SANTA CLARA – True, the Lombardi Trophy will be handed out here at Levi’s Stadium at season’s end in Super Bowl LX.
So what do the 49ers get for finishing out their preseason at home Saturday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, who led 13-6 at halftime?
Well, the Niners have done enough this preseason to merit some accolades (for better, for worse), and we’ll get to those in a few graphs, once you learn this about the preseason finale:
— The 49ers sat all their projected Week 1 offensive starters but did enlist a few would-be starters on Robert Saleh’s rebuilt defense, including cornerback Renardo Green’s preseason debut and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott.
— Not in action was running back Brian Robinson Jr., who did pass a physical Saturday to complete a trade from the Washington Commanders, a source said. That deal likely will be announced Sunday, with the 49ers also acquiring a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder.
— A pair of high-profile former 49ers, coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Trey Lance, returned to Levi’s Stadium with the Chargers, along with two familiar assistants in NaVorro Bowman (linebackers coach) and Greg Roman (offensive coordinator).
So what did the 49ers get out of this preseason, not to mention the joint practices that preceded their first two exhibitions? Let’s review:
PURDY IS PREPPED: Brock Purdy’s preseason consisted of one drive, an 11-play sequence that yielded a field goal a week ago in Las Vegas. Saturday, he popped sunflower seeds and wore a T-shirt and cap next to George Kittle on the sideline, while the 49ers shuffled QBs from Carter Bradley (ankle) to Tanner Mordecai.
Purdy has looked in full command this training camp, as you’d expect from a $265 million investment, although attrition at wide receiver could impact rhythm and timing in the coming month. Purdy’s only hiccup came in the opening drives of a joint practice against the feisty Denver Broncos.
SAFE AND SANE: Running back Christian McCaffrey, left tackle Trent Williams, defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner did not play in the preseason, nor should they have. Neither did …
THIRD-AND-NO-JAUAN: Jauan Jennings skipped all three preseason games and vanished from practice after a July 27 aggravation of a calf injury, one that coach Kyle Shanahan traced back to Jennings’ absence in last year’s camp.
Jennings understandably wants an extension of a contract set to expire in March, and a social-media post Saturday perhaps hinted at increased frustration. Word came before camp that he’d seek a trade if he didn’t get paid. Shanahan vouched for Jennings’ calf issue, and general manager John Lynch said Thursday it’s best if Jennings gets on the field soon — similar to how the 49ers egged Brandon Aiyuk to snap his holdout a year ago.
WORST ENCORE: One week after Jake Moody is being hoisted in the air by jubilant teammates after a 59-yard winning field goal in Las Vegas, he missed his first point-after kick (wide left) on Saturday. Three days earlier, Moody missed his final two field-goal attempts in practice, including a 55-yard try off the right upright.
MOST SURPRISING ROOKIE: Marques Sigle is next in a line of fifth-round steals by Lynch. Sigle initially was a surprise starter in the preseason, first paired with veteran Jason Pinnock before Ji’Ayir Brown replaced Pinnock (heel) for the final two preseason games. Sigle’s speed is a new, needed concept for this defense.
IMPACTFUL INJURIES: The only projected starter injured in preseason action was right guard Dominick Puni, with a right-knee sprain last week in Vegas. Later that game, quarterback Mac Jones sustained a minor knee injury, and running backs Corey Kiner (ankle) and Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) headed for Injured Reserve. In this finale, Isaac Guerendo aggravated a right-shoulder issue but played through it (eight carries, 13 yards in the first half).
DRAFTEES DELAYED: Knee injuries in joint practices sidelined defensive linemen Mykel Williams and C.J. West. Also injured among the 11-man draft class are cornerback Upton Stout (calf), wide receiver Jordan Watkins (ankle), running back Jordan James (finger surgery) and quarterback Kurtis Rourke (knee).
FOND FAREWELL: Demarcus Robinson, with a three-game suspension awaiting him, caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Mordecai for Saturday’s initial points. Robinson has looked like a starting-caliber receiver through camp alongside Ricky Pearsall, who did not suit up Saturday.
BEST INTERCEPTION: Jaylen Mahoney dove for a last-minute theft to set up Jake Moody’s game-winning 59-yard field goal in Vegas.
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAY: Mahoney’s late-game heroics aside, go back to the preseason opener and recall that aspiring nickel back Chase Lucas’ blitz resulted in a safety against the Broncos.
BEST OFFENSIVE PLAY: Purdy’s first three passes last Saturday were completed to Pearsall, the last of which resulted in a 21-yard gain over the middle for a third-and-18 conversion.
HARDEST HIT: Linebacker Tatum Bethune on Raiders rookie rusher Ashton Jeanty. Bethune filled in so well for Warner as the middle linebacker through two games that he could push Dee Winters for the weak-side starting spot or Luke Gifford as the strong-side backer. Rookie Nick Martin also had some big hits and could be in the starting mix, too, seeing how they kept him out Saturday.
MOST NOSTALGIC MOMENT: Niners legends Frank Gore and Patrick Willis reunited with Harbaugh and talked for over 10 minutes in pregame warmups, after Harbaugh put on his blue gloves to catch passes as the Chargers coach. Willis earlier met up with Harbaugh’s linebackers coach, NaVorro Bowman, who formed the NFL’s best linebacker tandem with Willis from 2011-14.
OH CAPTAIN: Lance was among the Chargers’ five captains Saturday night; the 49ers were Brown, Spencer Burford, and Luke Gifford. Lance started and went 5-of-8 for 38 yards over three series; he overthrew his initial third-down pass after interior pressure by Jordan Elliott and blitzing linebacker Chazz Surratt.
BIGGEST SCOOP: Kittle broke news during camp when he crashed a national network’s broadcast to relay how the NFL is banning smelling salts. It was later clarified that teams could not distribute those eye openers, but players still can supply themselves.
WISEST QUOTE: Mykel Williams, on if he really asked Trent Williams to borrow his private jet for a summer vacation to Cabo San Lucas: “Yeah I did. I did. My pops told me a while ago, ‘Closed mouths don’t get fed.’ ”
REALIST QUOTE: Trent Williams, on CBS-5 San Francisco’s broadcast in Saturday’s second quarter: “Preseason expectations are really pointless. They really work against you. I go back and look at the Washington Commanders (last preseason), and nobody expected them to be in the NFC Championship. We’re in that same position. We had a down year and everybody is down on us. That’s cool. That’s exactly where we want to be, honestly.”