What we learned when Mason shined in the 49ers’ Week 1 win against the Jets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
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SANTA CLARA — The 49ers ended a tumultuous offseason on Monday night.
Everyone was back on the field except running back Christian McCaffrey, who was ruled out for the 2024 NFL season opener with calf and Achilles tendon problems.
But as it turned out, the 49ers didn’t need the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year after all.
The 49ers delivered a solid all-around performance in Week 1, beating the New York Jets 32-19 on Monday night at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers have scored on eight consecutive drives to steadily build a lead over the Jets, who are looking to break the NFL’s longest playoff drought.
Left tackle Trent Williams showed no signs of his extended training camp holdout. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was back in the starting lineup.
There was even some closure from the terrifying incident of August 31, when starting wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was the victim of a shooting.
The 49ers and Pearsall honored San Francisco Police Sgt. Joelle Harrell, who was the first to comfort Pearsall at the scene, and San Francisco General Hospital surgeon Dr. Lucy Kornblith.
The 49ers looked like a team excited to start the regular season. Here are the highlights of their win over the Jets:
Mason has a breakthrough game
Reserve running back Jordan Mason is no longer a reserve.
Mason has shown in at least one match that he can step into the starting line-up and perform.
Mason took over for McCaffrey and played his most productive game in the NFL.
As a third-year pro, Mason had a career-high 147 yards and a touchdown on 28 rushing attempts. He entered the NFL in 2022 as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech.
Mason ran aggressively and inflicted some punishment on the Jets’ vaunted defense.
He capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter and give the 49ers a 23-7 lead.
Mason was the third running back behind McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell last season, and that could have been the case this season as well. But Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury early in camp. He was severely injured upon his return, and the 49ers placed him on the season-ending injured list so he could undergo surgery.
Mason’s previous career-best game in the NFL was a 69-yard performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 8, 2023.
Defense comes into play
The 49ers’ offseason headlines have all been about the issues on offense.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ defense isn’t exactly spectacular.
That became clear on Monday night, when first-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen devised a game plan that allowed the 49ers to get Aaron Rodgers and co. under control.
Rodgers struggled in his long-awaited first full game for the Jets after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers completed 13 of 21 pass attempts for 167 yards and one touchdown with one interception.
Jets running back Breece Hall, one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, managed just 54 yards on 16 attempts against the 49ers’ revamped defensive line.
The 49ers forced him into two takeaways, both of which led to field goals by Jake Moody.
All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner stripped Hall of the ball on New York’s second drive of the game, while defensive tackle Maliek Collins recovered the ball.
In the third quarter, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir blocked a pass from Rodgers that was intended for Garrett Wilson. Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles had his first interception in 62 career games.
Rodgers caught the 49ers asleep after Leonard Floyd was offside late in the third quarter. The 49ers appeared to stall as the game continued. Rodgers completed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard.
Aiyuk Rusty in exchange
It was a tough opportunity, but it was one of those catches 49ers fans have seen from Aiyuk before.
Quarterback Brock Purdy threw the ball to Aiyuk to make a play in the back right corner of the end zone late in the first half. Aiyuk was able to get both hands on the ball as he began his dive, but the ball slipped through his hands.
It could have been a 13-yard touchdown. Instead, it was an incomplete pass and the 49ers had to settle for a field goal to end the first half with a 16-7 lead.
Aiyuk did not participate in the 49ers’ offseason program or training camp while embroiled in a contentious contract situation. He agreed to his new five-year, $134.1 million contract on Aug. 29.
Aiyuk finished the night with two receptions for 28 yards.
Purdy completed 19 of 29 pass attempts for 231 yards and no touchdowns, with zero interceptions.
The 49ers brought in Deebo Samuel to do a little bit of everything. He carried the ball eight times for 23 yards with one touchdown, while adding five catches for 64 yards.
The 49ers expected to rely on Samuel even more to start the schedule with McCaffrey out and Aiyuk returning.
It makes sense that Aiyuk didn’t get off to such a hot start due to his off-field distractions.
The question is whether he can get back on the same wavelength as Purdy and come close to matching the 75 catches and 1,342 yards he had last season that earned him the expensive deal.
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