49ers spoil Aaron Rodgers’ return to Jets with dominant win

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers spoiled Aaron Rodgers’ return to the New York Jets on Monday, beating the quarterback in his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon nearly a year ago.

The defending NFC champions opened their season with a 32-19 win over New York, and they did it without star guard Christian McCaffrey — who was surprisingly ruled out just before kickoff.

The 49ers managed to stifle Rodgers and the Jets while dominating the time of possession from 38:40 to 21:20.

Here are the most important things to know Monday night for both teams:

Last Friday, McCaffrey said he had no doubt he would be able to play on Monday despite his calf and Achilles injuries. That’s why it was a shock when McCaffrey was ruled out 90 minutes before kick-off.

But McCaffrey’s absence also created an opportunity for backup Jordan Mason — who had never played more than 27 offensive snaps in a game — to start for the first time in three NFL seasons. Regardless, Mason looked like a 10-year veteran running around, outrunning and outrunning Jets defenders all night.

With Mason’s work done, the first look at the 2024 Niners bore a striking resemblance to recent San Francisco teams. After a slow start in the first quarter, the 49ers turned things around and physically dominated the Jets on both sides of the ball.

It was Mason who set the tone. He finished with career highs in carries (28) and yards (147). He added a touchdown and became the sixth Niners player since 1970 to rush for 100-plus yards in his first career start with the team.

The 2022 undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech also became the 10th undrafted 49er to rush for 100-plus yards in a game since coach Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017, the most in the NFL during that span.

It’s unclear how many games McCaffrey will miss, but with the next two on artificial surfaces (at the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams), the Niners aren’t going to rush to get him back, and Mason has largely reassured them that they don’t have to.

QB Distribution: With the running game going strong, the 49ers didn’t need much from Brock Purdy. But he still stepped up when he needed to be, and his performance would have been better if not for a few costly drops, most notably late in the first half when receiver Brandon Aiyuk gave up a potential touchdown. Purdy finished 19 of 29 passing for 231 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Promising trend: The 49ers’ run defense struggled late in the 2023 season, allowing 4.8 yards per carry (30th in the NFL) from Week 14 through the Super Bowl. They attempted to correct that in the offseason by hiring Nick Sorensen as defensive coordinator and allocating resources to bigger players on the defensive line such as tackles Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott and end Leonard Floyd.

It may be a little early to call it a trend, but the early returns were good Monday, as San Francisco held the Jets to 68 yards on 19 carries, an average of 3.6 yards per attempt.

Pivot piece: With 8 minutes, 56 seconds left in the second quarter, the Niners trailed 13-6 and faced a second-and-19 from New York’s 39 after a holding penalty negated an 18-yard run by Mason.

With an open pocket and time to throw, Purdy threw a pass to receiver Jauan Jennings who threw a deep crosser. Jennings returned it for a gain of 22 and a first down. The Niners scored three plays later and never relinquished the lead. –Nick Wagoner

Next game: at the Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

It took a year longer than expected, but the Jets finally got to enjoy a near-complete game under Rodgers. Unfortunately, their defense fell short and hampered any chance of a triumphant return for Rodgers. The Jets briefly led 7-3, then gave up eight — yes, eight — consecutive kills.

The Jets made Mason of the 49ers the hottest new name in the country for fantasy owners after his big performance.

One of the reasons Rodgers wanted to play for the Jets was their formidable defense, which kept them in most games last season while they suffered from quarterback roulette.

But that game got away from them, and coach Robert Saleh waved the white flag with 4:32 left, subbing Rodgers out for Tyrod Taylor. And Rodgers still hasn’t played a full game in a Jets uniform.

The biggest hole in the game plan: Receiver Garrett Wilson was on fire early, with four receptions in the first 11 minutes. Then he disappeared. He wasn’t targeted again until the third quarter, which resulted in an interception. The Rodgers-Wilson connection cooled, as did the entire offense.

The lack of a consistent No. 2 option in the passing game has been a major problem. Receiver Allen Lazard’s 26-yard reception late in the third quarter was the first offensive touch by a player other than Wilson or running back Breece Hall. Receiver Mike Williams, in his first game since ACL surgery, played only a few snaps and was a non-factor. Tight end Tyler Conklin had no targets. If this becomes a weekly trend, the call for a trade for Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams will grow louder.

Worrying trend: The Jets’ defensive line, which was supposed to be the strength of the unit, was battered on the ground. Obviously, the Jets missed power forward John Franklin-Myers (traded in the offseason). Big defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was supposed to be a difference-maker, but he had a quiet night. In total, New York gave up 180 yards on the ground, most of it between the tackles. Haason Reddick holding out probably wouldn’t have helped the run defense, but he would have added some spice to the pass rush.

Worrying Trend, Part II: Oddly enough, All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner was sidelined for nine snaps in the second quarter. There were no medical issues, ESPN’s Lisa Salters reported during the game. His absence was costly, as Brock Purdy completed 6 of 6 passes without Gardner on the field. — Rich Cimini

Next game: at Tennessee Titans (1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday)