Mustapha, Winters, Thomas, Kubiak, Mason

NASHVILLE — Rookie Malik Mustapha got his welcome-to-the-NFL moment out of the way in the 49ers’ preseason opener. Unlike most rookies in their pro debuts, he is the one who delivered the wake-up call.

Mustapha made a fourth-down tackle near the 49ers’ goal line, thus thwarting a Tennesee Titans’ touchdown drive and affirming the scouting report that he is a hard-hitting safety.

“It’s been a long time. I haven’t hit anybody since November of last year,” said Mustapha, a fourth-round pick from Wake Forest. “In practice you can’t hit your guys, so I was definitely fired up getting that one big hit.”

“He couldn’t hesitate,” coach Kyle Shanahan added. “We knew he was a hitter. so we were excited to see him today hit someone else besides our own guys at practice.”

What made that play even more impressive is a preceding play that was unimpressive, when Mustapha blamed his “bad eyes” for getting distracted and leaving a tight end open for a big play. Defensive pass-game specialist Daniel Bullocks implored “next play, next play” to him, so Mustapha did just that.

And with the Titans lining up for fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line, Mustapha spotted a hole and rushed in to fill it before running back Hassan Haskins could. Mustapha credited veteran safeties George Odum and Talanoa Hufanga for getting him ready for that moment, saying: “The amateur league is over. Now you’re in the big leagues and how are you going to take the next step? I’m not settled for just being here. I want to make an impact as many ways as I can.”

On the second-half kickoff, it was Mustapha who made the tackle at the Titans’ 24-yard line, a welcome change after the 49ers’ first kickoff Saturday was returned for 63 yards.

WINTERS’ BIG HITS

Another big hit Saturday night also came near the 49ers’ goal line, and it was second-year linebacker Dee Winter drilling Titans first-string quarterback Will Levis (on a near helmet-to-helmet blow) at the 1-yard line, on third-and-goal from the 3. Winters’ demolishing deed went for naught, however; Ambry Thomas’ holding penalty triggered a first down and Levis scored on the next play.

“It got me going and got me excited. It was a huge part of that first half,” Winters said.

Two plays into the next series, Winters made a tackle for a 6-yard loss. He was supposed to blitz on the second-and-4 play, but the sight of two pulling guards switched that plan and he “did what I did.”

“When you run and hit, that stuff flashes on the sideline,” Shanahan said. “So you saw that from (Winters), you saw it from Mustapha. I’m pretty excited for those guys.”

SO LONG THOMAS?

Thomas may have played his final snap with the 49ers. He fractured his right arm in the second quarter, falling on it while missing a tackle.

Thomas, a 2021 third-round pick, is in the last year of his rookie contract. The 49ers could waive him injured if he no longer factors into their plans this season. He’s made 11 regular-season starts plus four in the playoffs, and his career highlight to this point is an overtime interception in the 2021 team’s regular-season finale win over the Rams. He played one defensive snap in February’s Super Bowl.

Thomas technically started Saturday’s game with fellow cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Renardo Green. The latter two were the outside corners in base defense, then Green shifted to the slot and Thomas entered in nickel packages.

The 49ers kept out would-be starters Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, along with top reserves Isaac Yiadom and Darrell Luter Jr. Other cornerbacks who played were Sam Womack and Chase Lucas.

SMOOTH PLAY CALLS 

For the first time in 16 years, Shanahan did not call plays in a game and instead bequeathed those duties to Klay Kubiak, who earned rave reviews for his calm, confident calls from the booth.

Starting quarterback Brandon Allen: “It was fun to have Klay calling the plays. He did a great job. He was calm up in the box. Every time a play came in, I had a lot of confidence in what he was calling and most of it was going to work.”

Added Josh Dobbs: “It was Klay’s show. He did a great job. Clear communication. Getting the play calls in early.”

Those words will go a long way if Kubiak is the next on the Shanahan tree to get a promotion elsewhere, either to a coordinator position or head coach.

All due respect to Kubiak, Shanahan says it was one of the more boring experiences for him, simply because he was not as engaged in the offense. In fact, he got caught being a screenager on the 49ers’ first kickoff that was returned 63 yards; he was looking at game replays on a tablet and was too close to the field, thus drawing an interference penalty.

MASON MAKES HIS MOVE

Jordan Mason burst up the middle for a 13-yard gain on the 49ers’ first running play of the preseason. Five carries later, he was in the end zone, scoring on a 4-yard run with the assist of the Puni Push (right guard Dominick Puni helped clear a path).

“I felt it 100 percent, because I was short until he came and pushed me,” Mason said.

Asked if he liked that run better than his first charge, Mason said: “All of them were my favorite. They were all good. I love them all.”

He didn’t love missing a short pass from Allen. But Allen enjoyed watching how Mason looks entering his third season.

Said Allen: “I’ve noticed how hard he runs. His vision is really good. Anytime you have that combo, those two things go really well for a running back.”