San Francisco Backup Shines in 49ers' Preseason Debut

The San Francisco 49ers fell to the Tennessee Titans in their first preseason on Thursday. The Niners played plenty of backups and the offensive output made that fact evident. Not everything went seamlessly for the Niners offense, but some players gave standout efforts. Among them were 49ers players selected in their last two NFL drafts. Many were looking to see what the current draft class could do, and at least one player made a noteworthy performance in his highly anticipated debut. 49ers rookie DeZhaun Stribling racked up over 63 receiving yards in the game. He wasn't the only impactful performer for the team. Josh Dubow of the Associated Press discussed the Niners' opening preseason performance. Backup quarterback Kurtis Rourke made a good impression. Here's some of what Dubow had to say about Rourke's performance in the game. Kurtis Rourke, a seventh-round pick in Ward’s draft in 2025, looked much sharper in his professional debut after missing all of last season recovering from knee surgery. He went 12 for 14 for 101 yards with three rushes for 14 yards on three drives. His final possession ended in a 1-yard TD run by Patrick Taylor Jr., and he left the game after that with a rib injury. X-rays were negative but Rourke had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital. Rourke was released from the hospital Thursday night, the team said. Rourke had a good rhythm with Niners rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling. The first pick of the second round caught seven passes for 63 yards on his three drives, including two impressive catches on the TD drive. He caught a 32-yard deep pass on the sideline and then had an 11-yard catch with a broken tackle to convert a third-and-6. August 13, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'zhaun Stribling (15) catches the football against Tennessee Titans cornerback Cor'dale Flott (18) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Rourke's positive performance is welcomed news for Niners fans. San Francisco sports watchers are keenly aware of the impact a seventh-round quarterback can make after seeing what Brock Purdy has accomplished the last few years. The Niners probably won't have another Brock Purdy in Rourke, but if they can find an effective backup out of his performance, the Niners will be better for it. Lost in all the chaos of the high volume of injuries is the growing list of players stepping up to meet the moment. Rourke, Stribling and other young Niners players will hope to make an impact and secure their role over the next few seasons.