4:15: That’s it: Jaguars 26, 49ers 21.
The 49ers’ first loss of the season and the Rams’ comeback win against the Colts creates a three-way tie for first in the NFC West. The Seahawks are also 3-1. Arizona is just a game back at 2-2.
Up next for the 49ers is Thursday night’s game against the Rams in L.A.
4:09: Lawrence converts on 3rd and 5. Keeps the Jags’ drive going (now to the SF 34) into the two-minute warning. 49ers out of timeouts.
4:05: Purdy hits McCaffrey for 13 yards to the 50 … one play later old friend Arik Armstead knocked the ball out of Purdy’s hand. Jags recover. 2:47 left.
4:03: Wide right. Still a five-point game with 3:32 left and the 49ers take over at the 37. One timeout left.
4:02: 49ers prevent the first down, but Jaguars set to attempt a 47-yard field goal attempt that would give them an 8 point lead with 3:35 remaining.
4:01: 3rd and 12, at the 49ers’ 36 and just under 4 minutes left …
4:00: The 49ers have had trouble with turnovers, but the Jaguars just committed their 12th penalty, wiping out another big Etienne run and moving Jacksonville back.
3:58: Third and less than a yard … Lawrence was initially knocked backward, but his extra effort gets Jacksonville the first down at the 49ers’ 46. 6 minutes left.
3:56: Chase Lucas flagged for unnecessary roughness on the kickoff return. Jags start at their 44.
3:52: Screen to Tonges, who breaks loose for 21 yards to get into the end zone. His second career TD. Extra point is good. 49ers cut deficit to five with a 92-yard scoring drive.
JAGUARS 26, 49ERS 21. 7:41 in 4th quarter
3:50: After three drops, Bourne snags a big first-down catch (17 yards) to the Jacksonville 32 on 3rd and 5.
3:49: 49ers needed a big play, and Purdy hits McCaffrey for 29 yards to get near midfield. McCaffrey has five catches for 79 yards.
3:44: Purdy and Co. get the ball right back with 11:57 left. 49ers defense force Jags to go 3 and out; Drive begins on the SF 7 after a 58 yard punt by Logan Cooke.
3:41: 4th and 2 from the Jaguars 26 and Purdy’s throw is incomplete. 49ers turn over on downs.
Purdy is 16 of 31 for 211 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions in his first game back after missing two weeks.
3:38: End of the third quarter. The 4th quarter starts with the 49ers in a 3rd and 4 at the Jacksonville 28.
Third quarter score: Jags 26, 49ers 14
3:36: First catch of the season (and as a 49er) for Demarcus Robinson. 20 yards over the middle.
3:32: After stalling on offense, Kendrick Bourne had a third-down drop near midfield, the 49ers give up a huge special teams play: 87-yard punt return by Parker Washington. Jags don’t convert the 2-point play extra point, but they are up by 12 with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
JAGUARS 26, 49ERS 14, 2:22 left in third quarter
3:25: 49ers defense comes up big — drive halted when Fred Warner forces a third-down fumble that was recovered by the Jaguars but still shy of a first down — so Jacksonville has to settle for a 44-yard field goal.
JAGUARS 20, 49ERS 14, 4:04 left in third quarter
3:22: First play of the drive, Purdy intercepted for the second time in the game. Third turnover for the 49ers in all. Jags have 14 points off the previous two. They take over at the SF 28.
3:18: Wild drive, but 49ers force another punt after Dee Winters bats down a third-down pass attempt. They’ll take over at their 20 with 6:14 left in the third quarter.
3:17: Pearsall announced as questionable to return with a knee injury. 2nd-year receiver was dealing with a knee ailment this week in practice. Our Cam Inman says it’s Pearsall’s right knee.
3:12: 3rd and 15 from the Jacksonville 23 and the 49ers nearly had a huge turnover with Upton Stout picking off Lawrence’s pass. But Stout flagged for defensive pass interference, keeping the drive alive.
3:07: McCaffrey finally gets the 49ers in the end zone, taking shovel pass from Purdy and blasting his way in for the score; then Purdy hits Jennings for the 2-point conversion, but the receiver took a big shot.
JAGUARS 17, 49ERS 14, 8:32 left in third quarter
3:06: Back to back penalties on the Jags move the 49ers to the 10; 1st and goal
3:02: 3rd and 5, Purdy hits Jennings for 14 yards to the Jacksonville 26. 49ers take their first timeout with 10:13 left in the third quarter.
3:00: After the 49ers defense forced a punt the offense is showing signs of life: Purdy to Tonges for 24 yards to get past midfield.
