The San Francisco 49ers ended their week with the Broncos with a loss. There were fewer penalties than in Kansas City but too many turnovers for the team to come out on top. There were some good and bad takeaways from the match up and we have them both in your winners and losers:
Losers
Kapri Bibbs
The veteran running back was given his chance after not playing in the first preseason game. He carried the ball four times for six yards and had one reception for four yards. Bibbs is already a player on the cusp and he didn’t help make a case for a spot on the 53.
Tim Hightower
Hightower has a history with head coach Kyle Shanahan so it seemed he would be a lock to make the roster but this performance didn’t solidify anything. He had three carries for -1 yard and one reception for a yard. On a positive note, his leadership skills and knowledge of the offense could be a determining factor.
Matt Barkley
After getting demoted to QB3, Barkley didn’t get much of a chance to change anyone’s mind only entering the game late in the fourth quarter. He only completed one pass of his two attempts and on his third snap fumbled the ball.
Winners
Eric Reid
Reid had a great game and looked like he was having fun while doing it. He is playing in the box and it’s perfect for his skill set. Wherever the ball was, you’d find Reid with it. He registered six tackles, one assist and five combined tackles all in a very limited amount of snaps.
George Kittle
The rookie tight end showed why he has been getting time in with the 1s. He not only played in the first half with the starters but stayed in the game long enough to work with his former roommate from Iowa, C.J. Beathard. In the third play of the third quarter the two former teammates connected for a touchdown after a great effort to stay inbounds by Kittle down the sideline.
C.J. Beathard
The rookie quatrterback completed seven of his 12 passes for 110 yards which gave him a 116.7 rating. His scoring drive of three plays for 72 yards was impressive. He continues to build chemistry with Aldrick Robinson and the other young receivers while his pocket presence only increases.
Jaquiski Tartt
The hard hitting safety topped the defensive stat sheet with seven tackles, one assist, one combined, one sack, one tackle for a loss and one quarterback hit. He was flying all over the field. Both he and Eric Reid seem to have found their niche.
Victor Bolden
Running back a kick off for a touchdown is not a foreign thing to the rookie wide receiver from Oregon State. He did it three times durning his college career, but this was his longest one to date at 104 yards. He is proving himself as a valuable receiver and special team work could be the thing that gives him the edge to make the roster.