Geno Smith left the NFC West to join the Las Vegas Raiders but now his team will face an old face as they play the San Francisco 49ers of Brock Purdy. Will both quarterbacks play on this preseason game?
The Raiders quarterback will likely suit up for at least a couple of drives against his former divisional rivals, according to Liz Kocan of Yahoo! Sports. Geno Smith and the offense are still developing chemistry but reports say they are improving steadily.
Many eyes will be on rookies Ashton Jeanty and Dont’e Thornton Jr. Jeanty is the best running back in this class and expectations are sky-high for him. He didn’t have the best preseason debut so he would love to bounce back. As for Thornton, the fourth-round pick is 6’5″ and runs a 4.30-second 40-yard dash, making him a physical specimen.
Will Brock Purdy suit up vs. Raiders?
Kyle Shanahan was somewhat cryptic but it seems like he plans on playing his healthy players. When talking about Purdy, specifically, Shanahan said, “I’d like Brock to play. I planned on getting these starters going. There might be a couple of guys I rest. I plan on some starters to play.”
Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Santa Clara, California.
Hence, Purdy will be there. George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and even Christian McCaffrey might see some action. The 49ers are dealing with a plethora of injuries right now.
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Both teams are looking for their first preseason win
Even if preseason games don’t matter, the competition is still there. The Raiders actually tied against the Seahawks in Seattle on their first preseason game. Smith barely played but completed 1/3 passes for 15 yards.
As for the 49ers, Purdy didn’t play, and the team got blasted 30-9 by the Denver Broncos. Carter Bradley and Mac Jones took most of the quarterbacking load on that game. Mac Jones was 4/7 for 74 yards and one interception. Bradley was 6/14 for 32 yards and one interception. To end the game, Tanner Mordecai took the spot under center and also threw an interception.
