SANTA CLARA – [One 49er](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/13/49ers-studs-and-duds-stribling-rourke-and-halton-impress-in-preseason-opener/) talked about the broken neck he has overcome. Another revisited the concussion that ended his rookie season. And a newcomer revealed his soccer-fueled origin story.
All around, the 49ers had stories to tell.
After Thursday night’s preseason opener, the 49ers’ locker room was open to reporters for the first time since last season, and amid all the commotion about this franchise’s incessant injuries, there was optimism about starting anew, making comebacks and sharing cool insight.
Still, injuries come with the territory, and the biggest from the 49ers’ 19-13 loss involved quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who required a hospital visit because of a rib injury and shortness of breath. He was discharged that night and is on the mend, the team said.
Rourke played great through three series. He got the start with Brock Purdy and Mac Jones out of uniform, and it was a long time coming since Rourke sat out his rookie season recovering from ACL surgery.
Speaking of which, [defensive end Nick Bosa](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/08/14/49ers-nick-bosa-feeling-solid-as-he-still-eyes-opener-in-acl-comeback/) seems intent on carrying out his own ACL comeback, noting that he’s feeling solid even though knee tendinitis has kept him off the practice field since Aug. 3.
Much more was learned as the three-game preseason got underway. Let’s go inside the locker room:
**JUST A C5 FRACTURE**
Veteran Rob Jones, bidding to start at left guard, flashed a satisfying smile after getting that assignment Thursday. His 49ers’ debut was far from flawless, but playing tackle football meant a lot considering his past year.
Jones fractured a neck vertebra in the first padded practice of training camp last summer with the Dallas Cowboys, who he joined after four seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
“Fortunately,” Jones said, with a chuckle at that word choice, “it was just a C5 (vertebra). There were no ligament (tears), so it was a clean break. That was a good thing. I was in a neck brace for four or five months. I didn’t get cleared until March. But it could have been a lot worse. I was fortunate to have a clean crack.”
Jones has been the first-string left guard since the 49ers moved Connor Colby to the second string after a week of practices. Colby started at right guard Thursday.
“Everything happens for a reason. That happened and it helped me lean more into God, learn more about myself, and it gave me this opportunity to come here and play in a scheme I’m used,” Jones said.
**MARTIN BACK IN ACTION**
Linebacker Nick Martin delivered the game’s biggest hit, and it drew three penalty flags for unnecessary roughness. Playing for the first time since a Nov. 30 concussion in Cleveland, he had eight tackles in 26 snaps.
“I was happy to be back out there. I’m excited for the journey,” Martin said. “It was tough (last year). It was really frustrating because it was out of my control. There’s nothing you can do to speed up healing from a concussion.”
Martin noted his tackling was “a lot better” compared to last preseason’s debut that was littered with missed tackles. He did point out one clear miss Thursday night when he failed to wrap up a Titans running back who bounced outside for a 25-yard gain.
Martin is playing both weak- and strong-side linebacker this training camp, and he is hungry to learn from stalwarts Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. “I’ve got two of the best backers in the game to learn from. I’m super blessed to have them leading us and I’m soaking up all their wisdom,” Martin said. “They’re super genuine guys and love to work, and so do I.”
**NEW PUNTER’S STORY**
As a left-footed punter, Corliss Waitman’s spin can be deceptive and returns can get muffed, as happened Thursday night. Beyond being a hang-time artist and spin-control doctor, Waitman has a unique origin story that led to his discovery of punting his senior year of high school in Milton, Fla.
“I grew up playing soccer (left wing). My dad played basketball overseas, so I grew up overseas most of the time,” Waitman, 31, said. “Every time I went back home in Milton, Florida, I used to just kick a football. Then the head coach knew my dad and said, ‘Your son can kick. Let him try out.’ Then it happened spontaneously.”
His late father, José, was a league MVP 40 years ago in a Dutch league, then went on to play in Israel, France and China. His son was born in Ghent, Belgium and did the majority of his schooling in the Netherlands.
As for who Corliss Waitman supported in the recent World Cup, he said: “I was rooting for America, but I’m a dual citizen so I was also rooting for the Netherlands. But America first, for sure.”
**HALTON CO-STARS**
While wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling led the offense with seven catches, fellow rookie Grayson Halton was the defense’s breakout star. A highlight came when the 6-foot-2 defensive tackle burst through two blocks and burst past Peter Skoronski, who became the NFL’s highest-paid guard last week.
“Yeah, but I’m a rookie, so anything can happen. I can go next week and get put on my behind,” Halton said. “I have to be humble and get better. There’s probably something I could have done better on that play.”
Halton suffered a bone bruise in a knee two practices into camp, and even though that shelved him a week, “Oh, I was in it. I was working,” Halton said. “was watching every play what the guys do so I can add it to my game.”
**WATKINS’ SECOND YEAR**
Asked if he could remember what he was thinking after last preseason’s rookie debut, wide receiver Jordan Watkins replied: “Yeah, ‘My ankle hurts.’ … It was disappointment because I knew that it was something serious.”
That high ankle sprain, followed by a calf injury, limited him to two catches in four games in his rookie year.
Since then, he’s bulked up from 185 pounds to 205 pounds with a high-protein, minimal-carbohydrate diet. “My diet has been a big part of staying healthy this camp,” Watson said. “I’m a really big sweet-tea drinker so I’m trying to stay away from that.”
Thursday’s game saw him catch 6-of-10 targets for 59 yards; he had a 21-yard, third-down conversion nullified by a Jones’ holding penalty on the opening drive. Watson must prove himself, too, as a punt returner, and he did OK in that regard with a 4-yard return and a fair catch.
“It’s been a fun journey but I feel I’m getting better,” Watson said. “Everybody in the stadium is looking at you and everybody on the sideline is expecting you to catch the ball. It’s just you and the ball.”