49ers @ Vikings
Final Score: 49ers 17, Vikings 7
Writer: Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)
The San Francisco 49ers traveled to the Twin Cities for a week of joint practices culminating in a preseason showdown with the Minnesota Vikings. This was a game of second- and third-stringers, with the obvious starters for each team resting up for Week One. Regardless of the players, it was a good defensive game with both teams forcing turnovers. The game result was San Francisco 49ers 17, Minnesota Vikings 7.
San Francisco 49ers
| Preseason Week 1 |
Quarterback
Brock Purdy: 14/23, 128 yards | 4 carries, 8 yards
Nate Sudfeld: 13/17, 102 yards, TD
Right on the money from @NateSudfeld. 🎯
📱: Stream #SFvsMIN on NFL+ https://t.co/6I1083QBfq pic.twitter.com/Pvneja7Hcf
— NFL (@NFL) August 20, 2022
Nate Sudfeld started the game in the place of Trey Lance. While Sudfeld started the game he and Brock Purdy were on and off the field all game long. Sudfeld had some highlight plays throughout the game, such as his near-perfect pass to Tyler Kroft for 19 yards. The veteran quarterback hit his stride on the team’s second drive of the third quarter, completing seven of his eight attempts for 46 yards. This drive culminated in a two-yard touchdown completion to Jamycal Hasty. Purdy looked like the better football player out there, as he was running around and extending plays. His best drive was the first of the third quarter where he went five of seven for 46 yards. On this drive, he was reading what the defense was giving him and consistently hitting the tight end for 8-12 yard plays. Purdy also almost hit Danny Gray deep for a touchdown. He’s a real gamer and will most likely make this team. He kind of reminds me a lot of Nick Mullens from a couple of years back.
Running Back
Jordan Mason: 9 carries, 57 yards| 2 targets, 1 reception, 15 yards
Tyrion Davis-Price: 10 carries, 41 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
JaMycal Hasty: 3 carries, 15 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 2 yards, TD
Trey Sermon: 5 carries, 8 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 4 yards
Trey Sermon was the starting running back in this game and didn’t look like he was going to make the roster. When running, Sermon tried too hard to juke out the competition. Lacking decisiveness held him back, and dropping a third-down pass didn’t help. We got to see some of third-rounder Tyrion Davis-Price and he looks explosive with that one-cut talent. Davis-Price had a couple of big hits, including stiff arming defensive tackle TJ Smith and wrecking safety Myles Dorn. The rookie had some big runs but got stuffed when he tried to use his lateral agility to juke defenders. While JaMycal Hasty scored on a two-yard touchdown reception, the real star of the backfield didn’t come in the game until the 4th quarter, Jordan Mason. The undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech lit up the field, with a 17-yard break-away run that set up a field goal. The drive should’ve ended in a touchdown by Mason, but an offensive holding call brought back the late TD. The main takeaway from his limited play was that he’s the type of RB that coach Kyle Shanahan looks for on any given Sunday.
This run by #49ers UDFA RB Jordan Mason meant everything to me. There’s not a chance in hell he clears waivers. #FTTB pic.twitter.com/pDqlJ6P9e3
— WayneBreezie (@thewaynebreezie) August 21, 2022
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tanner Hudson: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 43 yards
Ross Dwelley: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 38 yards
Malik Turner: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 26 yards
Willie Snead VI: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 25 yards
Danny Gray: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 24 yards
Tyler Kroft: 1 target, 1 reception, 19 yards
Marcus Johnson: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 19 yards
Troy Fumagalli: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 10 yards
Jauan Jennings: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 7 yards
Tay Martin: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 7 yards
The Vikings commentators were so upset Danny Gray hit the Griddy 😂pic.twitter.com/Ui50yXk4HY
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) August 21, 2022
The Niners didn’t play any of their big play receivers, instead letting some of their depth piece tight ends and receivers show out. Tanner Hudson and Ross Dwelley were both excellent check-down targets all game long, logging a combined eight receptions and 81 yards. Another guy that was being looked at often was Danny Gray. He is seen as a field stretcher, but today he was running out routes and slants. Gray has the speed to take the top off of defenses, and before Brock Purdy fumbled in the 3rd, he almost connected with Gray for a deep TD, but Gray couldn’t get his feet in. Tyler Kroft also had one the best catches of the day while running towards the sideline he high-pointed a pass from Nate Sudfeld and reeled in a 17-yarder and got both feet in.
Minnesota Vikings
| Preseason Week 1 |
Quarterback
Kellen Mond: 10/20, 82 yards, 2 INT | 1 carry, 2 yards
Sean Mannion: 10/15, 65 yards
Nice throw on the run from Kellen Mond, finding Bisi Johnson pic.twitter.com/OVZPuGJVm6
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 20, 2022
Kellen Mond started the game and, for what it’s worth, was playing a very good 49ers defense. Mond started his first drive by rolling out and connecting with Bisi Johnson for 16 yards before throwing an egregious interception to George Odum. Mond would throw a pick later on in the game to cap a very forgettable game for the Vikings quarterbacks. After three drives Mond was out and Sean Mannion took over until the last drive. Mannion was nothing to write home about in this game, but in his defense, he couldn’t find a receiver who wanted to catch the ball for him.
Running Back
Ty Chandler: 5 carries, 19 yards, TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 3 yards
Alexander Mattison: 3 carries, 17 yards
Bryant Koback: 3 carries, 17 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 9 yards
Kene Nwangnu: 2 carries. 4 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards
Ty Chandler gets into the end zone for the first TD of the game! @Channdler_35
📱: Stream #SFvsMIN on NFL+ https://t.co/6I1083QBfq pic.twitter.com/Bu8hVPLODP
— NFL (@NFL) August 21, 2022
Ty Chandler was the best of the Vikings reserves in this matchup scoring the team’s lone touchdown. Alexander Mattison made a brief appearance cranking out 17 yards on three carries. Overall the team totaled 59 yards on 14 carries, possibly because the run game wasn’t working or because they wanted to further push the pass-heavy narrative in 2022.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Bisi Johnson: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 29 yards
Nick Muse: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 29 yards
Ihmir Smith-Marsette: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 27 yards
Tristhton Jackson: 3 targets, 1 reception, 17 yards
Jalen Nailor: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards
Ben Ellefson: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards
Zach Davidson: 4 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
Nice throw on the run from Kellen Mond, finding Bisi Johnson pic.twitter.com/OVZPuGJVm6
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 20, 2022
Overall the team was pretty dreadful, this play highlighted above by Bisi Johnson might’ve been the best of the day for the Vikings. The best player for the team was probably Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who caught all four of his targets for 27 yards while also returning kicks. One of the biggest issues was the drops, and Zach Davidson had a few drops. Davidson had one in particular in the 4th quarter which could’ve changed the game. The Vikings’ reserve receivers are a far cry from their starters and had a lackluster showing today. For any of these guys to make the team they’ll have to show up big in the final preseason game.