The San Francisco 49ers entered their preseason meeting with the Denver Broncos without most of their starters, as some are battling injuries while others just don’t need to put themselves in danger for an exhibition matchup.
After a strong opening drive where San Francisco drove 71 yards in eight plays for a touchdown, their only other points came three drives later, when their defense forced the Broncos into an intentional grounding penalty in their own end zone, resulting in a safety.
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As a team, their performance was abysmal, and the contest certainly should open eyes to just how shallow San Francisco’s roster is. They’re just an injury away from serious problems at multiple spots.
While the 49ers left a lot to be desired on Saturday, there were a few players who stood out with solid games. Let’s take a look at who deserves some praise.
CB Chase Lucas
It may not be an overstatement to say Lucas was the best player on the field for either team in this battle. The fourth-year cornerback, in his second with the 49ers, was flying around all over the field, leading the team with eight tackles and one pass defensed. He also had a well-timed pressure that forced an incompletion.
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S Marques Sigle
Sigle, San Francisco’s fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, had a strong showing in his first professional game. He finished with seven tackles, and he likely would’ve had more had he not missed significant time with a knee injury that cost him the entire second half.
LB Tatum Bethune
Like Sigle, Bethune missed some time in this one, after leaving in the second quarter with an ankle injury. However, the second-year linebacker returned quickly and ended the night with six tackles. In a game where poor tackling stuck out, he was one of the bright spots.
RB Corey Kiner
There aren’t many positives to take away from the offense, but Kiner looked solid with the ball in his hands. He totaled 45 yards on 10 carries (4.5 yards per attempt), caught one pass for two yards and impressed with some strong moves to avoid would-be tacklers.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Best performances from 49ers ugly preseason loss to Broncos
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