2:51: 2nd half opens with the 49ers kicking off to the Jaguars: Jacksonville 17, 49ers 6
2:50: Here’s a look at the Purdy to Pearsall to McCaffrey trick play in the first half
2:40: From our Cam Inman at Levi’s
First to run for locker room: Fred Warner, then 3 other players, then Kyle Shanahan.
In summary
2 Niners turnovers > 2 Jaguars touchdowns
2 Niners red-zone drives > 2 chip-shot field goals
1 bad kick-return coverage > 1 Jags field goal
2:38: HALFTIME SCORE: Jaguars 17, 49ers 6
Jags get the ball to start the 2nd half
Halftime stats
49ers: Purdy 11 for 21, 135 yards, 0TD, 1 INT; McCaffrey 10 carries for 31 yards, 1 catch for 24 yards; Pearsall 4 catches for 46 yards, Jennings 1 catch for 10 yards
Jaguars: Lawrence 15-20, 132 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; Etienne 8 carries for 77 yards and 1 TD; Brian Thomas 4 catches for 40 yards.
2:37: Jacksonville’s 26-yard FG attempt is good: JAGUARS 17, 49ERS 6
2:35: Jaguars making the most of a long kickoff return, now at the SF 9 with 15 seconds left before halftime.
2:31: 21-yard field goal is on target. JAGUARS 14, 49ERS 6 with 40 seconds left in the first half.
2:30 — Third and goal from the 6, Purdy has to throw the ball away. Piñeiro coming on the field.
2:27: 49ers pull one out of their bag of tricks: Purdy to Pearsall to McCaffrey hook and lateral.. gets 49ers to the Jacksonville 17.
One play later — a 10-yard pass to Jennings — it’s 1st and goal from the 7 with 53 seconds left before halftime.
2:25: 49ers are driving — inside the Jags’ 40 — but our Cam Inman points out: Lawrence is 10-of-12 104 yards, NO SACKS, NO QB hits vs. Bosa-less Niners defense
2:17: 49ers defense goes its part, forcing the Jaguars to punt. 49ers get the ball back at their 41with 2:28 left before halftime. And one timeout left.
2:12: 49ers go 3 and out … put the ball back to Jacksonville with 3:26 left before halftime.
2:06: Jags turn a 49ers turnover into a TD for the 2nd time. Lawrence hits Hunter Long on a 4-yard TD pass to cap a 14-play, 89-yard drive that also chewed up eight minutes of game clock.
JAGUARS 14, 49ERS 3, 5:01 left in first half.
2:04: Jags have committed three penalties after starting near their goal line, but keep moving. Lawrence moves Jags to the 49ers 4. First and goal, 5:47 left before halftime.
1:53: 3rd and 15 from the Jacksonville 6, Lawrence hits two-way star Travis Hunter for 29 yards to keep the 49ers defense on the field. The 49ers challenged the play, but it stands. And the 49ers lose a timeout.
1:47: 49ers stats update: Purdy 7 of 10 for 85 yards and an interception; McCaffrey 8 rushes for 25 yards; Pearsall 3 catches for 44 yards
1:46: With 12:55 left before halftime the Jaguars take over on their 10.
1:43: Rickey Pearsall makes another one-handed catch, for 32 yards, to get the 49ers to the Jacksonville 37. … and one play later Purdy intercepted deep in Jags territory. 2nd straight drive halted by a turnover.
1:39: And just like that, the Jaguars go ahead. Travis Etienne takes a handoff on the first play following the fumble recovery and goes 48 yards for a touchdown.
JAGUARS 7, 49ERS 3. 14:41 left in the second quarter
1:38: Purdy finds Luke Ferrell for a first down, but then the former Jaguar is stripped and Jacksonville recovers the fumble at the SF 48
1:35: Injury update from our Cam Inman: 49ers DE Bryce Huff was examined in sideline tent, has slight limp, but joins DL on bench, looks like he’s OK
1:34 — End of the first quarter: 49ers 3, Jaguars 0
1:32: Tight end Jake Tonges, who suffered a shoulder injury during the 49ers first series, returned to the field for the start of the second drive.
1:29: Big stop by 49ers defense on 3rd and 13 … Jaguars have to punt after 12-play drive stalls at the SF 40. 1:40 remaining in the first quarter.
1:25: Jaguars going for it on 4th and 1 on the 49ers 40 … and QB Trevor Lawrence sneaks for a couple yards to the 37
1:20: 49ers defense gets to work with the Jaguars on their own 6
1:15: A week after hitting the winner as time expired, Eddy Piñeiro nails a 25-yarder to give the 49ers a 3-0 lead.
