49ers fall 19-13 to Titans in preseason opener as rookie receiver shines

The San Francisco 49ers opened the 2026 NFL preseason with a 19-13 defeat to the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium on Thursday night. Rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, in his first game in a 49ers uniform, caught seven passes on eight targets for 63 yards, including a 32-yard reception.

Presumed third-string quarterback Kurtis Rourke entered the game after Brock Purdy and Mac Jones were sidelined, completing 12 of 14 attempts for 101 yards before leaving with a rib injury. Adrian Martinez replaced him in the second half, completing 16 of 30 passes for 159 yards.

Veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. scored the 49ers' only touchdown on a 1-yard run. Kicker Eddy Pineiro made one of two field-goal attempts, converting a 52-yard try after missing a 61-yard attempt.

On defense, linebacker Nick Martin led the team with eight tackles, while teammates Tatum Bethune and Ogbo Okoronkwo each recorded a sack.

"We saw a lot of positives in the way the guys executed and we’ll build on that moving forward," a team spokesperson said after the game.