49ers preseason takeaways: De’Zhaun Stribling hype train rolling, Kurtis Rourke injured

Key Points:

• Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling impressed in his San Francisco 49ers debut, making several key catches including a crucial sideline reception that was challenged but upheld, contributing to a scoring drive despite the team mostly playing backups.
• Quarterback Kurtis Rourke had a strong outing completing 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards against the Titans' starting defense but left the game with a rib injury and was hospitalized after difficulty breathing; backup Adrian Martinez struggled with accuracy and decision-making.
• Defensive tackle Gracen Halton showed promise with impactful plays including a near sack and a tackle for loss, while cornerback Ephesians Prysock stepped up effectively after an injury to a starter, indicating depth in the secondary.
• The 49ers’ running game struggled to gain traction against the Titans’ defensive front, managing only 47 yards on 17 carries in the first half and hampered by offensive line penalties.
• Several potential starters saw limited action or had mixed performances, including linebacker Nick Martin who was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit, and defensive end Romello Height who had no pressures and a penalty, highlighting areas needing improvement before the regular season.