49ers vs. Broncos Preseason Live Blog

Get ready for more Sam Darnold than you ever wanted.

SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog of the San Francisco 49ers' preseason game against the Denver Broncos. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.

4:35 Here's what should happen in tonight's game: Brock Purdy plays the first half, Trey Lance plays the second half and Sam Darnold plays not at all.

Here's what probably will happen in tonight's game: Purdy will play not at all, or for one token drive. Then Darnold will play the rest of the first half. Then Lance will play the third quarter. Then Brandon Allen will play the fourth quarterback. Because Kyle Shanahan is more interested in "being fair" with his backup quarterbacks then giving reps to the one backup who actually needs reps (Lance).

Darnold is a five-year veteran whose career is defined by inconsistency. One drive, he can look like a Hall of Fame quarterback. The next drive, he can look like a player who doesn't belong in the NFL -- Blaine Gabbert was similar when he played for the 49ers.

Since Darnold signed with the 49ers, they've made a ton of excuses for his awful career, and blamed his former teams. Now that he's finally on a good team with a good offensive system, he's supposed to flourish and be consistent. Will that happen? Otherwise, his reps should have gone to Lance, the youngest quarterback on the roster. The one the 49ers spent three first-round picks to acquire and then never let start back to back games. That guy.

5:07 Brock Purdy will play. Trent Williams will not. It seems you'd want to play your starting left tackle to protect your starting franchise quarterback in his first live action since he tore his UCL, but what do I know?

5:09 Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle also won't play.

5:33 The Broncos win the toss and the defer to the second half. The 49ers will get the ball first.

FIRST QUARTER

5:42 Brock Purdy starts and leads the 49ers down to the 3-yard for a field goal. He completed 4 of his 5 pass attempts -- his one incomplete pass was a throwaway, and his four completions all were short, wide-open throws. That's how you ease in a quarterback coming off an injury. In the red zone, Purdy took a sack and then scrambled back down to the three-yard line on the next play before the 49ers kicked a short field goal. Deebo Samuel caught two passes at the line of scrimmage and gained 39 yards on those plays.

49ers 3, Broncos 0.

5:56 On 3rd and 7 from the 49ers 30, Russell Wilson throws an incomplete deep pass to Jerry Jeudy who's covered by Ambry Thomas, and then the Broncos kick a 48-yard field goal to tie the game. Eariler in the drive, the 49ers gave up a 17-yard scramble to Wilson on third down. Some things never change.

49ers 3, Broncos 3.

5:57 Danny Gray is out with a shoulder injury.

6:01 Sam Darnold is now the quarterback with the first-team offense. Keep in mind, Lance played only with backups last week. And that's because Darnold is so much better than Lance. And Darnold proved that by going 3 and out. After the punt, the Broncos take over at their 38.

SECOND QUARTER

6:14 The Broncos drive down the field with Jarrett Stidham at quarterback this time and kick a 44-yard field goal. The 49ers' backup defensive line can't stop the run, and Javon Kinlaw isn't suited up. He didn't practice on Thursday, either.

6:23 On 3rd and 4 from the 49ers 42, three Broncos sack Sam Darnold including one defender who was completely unblocked. That second-string offensive line is horrendous. After the punt, the Broncos take over at their 32.

6:28 On 3rd and 5 from the Broncos 37, Marlon Davidson sacks Stidham for a loss of 2. Davidson is having a good offseason -- better than Kevin Givens and Javon Kinlaw.

6:41 On 3rd and 14 from the 49ers 41, Darnold scrambles and the slides 5 yards short of the line to gain. Hilarious. After the punt, the Broncos take over at their 20.

6:46 The half expires after Ji'Ayir Brown makes a tackle at the one-yard line following a 48-yard completion. What a clutch tackle, if the game meant anything.

THIRD QUARTER

7:04. The Broncos go three and out. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 35.

7:09 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 40, Darnold throws a strike over the middle to Ronnie Bell, who drops the ball and tips it to a Broncos defender who intercepts the pass. That's Bell's second drop of the preseason. The Broncos take over at their 46.

7:18 On 4th and 6 from the 49ers 37, Marcelino McCrary-Ball knocks down the pass. The 49ers take over on downs and Darnold is still the quarterback.

7:26 On 2nd and 1 from the Denver 11, Darnold throws a touchdown pass to a wide open Jack Colletto in the right flat. Then Jake Moody missed an extra point. Yikes. At least Sam Darnold could lead a scoring drive against third stringers.

49ers 9, Broncos 6.

7:32 The Broncos commit a holding penalty on the first play of the drive and then go 3 and out. Then D'Shawn Jamison muffs the punt and the Broncos recover at the 49ers 8.

7:34 Next play, the Broncos call a run from eight yards out and score easily.

49ers 9, Broncos 13.

7:36 It's Trey Lance time.

FOURTH QUARTER

7:44 On 1st and 10 from the Broncos 42, Trey Lance throws a screen pass that gets tipped and interepted by a diving defensive lineman. Bad play by Lance. The play is under review.

8:01 On 3rd and 20 from the 49ers 33, Lance completes an 8-yard throw to Ronnie Bell. Then Jake Moody actually makes a field goal. Lance had a long run that was called back due to a holding penalty on Nick Zakelj. Lance clearly is pressing and trying too hard to make plays. The 49ers should let him go. They clearly don't want him.

49ers 12, Broncos 13.

8:05 On the first play of the drive, the 49ers give up a 43-yard run. On the second play of the drive, the 49ers give up a nine-yard touchdown catch. Inspiring effort.

49ers 12, Broncos 20.

8:14 Lance gets into a rhythm on this drive, completes six passes a row and finishes the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Latu. The 49ers commit an unsportsmanlike penalty after the touchdown, then attempt a 2 point conversion from the 18 yard line and Lance throws an incomplete pass.

49ers 18, Broncos 20.