The San Francisco 49ers walked out of Jacksonville with their first loss of the season, a 26–21 loss to the Jaguars defined by turnovers. But amid the frustration, individual performances stood out, with several players earning strong marks from Pro Football Focus.
Offensive Standouts
Even as the offense sputtered in key moments, San Francisco’s bookend tackles put together the team’s best overall showings.
- Trent Williams (LT) — 78.4 grade, 66 snaps The veteran anchor of the offensive line once again proved why he’s one of the best in the game. Williams kept Brock Purdy’s blind side mostly clean against a disruptive Jaguars front, displaying both power in the run game and composure in pass protection.
- Colton McKivitz (RT) — 77.1 grade, 66 snaps McKivitz delivered one of his better outings in a Niners uniform, pairing with Williams to stabilize the edges. His ability to hold up against Jacksonville’s speed rushers prevented the loss from becoming ugly.
- Jake Tonges (TE) — 75.3 grade, 45 snaps Filling in with extended reps, Tonges quietly impressed. His blocking helped spring outside runs, and he held his own in pass sets. This is an encouraging sign for the depth of the tight end group.
- Kyle Juszczyk (FB) — 72.2 grade, 23 snaps The Swiss Army knife of the offense showed his versatility. Juszczyk’s blocking and situational awareness earned him one of the top offensive grades, underscoring his consistent value even when touches are limited.
- Demarcus Robinson (WR) — 69.5 grade, 25 snaps Robinson made the most of his limited opportunities. His precise routes and ability to move the chains helped extend drives on a day when San Francisco needed as many reliable options as they could get.
Defensive Leaders
Despite being put in tough spots by turnovers, the defense battled hard, and a few defenders rose above.
- Fred Warner (LB) — 90.9 grade, 68 snaps The heart of the defense delivered another masterclass. Warner flew sideline-to-sideline, racking up stops, breaking up passes, and providing leadership. His grade was the highest for either side of the ball.
- Yetur Gross-Matos (DE) — 76.9 grade, 20 snaps In a rotational role, Gross-Matos was disruptive off the edge, generating pressure and setting the edge in the run game.
- Bryce Huff (DE) — 71.7 grade, 38 snaps Huff continued to flash as a pass rusher, creating consistent havoc that forced Trevor Lawrence into hurried throws.
- Luke Gifford (ROLB) — 70.5 grade, 19 snaps Though used sparingly, Gifford made the most of his reps, contributing solidly in coverage and against the run.
- Darrell Luter Jr. (CB) — 64.6 grade, 68 snaps Luter logged heavy minutes on the outside. While not flawless, his physical play helped keep Jacksonville’s receivers from taking over the game.
Takeaway
The loss to Jacksonville will sting, but the PFF grades highlight areas of strength. The tackles held firm, Warner once again looked like an All-Pro, and depth players showed they can contribute. If the 49ers clean up their turnovers and special teams lapses, these individual bright spots are encouraging signs that the foundation of San Francisco's team remains remains strong.