It would be too snarky to say the five players who stood out in the 49ers’ preseason finale were the five who lateraled the football on the “Hail Mordecai” final play of Friday’s 24-24 tie to the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s beyond snarky to note the 49ers blew a 3-point lead in the final minutes at Allegiant Stadium for the second straight visit (see: Super Bowl LVIII).
So, let’s tip our cap to the lateral crew – Trent Taylor, Ronnie Bell, Sebastian Gutierrez, Cody Schrader, Tanner Mordecai – and let’s wish defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos speedy recoveries from their first-quarter knee injuries.
Now let’s move on to five other players who caught my eye:
1. BRANDON AIYUK
This guy? Yes, he’s been Topic No. 1 for six months, and the latest episode of his “hold-in” saga saw him show up in Las Vegas with the 49ers’ traveling party. This guy, the same one who requested a trade a month ago, only to rebuff interest from others and keep the 49ers waiting for him to sign a multi-year extension … someday.
As presumptuous as this is in a weird-as-heck standoff, Aiyuk joining a Vegas roadie should be interpreted as a positive sign of an imminent deal. Right? Maybe.
After the game, Brock Purdy confirmed he has not had any side sessions throwing to Aiyuk, who’s sat out all 19 practices of camp and quite visibly watched a few sessions before vanishing again this past week. Coach Kyle Shanahan insisted Aiyuk’s non-participatory presence is a distraction.
“I’d be confident in us being able to pick up where we left off,” Purdy said. “Throwing to him for two years, now three, understanding our plays and concepts and where he needs to be, I’d be confident in him coming back and us being on the same page.”
2. FOURTH-ROUND PICKS
This 49ers regime historically strikes gold in the fifth round of the NFL draft, but they didn’t select there this year. Instead, they scored in the fourth round. To wit:
— Running back Isaac Guerendo made his pro debut with a 93-yard kickoff return. He totaled just 32 yards on 11 carries, but one was a short-yardage conversion. He also caught both passes targeted his way, for three yards.
— Jacob Cowing likely secured the punt returner role with another three returns for 19 yards. But he bolstered his roster bid as a receiver, catching all three of his targets for 39 yards, capped with a 10-yard touchdown catch on Josh Dobbs’ dime.
— Safety Malik Mustapha started this preseason finale; his only tackle came on special teams.
3. DEEBO SAMUEL
Samuel’s preseason debut was a microcosm on what we’ve seen at training camp. Purdy, again in franchise-savior form, made a concerted effort to target Samuel. That started with a pump-and-go throw on the very first snap, with Samuel able to backpedal along the sideline for a 27-yard grab (with no yards after the catch). So, a great play by Samuel, who’s been an admirable workhorse all month.
But it hasn’t been a perfect connection by any means. That was illustrated in the second quarter when Purdy tried to hit Samuel on a third-and-6 slant. Samuel’s hands were in the right spot, but second-year cornerback Sam Webb helped break it up, resulting in an interception at the Raiders’ 10-yard line.
This was Samuel’s debut in his No. 1 jersey. He caught more than one pass, mind you. He also had a 5-yard grab just before the interception. He still looks destined for a high-volume year en route to pay raise next year, be it with the 49ers or elsewhere.
4. DARRELL LUTER JR.
This 2023 fifth-round cornerback didn’t secure his 53-man roster spot by merely making a fourth-quarter interception in the end zone. Nor did he cost himself a job by allowing two boundary catches on the Raiders’ game-tying drive in the final minutes. Coaches have been high on him for over a year. He had three pass defenses Friday night.
The best thing about this interception, aside from proper form and awareness: Luter didn’t summon all defenders to take a faux photo-op behind the end zone, an league-wide trend that included the 49ers defenders doing so in their 2019 team’s Super Bowl loss. (Yes, Luter had his own Super Bowl moment, when a punt ricocheted off his foot and helped spur the Chiefs’ comeback six months ago.)
Luter’s chief competition seemingly are Sam Womack and veteran Rock Ya-Sin, behind presumptive roster locks Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and Isaac Yiadom.
5. CAM LATU
There isn’t any more polarizing prospect on the 49ers’ roster than Latu, a third-round pick last year who missed his rookie season with a knee injury. Latu’s rehabilitation kept him out of spring practices, and that helps explain some mental gaffes this preseason and camp.
Friday night, he veered the wrong way in backfield protection on a third-quarter sack of Brandon Allen, and Latu responded by grabbing his own helmet in frustration. Patrick Taylor Jr.’s touchdown required him to break a backfield tackle after a poor Latu block.
Ah, but Latu caught all three of his targets for 42 yards. Is that enough to merit a roster spot, if the 49ers keep four tight ends behind presumptive locks George Kittle, Eric Saubert and Brayden Willis. Well, also in the mix should be Jake Tonges, a practice-squad member last season who had a team-high nine catches this preseason on nine targets for 63 yards.
