The San Francisco 49ers were able to get some valuable reps in their preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. The biggest winners were the rookies, who flashed in this outing. De'Zhaun Stribling was fantastic, along with defenders Gracen Halton, Jaden Dugger, and Ephesians Prysock.
And what Halton did on the field against the Titans was impressive, as he continues to stack positive days ahead of the campaign. In the contest, Halton finished with four total tackles and one TFL. On a two-play sequence, Halton blew past Peter Skoronski, the highest-paid guard, for a sack on Cam Ward.
The play didn't count, due to a penalty on Niners cornerback Jakob Robinson, but that was an example of Halton's ability to get after the quarterback. Then on the next play, Halton got into the backfield and tackled running back Tyjae Spears behind the line of scrimmage.
These were just a few examples on the impact he had on the game.
Gracen Halton just gave 49ers another reason to believe in him
Halton entered the league known for his twitch and skill set to be disruptive as a pass-rusher. He has a quick get-off that allows him to quickly get past a lineman. Yet, the biggest takeaway was his ability to be effective against the run.
Halton was great at the point of attack but got off the block to make a play in the run game. That's what will get him on the field more, as his pass-rush skills are already up to par. His performance in this outing was just another example of his strong summer.
The Oklahoma product was a rookie who was catching reporters' attention during camp. ESPN's Nick Wagoner boasted about Halton after a practice on Aug. 6:
Rookie DT Gracen Halton continues to make a strong first impression. The guy has a lot of juice with a quick first step and short-area burst paired with some powerful hands that seem to catch OL off guard.
So, the fact the rookie kept his foot on the gas and it translated onto the field during the game is a great sign. The 49ers struggled to get after the quarterback in 2025, so having anyone who can help flip that is welcome.
Of course, San Francisco was without Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams last year, so having them back in the fold will help this front four. At the same time, if Halton can be a difference-maker along the interior and give the 49ers another rotational piece, that would be a huge win. Especially for a fourth-round pick.
This was a small sample size, but it shows what Halton can potentially do, and that's exciting.
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