt as a professional, a 41-yarder that came after a 46-yard attempt was blocked by an offsides rusher. An interception by Charvarius Ward set up the 49ers with a short field.
1Q, 9:29 — 49ers 7, Steelers 0
Brock Purdy finds Brandon Aiyuk in the end zone for the 49ers’ first score of the season, capping a seven-play, 54-yard drive. Aiyuk shook Patrick Peterson to the ground to get open.
Below are our pregame notes.
PITTSBURGH — Tight end George Kittle will suit up today and have a shot to do something he’s never done: score a touchdown in a 49ers’ season opener.
Kittle was listed as questionable because of a groin issue, which he aggravated in the preseason finale after it first surfaced a month ago in training camp. A year ago, Kittle missed the 49ers’ first two games because of a groin injury.
Kittle’s availability should be good news from Brock Purdy, who connected with Kittle on seven of his career-high 11 touchdown catches last season. Kittle has at least four catches in each of his previous season openers, including eight receptions (54 yards) in the 2019 opening win at Tampa Bay. Two weeks after that game, Kittle had six catches (57 yards) in the 49ers’ 24-20 win over the Steelers at Levi’s Stadium.
INACTIVE LIST
Cornerback Charvarius Ward, the only other player listed as questionable, is active and expected to start.
Inactive are quarterback Brandon Allen (will dress as emergency third QB), guard Nick Zakelj, defensive tackle Kalia Davis, linebackers Dee Winters and Jalen Graham, tight end Brayden Willis and running back Ty Davis-Price.
The Steelers’ inactive are quarterback Mason Rudolph (No. 3 QB), cornerback Desmond King, offensive tackle Dylan Cook, receiver Gunner Olszewski and defensive lineman Armon Watts.
MOODY KICKING
Rookie kicker Jake Moody makes 58-yard FG to cap his pregame warmups before his #49ers #NFL debut at #Steelers pic.twitter.com/MLaWp022ZX
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 10, 2023
The first 49ers player on the field before warmups: Rookie kicker Jake Moody. He spent 10 minutes kicking an imaginary football from long distance, retreating as far back as 75 yards. About 90 minutes before kickoff, Moody kicked with a placement tee, and Steelers counterpart Chris Boswell came over to greet him.
Moody did not kick in the 49ers’ preseason finale because of a sore right quadriceps. He responded well enough in the past two weeks that the 49ers released their backup plan, Matthew Wright, from the practice squad Saturday.
Other rookies making their debuts are wide receiver Ronnie Bell and safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
ROSTER MOVES
Defensive end Nick Bosa officially was activated to the 53-man roster Saturday, a day after signing a five-year, $170 million contract extension. … Defensive end Austin Bryant and linebacker Curtis Robinson were activated from the practice squad.
