Cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. had been a game-day inactive for the San Francisco 49ers’ first five games this season. On Thursday night, Luter got to play for the first time in the 2024 campaign, and the former South Alabama star contributed a big play on special teams in San Francisco’s 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Luter caused Seattle kickoff returner Laviska Shenault to fumble, and the 49ers recovered the loose football at the Seattle 29-yard line. San Francisco turned the field position into a field goal and a 13-0 lead with 11:47 remaining in the first half.
The 49ers had the lead up to 20 points in the third quarter, but the Seahawks had the advantage down to five when San Francisco running back Isaac Guerendo broke a 76-yard run to the Seattle 5-yard line, setting up the game-clinching touchdown with 1:17 to play.
Guerendo’s run was the 49ers’ second 76-yard play of the NFC West game. Quarterback Brock Purdy had a TD connection to wide receiver Deebo Samuel of that distance for San Francisco’s first touchdown. Purdy also threw two touchdown passes to tight end George Kittle.
In addition to the fumble caused by Luter, San Francisco intercepted Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith twice.
Luter had two special-teams tackles in the debut game of his second NFL season.
Four other players with Alabama football roots got on the field during the San Francisco-Seattle game:
· Derick Hall (Auburn) started at strongside linebacker for the Seahawks. Hall made one tackle. Hall played even though he practiced only once for the game because of a foot injury.
· Forty-Niners offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson, Auburn) did not record any stats. In the first five games of his NFL career, the fifth-round rookie played 19 defensive snaps. On Thursday night, with Seattle already playing without starting cornerback Riq Woolen because of injury, the Seahawks lost cornerbacks Tre Brown and Artie Burns to injuries during the game. That put Pritchett on the field in the Seattle secondary for regular work in the second half.
· Jarran Reed (Alabama) started at defensive end for the Seahawks. Reed made four tackles and registered one quarterback hit. Reed served as one of Seattle’s three captains on Thursday night. The Seahawks are among the four NFL teams that select captains game-by-game rather than before the season starts.
· Seahawks outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) did not record any stats. Seattle elevated Sheriff from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
San Francisco (3-3) plays the Kansas City Chiefs at 3:25 p.m. CDT Oct. 20 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Seattle (3-3) plays the Atlanta Falcons at noon Oct. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