Purdy led the 49ers 57 yards in 12 plays. He completed 4 of 6 attempts for 30 yards and Christian McCaffrey rushed four times for 18 yards and caught two passes.
49ERS 3, JAGUARS 0. 8:33 left in the first quarter
1:08: Purdy’s first pass attempt goes to Kyle Juszczyk for 18 yards
1:04 p.m.: Temperature in Santa Clara at kickoff is 73 degrees
1:02: The 49ers, in white, and Brock Purdy will get the ball first. The Jaguars win the coin toss and defer.
The opening kickoff is nearly here, but in the meantime, here is our Cam Inman’s five keys to the 49ers defeating the Jaguars this afternoon at Levi’s Stadium. It’s the 3-0 49ers’ first game since defensive star Nick Bosa was lost for the season to a knee injury.
Below are our pregame notes…
SANTA CLARA — When Brock Purdy returns to the field after a two-week absence Sunday, it will be with a wide receiver crew that’s pretty close to full strength.
Wide receivers Ricky Pearsall Jr. and Jauan Jennings listed as questionable during the week, are both active and will face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium (1:05 p.m., Fox). So will Demarcus Robinson, who missed the first three games on suspension for being in violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The most in doubt was Jennings, who didn’t practice until Friday and has been hobbled by knee and shoulder issues. Pearsall said his designation was strictly precautionary and that he would play.
It remains to be seen how much the 49ers will use Robinson, who was one of their steadiest performers during training camp.
“It was just good to get him back in practice this week,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. “Obviously having a month off, guys are always rusty coming back in. I think he’s done a good job staying in shape and stuff, but getting back into the football stuff, getting in and out of the huddle Friday compared to Wednesday, I thought he came a long way and excited to get him back out there on Sunday, get him a part of our team and get this started with him.”
The inactive list included starting cornerback Renardo Green, who is dealing with a neck injury. Other inactives were running back Jordan James, wide receiver Jordan Watkins (ccalf), wide receiver Marques Valdes-Scantling, defensive tackle C.J. West and linebacker Nick Martin.
Quarterback Mac Jones, who went in questionable with a knee injury after winning starts against New Orleans and Arizona, is active and available to back up Purdy.
Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk continues to rehab a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, joining his teammates in a sweat suit regularly during practice and moving well.
But not well enough, according to 49ers GM John Lynch.
Although there have been no setbacks, Lynch said on his weekly appearance on KNBR-680 the process will be a deliberate one.
“There’s different levels when you do these ACLs, and Brandon had a fairly significant injury, involving a lot of different things in his knee,” Lynch said. “He’s a really gifted athlete. He’s a very hard worker. And so when you combine that, you tend to come back at a good clip.
“There’s no absolutes on these things. So he’s got to continue to hit markers, but he is tracking well. He’s working hard. And we’ll just continue to do that. We’ll be a better team when Brandon is out there. And so we look forward to that day, but you know, it’s not close. When we have some more information on that, we’ll be forthright with it.”
Shanahan on Friday gave his interpretation of “not close” means.
“I think it’s more like when we get kind of an exact target date,” Shanahan said. “That’s when you look at it that way. I think we’re getting close to that. But just not to have a target date that’s when I start thinking about it and we don’t have that yet. So we’re waiting until they give us one.”
Designated as inactive for Jacksonville are wide receiver Dyami Brown, running back Cody Schrader, offensive lineman Wyatt Milam, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders Sr., defensive lineman Danny Striggow, linebacker Yasir Abdullah and and linebacker Khalef Hailassie.
Apple of Shanahan’s eye
The 49ers’ lone standard practice squad elevation was Eli Apple, who once upon a time was the 10th overall pick of the NFL Draft for the New York Giants in 2016.
With Green inactive, Apple was brought to the 53-man roster with Darrell Luter Jr. and Chase Lucas also available to play cornerback.
In his 10th season out of Ohio State, Apple joined the 49ers on July 28 only to be released Aug. 7 because of injuries at other positions. He was re-signed to the practice squad, where two weeks ago he was designated one of the scout team players of the week.
Shanahan said at the time it spoke to Apple’s character as an example for younger players that a veteran of the Giants, Saints, Panthers, Bengals, Dolphins and Chargers with 102 and 82 starts would still be grinding out practices and competing for playing time. He predicted Apple would soon be up for a game.
“I’ve gone against him a number of times in this league and he has been awesome since we’ve had him here,” Shanahan said. “He was good in training camp, just got hurt after the first week and he’s been great since he came back.
“It’s an example for all the young guys that it really doesn’t matter,” Shanahan said. “You’ve got to work no matter where you’re at and when you do it like that it’s a matter of time where I think he’ll help us on Sundays too.”
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