Last Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers competed in a long-standing rivalry match against the Seattle Seahawks in Lumen Field.
The outcome was a strong 49ers win, 36-24, thanks in large to the rookies’ standout performances throughout the game.
The Niners were dominant for most of the matchup – leading 23-3 at one point. However, there was a shift in momentum where the Seahawks again continued to grind out first downs after first downs, closing the gap to a one-possession lead. This brought concerns of another potential late-game collapse.
Yet, in the fourth quarter, rookie CB Renardo Green stepped up for the Niners, delivering a crucial interception against Geno Smith to give the Niners a late-game possession. This turnover set up Brock Purdy‘s third touchdown pass of the night, giving the Niners some much-needed breathing room. The Seahawks retaliated with a touchdown of their own, but this time Niners’ rookie RB Issac Gurendo took matters into his own hands, sealing the game with a 76-yard touch rush with under two minutes remaining.
The vets approve
RT Dominick Puni and Safety Malik Mustapha also made important contributions to the Niners’ victory. Puni assisted the offense by making crucial blocks. Trent Williams, an All-Pro left tackle, showed his respect for the rookie tackle, commenting, “He has the makings of an All-Pro player at that position.” Mustapha also added an interception earlier in the game.
Niners’ Veteran Fred Warner spoke post-game regarding how they handled matters when the Niners’ lead was on the verge of disappearing. “We can go one of two ways right here,” Warner said. “We can stand tall in a hostile environment in a game we know we have to get, or we can settle for exactly how we’ve been playing the last couple of losses. But that’s probably what I’m most proud of right now — the way we stood up.”
Niners’ first-round draft pick, Ricky Pearsall, did not even play due to the injuries he sustained from an attempted robbery in August. Niners’ All-Pro FB Kyle Juszczyk also praised the rookies’ performances: “Mature beyond their years. Big game for the whole class, with Renardo coming up big, Malik, I.G. Puni’s been in there all year,”
Where else can the rooks step up?
Throughout the season, these rookies will have to cover more roles.
With Niners’ starting RB Jordan Mason suffering a minor shoulder sprain against Seattle, it is highly likely that Gurendo will see more field time before McCaffrey returns. Similarly, with Safety Talanoa Hufanga placed on the IR with torn ligaments on his wrist, Mustapha will have to start in his spot. Although his status still remains questionable for the matchup against the Chiefs on Sunday, Mustapha will get to play in games later in the future, as Hufanga is expected to be out for some time.
Dominick Puni, on the other hand, isn’t substituting for any injured player–he’s just that good. Puni is on pace to quickly become one of San Francisco’s most reliable offensive linemen. Stacking up experience with a strong defensive crew which includes Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner, expect Puni to see continuous field time throughout the season.
As the year advances, these rookies are set to make tremendous growth. Once Pearsall makes his return, the Niners have a real chance to develop a strong, young core to grow into franchise stars in the future. Current stars such as Deebo Samuel Sr., Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy are some examples of Niners’ picks that developed into key franchise cornerstones. Under a strong coaching staff and experienced veterans, this core might be on the path to becoming a competitive force in the league.
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