The San Francisco 49ers are leaving Las Vegas with a 22-19 win over the Raiders, Brock Purdy-Ricky Pearsall chemistry and a kicker redemption story. Unfortunately, they’re also walking away with three new injuries.
Starting right guard Dominick Puni suffered a knee injury that the 49ers think is a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) blocking on a field goal on San Francisco’s opening drive. They also lost running backs Patrick Taylor Jr. to a dislocated shoulder and Corey Kiner to a high-ankle sprain.
“Losing those three guys on offense was tough, but they won’t be out forever, so, hopefully, they heal fast,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan said that Puni has a chance to be ready for Week 1.
Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall
Now, the good news.
QB Brock Purdy started the game and looked sharp. He was 5-of-7 for 66 yards and connected with WR Ricky Pearsall three times for 42 yards. The two have shown a solid connection in training camp practices and continued their chemistry in the game.
Jake Moody
And then there was the kicker redemption story.
You may say to relax, it’s the preseason, but for much-maligned San Francisco kicker Jake Moody, Saturday’s game was perhaps a little cathartic.
“Obviously it feels really good,” Moody said. “I’m glad I got a couple chances after the miss earlier to bounce back, get on track, get a couple different situations to throw myself in. I’m glad I got all those chances. So really appreciate the offense getting me the position and that pick, I feel like that was awesome.”
Moody made five of his six field-goal attempts, including a 59-yard game-winner as time ran out.
“Yeah, it was a great operation, great snap, great hold, got to see the ball for a long time and usually when you get to see the ball for a while, that’s a good thing and I hit it really well,” Moody said. “The guy rushing the edge tripped me, so I fell on my back. I didn’t even get to see it, but it was pretty cool to have everybody pick me up off the ground and yeah, it was fun.”
His others were 26, 30, 44 and 50 yards. The 26-yarder was shaky and he missed a 53-yard try, but Moody’s ability to put those things behind him and find success was a good sign.
“I’ve been talking with a sports performance coach, he’s really harping on process over outcome,” Moody said. “There’s nothing I can do to go back and change the past. The only thing I can do is focus on the next kick and just focus on the process.
“That’s as simple as running out on the field, doing a little practice kick, just focusing on my steps, making sure those are good, just not thinking about anything that’s previously happened, anything that might happen in the future. Just go back to the thousands of practice reps that I’ve done and just focus on that process.”
Allegiant Stadium has been somewhat of an adventure for Moody. In the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl, the former Michigan kicker hit two 51-yard field goals. During his rookie year, the 49ers had a preseason game ay Allegiant Stadium, and Moody did not do well.
And there was the Super Bowl, a day that he set a (short-lived) Super Bowl record with a 55-yard FG, followed by a 53-yard field, but it was also a day that he missed an extra point that loomed large.
“Lots of stuff has happened here,” Moody said. “East-West Shrine Bowl, a couple preseason games, Super Bowl, lots of memories here. [I] always liked playing here, always liked beating the Raiders when we’re playing, so yeah, it was pretty fun today.”
Though successful in the first half of the 2024 season, Moody had a terrible second half after returning from an ankle injury. San Francisco signed kicker Greg Joseph in the offseason to compete with Moody, but he was released early in training camp when the 49ers’ injury count made two kickers on the roster not an option.
It’s worth mentioning that Moody’s 44-yard kick tied the game for San Francisco, so although it’s the preseason, the former third-round pick was in high-pressure situations.
“That was a hell of a day for him,” said 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. He kicked his a** off and gave us confidence in him.”
As the former Michigan Wolverine (Go Blue!) continues to focus on the 2025 season and put the struggles that came before it behind him, Moody expanded on his work with a sports performance coach.
“It’s not as much like a sports psychologist, it’s more of just the program I’m doing is called ‘How to Handle Pressure’,” Moody said. “Just going through different techniques to handle different situations and make sure that you’re prepped mentally and physically, no matter what the situation is.”
The 49ers final preseason game will take place on August 23 from Levi’s Stadium against Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers.