49ers @ Titans Preseason Week 1 Live Blog

I'll update this after every drive with information and analysis from my living room.

Aug 10, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) throws during pregame at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports / Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

This is the live blog for the 49ers' preseason Week 1 road game against the Tennessee Titans. I'll update this after every drive with information and analysis from my living room.

3:30 The following players did not travel with the team to Nashville: Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Trent Williams. Every player except Bosa stayed home because they're injured. It's unclear why Bosa didn't make the trip.

3:35 The 49ers reportedly have re-engaged Aiyuk in contract negotiations are are optimistic that they'll get a deal done. Optimistic is a strange word choice. It's not a mystery what it will take to get Aiyuk to agree to an extension -- $28 million per season. So far, the 49ers haven't offered more than $26 million per season. If they offer $28 million per season, I'm almost positive they'll get the deal done. If they offer less than $28 million per season, I'm extremely confident they won't get a deal done. This seems like a fairly black-and-white negotiation. What's taking the 49ers so long? Either show Aiyuk the money or trade him to Pittsburgh. There is no third option.

3:37 There has been absolutely zero word on the status of left tackle Trent Williams. Have the 49ers been in contact with his agent? Are they making progress toward a restructured deal? Or have the 49ers taken a hard line with Williams? People are so focused on Aiyuk that no one has reported anything of substance about Williams in weeks.

FIRST QUARTER

4:07 The 49ers get the ball first. Ronnie Bell returns the opening kickoff 18 yards to the 49ers 26.

4:15 On 1st and goal from the 4, Jordan Mason blasts his way through the tackles for a touchdown. Mason rushed 6 times for 34 yards during that drive. His longest run went for 13 yards. What a wonderful running back. Time to take him out of the game.

4:16 Brandon Allen was 3 of 5 for 45 yards during that drive. His best play was a 21-yard completion to Ronnie Bell on 3rd and 9. Bell can play.

49ers 7, Titans 0.

4:19 The 49ers give up a 58-yard kickoff return to their 30. Jalen Graham and George Odum missed tackles and then a coach on the sideline was penalized 15 yards for interfering with the play. Ugly play all around.

4:25 On 3rd and goal from the 3, Dee Winters hits Will Levis hard at the goal line to prevent a touchdown, but Ambry Thomas, who's terrible, commits a defensive holding penalty in the end zone which gives the Titans first and goal from the 1. On that play, Levis scores a touchdown on a quarterback sneak.

49ers 7, Titans 7.

4:33 On 3rd and 9 from the 49ers 41, Brandon Allen scrambles, throws an incomplete pass and Nick Zakelj is flagged for being an inelligble man downfield. Then the 49ers punt and give up a 26-yard return to the Titans 36. Special teams has been especially awful so far.

SECOND QUARTER

4:47 On 2nd and goal from the 3, Tajae Spears rushes through the right side of the 49ers defensive line for a touchdown. The Titans are playing their starters while the 49ers are playing lots of backups.

49ers 7, Titans 14.

4:51 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 39, Brandon Allen throws a deep pass that hits Tay Martin in the hands as he dives but he drops it and the 49ers go three and out. Cody Schrader had a nice six-yard run during that series. After the punt, the Titans take over at their 20.

5:09 On 4th and 1 from the 49ers 2-yard line, Malik Mustapha tackles the Titans running back at the line of scrimmage to force a turnover on downs. Phenomenal hit by the rookie safety.

5:18 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 31, the Titans blitz and sack Brandon Allen with two players. After the punt, the Titans take over at their 24 with 1:46 left.

5:26 On the final play of the first half, Titans kicker Nick Folk misses a 52-yard field goal wide right. Tennessee will get the ball to start the second half.

THIRD QUARTER

5:46 On 3rd and 2 from the 49ers 41, Mason Rudolph fumbles and Renardo Green recovers. Big play by the rookie nickelback.

5:51 On 1st and 10 from the 49ers 46, Schrader runs around the right end for 14 yards but it doesn't count because Ronnie Bell commits a holding penalty. That's his second blunder of the game. The first was a drop on a well-thrown deep pass by Brandon Allen. On 3rd and 4 from the Titans 48, Schrader misses his blocking assignment and Joshua Dobbs' pass gets batted into his face. After the punt, the Titans take over at their 17.

5:59 On 3rd and 8 from the Titans 42, Malik Willis throws an errant pass that lands incomplete. And then the Titans punt to Trent Taylor who returns the ball four yards. He's terrible.

6:05 On 3rd and 6 form the 49ers' 30, the Titans blitz, Dobbs throws to his hot receiver, tight end Jake Tonges, but the pass is late, low and behind him and it falls incomplete. After the 49ers punt, the Titans take over at their 35.

FOURTH QUARTER

6:17 On 3rd and 1 from the 49ers 16, Samuel Womack tackles the running back for no gain. And then the Titans make a 34-yard field goal. Kalia Davis recorded a sack during that drive. He has two tackles for loss so far in this game. He looks like the second-best player from the 49ers' 2022 draft class after Brock Purdy.

49ers 7, Titans 17.

6:27 On 3rd and 15 from the 49ers 42, Joshua Dobbs avoids pressure, steps up in the pocket and throws on the run to Trent Taylor who makes a 21-yard catch. Then on 2nd and goal from the 6, Joshua Dobbs scrambles for a touchdown. He's playing well. It would be nice to see him start the next preseason game instead of Allen.

6:28 The 49ers go for two and fail to convert due to an illegal formation penalty and an incomplete pass.

49ers 13, Titans 17.

6:37 On 4th and 1 from the 49ers 49, Shakel Brown and Jonathan Garvin tackle the running back for no gain and force another turnover on downs. Clutch play. Let's see if Dobbs can lead another touchdown drive.

6:44. No, he can't. On 4th and 5 from the Titans 35, Dobbs tries to escape pressure by running backward, gets sacked and loses 15 yards. Yikes.

6:48 The 49ers force a three-and-out and use all of their timeouts. After the punt, they get the ball at their 20 with 1:32 left.

6:53 On the final play of the game, Dobbs rolls to his left, throws a Hail Mary and gets intercepted at the goal line. The 49ers lose.