SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers lost 21-10 to the Green Bay Packers in their third preseason game Friday as they failed to get anything going on offense with their second and third units.
Blaine Gabbert led a first-quarter scoring drive that ended in a lateral pass to Quinton Patton for a three-yard rushing touchdown. But the 49ers struggled on offense after that, mustering only three more points on a 26-yard field goal from Phil Dawson in the fourth quarter.
Gabbert finished 2-of-3 for 14 yards. Colin Kaepernick, in his preseason debut, was 2-of-6 for 14 yards and nearly had a pass picked off. Jeff Driskel was 4-of-8 for 43 yards and Christian Ponder was 1-of-3 with an interception.
Despite Kaepernick returning after sitting the first two games with a tired shoulder, Gabbert once again got the start. He appears to have the inside track for that role when the season starts.
After a three-and-out on the opening drive, Gabbert led the Niners to a score on his final series. He had a nice run and two short completions before Carlos Hyde busted a 27-yard run to set up the Patton touchdown.
Kaepernick entered to applause on the next series, but did little to show he deserves the starting job. He was quick to leave the pocket when his first option was covered, and three of his passes were broken up by defenders.
The 49ers (1-2) close out their preseason schedule against the Chargers on Sept. 1 in San Diego.
ROOKIE WATCH
49ers: First-round draft pick Joshua Garnett did not start but came in after two series to get time with the first-team at left guard.
INJURY UPDATE
49ers: DL Quinton Dial (knee) and WR Bruce Ellington (hamstring) left with injuries. … DL Arik Armstead missed his third straight preseason game with a shoulder injury.
POSITION BATTLES
49ers: Anthony Davis, a former starter at right tackle, played right guard in a game for the first time since college. Davis sat out last year in a temporary retirement before returning to the team this summer. With Trent Brown entrenched at right tackle, Davis is trying to get back into the lineup at guard.
