49ers’ Purdy makes preseason debut after scarce interceptions this camp

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Brock Purdy recalled with great detail an interception as if the 49ers’ playoff fate was on the line, rather than him just experimenting as he should in Tuesday’s joint practice at the Chargers’ facility.

Interceptions have been rare this summer for Purdy, with only three others coming out of nearly 200 passes during training camp.

“Obviously, you don’t want to turn the ball over, but I just try to be efficient, get into a habit of if it’s not there, check the ball down, throw the ball away,” Purdy said Tuesday. “I feel like I’ve done that at camp.”

None of his six passes got picked off in Thursday night’s 12-snap, preseason debut against the Chargers. Purdy was 3-for-3 in targeting rookie hot-shot De’Zhaun Stribling, and Deebo Samuel caught Purdy’s first pass before eventually debuting as a punt returner.

Purdy was 4-of-6 for 29 yards, plus a 3-yard scramble in one-series cameo that reached the 49ers’ 45-yard line.

After Tuesday’s practice, Purdy did not totally blow off his delayed throw to Luke Farrell that linebacker Del-Shawn Phillips picked off near the goal line. “Down there in the red zone, I don’t know if I’m going to throw that ball in the game, but I wanted to try putting a tight ball on to Luke,” Purdy said, “and there was good coverage on the backside by the safety and he just poked his hand out and popped the ball up.

“That’s practice, but I think it’s also good work to see if I can get that done or not. That’s sort of just been my mindset.”

Purdy’s interception rate spiked to 3.5% last season, after a 2.4% mark in 2022, 2.5% in ’23, and 2.6% in 2024.

Two of his interceptions this camp came Aug. 8, when Upton Stout and Deommodore Lenoir converted them into pick-sixes. That riled up memories of last season.

Purdy had at least one pass intercepted in each of the 49ers’ final five games last season, and the 49ers were already down 27-6 in Seattle when a third-quarter pass toward Farrell got intercepted en route to the 49ers’ 41-6 divisional-round exit.

Nonetheless, Purdy’s 104.0 career passer rating would rank first in NFL history if he had enough qualifying passes, and he is just 147 attempts shy.

Purdy, along with most starters, sat out last week’s preseason opener against Tennessee, and he hasn’t played that first exhibition since his 2022 rookie season. Last year, his only action came in the second preseason game, on a 12-play opening drive in Las Vegas.

PUNT RETURN TD

Jacob Cowing may have reclaimed the 49ers’ punt returner role by virtue of an 83-yard return for a touchdown, 3 minutes before halftime.

Cowing, the 49ers’ 2024 returner who missed last season with a hamstring tear, cut across the field to the left sideline for a lane to the end zone, with a calvary of teammates including KhaDarel Hodge, Josiah Deguara, Jalen Stroman and Sincere McCormick. Tatum Bethune and Brayden Willis threw key blocks.

“You can’t cut a guy that goes 84 yards. I’d say he’s going to make the team,” Dan Fouts said on the Chargers’ broadcast.

INJURY ALERT

Cornerback Renardo Green came out with a hamstring injury after the second series, which ended with him defending a 50-yard Trey Lance incompletion. Jack Jones replaced Green, and the 49ers forced a third punt in as many series.

STRIBLING’S ENCORE

After Stribling caught 7-of-8 passes a week ago in his debut, he came out just as hot. After nabbing all three of Purdy’s targets, he caught a 21-yarder on Mac Jones’ first pass, but Stribling also would make his first drop on an over-the-shoulder attempt at the 5-yard line to foil a potential 33-yard touchdown.

“Well he’s human after all,” Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts said on the Chargers’ broadcast.

KITTLE’S GOOD CHECKUP

Tight end George Kittle, who said last weekend his Achiles recovery is well ahead of schedule and could play Week 1, got confirmation of that Wednesday in visiting with his Los Angeles-based surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

TREY LANCE REMATCH

Trey Lance, the 49ers’ 2021 first-round pick who got traded to Dallas before the 2023 season, still is a dangerous scrambler. On a 37-yard scramble to the 49ers’ 5-yard line, he slipped bast past Ogbo Okoronkwo and Jaden Dugger before Jalen Stroman made a touchdown-saving tackle. The Chargers only produced a game-tying field goal, after defensive stops by Sam Okuayinonu, Garrett Wallow, and then Jones with a pass-breakup in the end zone on a fade pass.

RUNNING BACK ROUNDUP

Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert scored rushing touchdowns, while injuries kept out five others ahead of them on the depth chart.

Patrick Taylor Jr. went on Injured Reserve prior to kickoff for a yet-to-be announced issue; he caught a Purdy pass on the 10th snap of Tuesday’s team drills then did not touch the ball again. That injury prompted the 49ers to re-sign Herbert, three days after cutting him.

McCormick scored the 49ers’ first touchdown Thursday, on a 7-yard run shortly after a 37-yard run. Herbert’s 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter capped a 14-play drive.

The 49ers’ backfield began its attrition in April when Isaac Guerendo tore a pectoral muscle, landing him on the Physically Unable to Perform list, where he remains but appears to nearing a return. Christian McCaffrey is the main concern, as he’s been sidelined since Aug. 10 with an unspecified tightness; coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday McCaffrey would be able to play had this been a regular-season week.

Jordan James, McCaffrey’s projected understudy, has been out since breaking a rib July 27. Rookie Kaelon Black was sidelined 2 ½ weeks before his impressive return Tuesday and Thursday night’s start. Black had 33 yards on his first eight carries.

STASHED ON SIDELINES

The 49ers’ starting offense Thursday did not include several players who figure to suit up in three weeks in the opener in Australia: left tackle Trent Williams, wide receiver Mike Evans, running back Christian McCaffrey, right guard Dom Puni, plus presumably Kittle and left guard Jones.

Among those making their preseason debuts other than Purdy, Jones and Samuel were defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and cornerbacks Green and Deommodore Lenoir .