The 49ers’ injury-depleted roster finally caught up to them on Sunday.
Without several top players, including wide receiver Mike Evans, San Francisco’s undefeated season ended with a 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Quarterback Brock Purdy struggled, completing 27 of 40 passes for 288 yards. He threw one touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk but was intercepted twice, including a game-sealing pick by Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels.
Christian McCaffrey carried a heavy load on the 49ers’ opening drive and capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run to give San Francisco a 7-0 lead. But he sustained a thigh injury on the second drive that kept him out the remainder of the first half.
McCaffrey returned to start the second half and finished with seven carries for 39 yards and six receptions for 61 yards.
The 49ers head into their Week 8 bye with a 6-1 record and return to action against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 8 at Levi’s Stadium.
Here are Matt Maiocco’s takeaways from the 49ers’ loss:
Wide receiver shuffle
With injuries to their top four receivers from Week 1, the 49ers took the field Sunday with players No. 5 and lower on the depth chart.
Purdy didn’t often target the wideouts. But second-year receiver Jordan Watkins made an impact without touching the ball.
Rookie running back Kaelon Black helped stake the 49ers to a 14-3 lead on the first play of the second quarter with a 30-yard touchdown run. He wouldn’t have gotten into the end zone if not for a block Watkins made at the 19-yard line on Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell.
The 49ers entered the game with Mike Evans (Achilles) and Deebo Samuel (hamstring) inactive. De’Zhaun Stribling and Demarcus Robinson, who were among the top four in Week 1, are on injured reserve with ankle injuries.
Brandin Cooks and Watkins started on Sunday against the Falcons. The 49ers’ other two active receivers were Jacob Cowing and Christian Kirk. Cowing was the only receiver with a touch in the first half, as he gained 10 yards on a running play.
Watkins got into the mix with a 15-yard reception on the 49ers’ first drive of the third quarter, and finished with three receptions for 56 yards.
George Kittle, on National Tight Ends Day, was the 49ers’ leading receiver with eight catches for 88 yards, but he fumbled on his last reception, effectively ending the game.
But, as expected, the 49ers’ wide receivers were complete non-factors without Evans out there.
Help needed for pass rush
The 49ers’ pass rush is much better than it was a year ago.
But it was nowhere near good enough on Sunday, as Falcons quarterback Michael Penix had plenty of time to carve apart the 49ers’ pass defense.
Penix was 23 of 30 for 192 yards and three touchdowns, and the 49ers did not have one hit on the quarterback at the time Atlanta took a 26-14 lead through three quarters.
Defensive end Nick Bosa, the 49ers’ top pass-rusher, hasn’t played since Week 2 because of a calf injury he sustained in practice. They need him in a big way to produce big numbers after the bye week.
The question is how much of a priority general manager John Lynch needs to place on improving the pass rush. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Back with Black
This was billed as a huge game for Christian McCaffrey, and that definitely is how it started.
But when McCaffrey was sidelined with a thigh injury, Black was in line for his biggest opportunity yet.
It started well for Black, registering his first NFL touchdown on the opening play of the second quarter with a 30-yard run.
Black also gave one back to the Falcons when he lost a second-quarter fumble — the first of his NFL career.
Black’s fumble came one play after second-year running back Jordan James fumbled at the end of a 6-yard run. Teammate Luke Farrell bailed out Jordan as he fought for the recovery.
McCaffrey had 29 yards and a touchdown on four rushing attempts to go with two receptions for 40 yards on the first drive of the game. He appeared to sustain an injury to his left thigh near the end of the drive.
McCaffrey returned to action in the second half. But the Falcons seized control from the middle of the second quarter through the end of the third quarter, taking the 49ers away from their game plan.