It was a strip sack and fumble recovery from Bryce Huff that officially ended things, but where the 49ers really took charge was their final drive of the first half of a 26-21 road win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

With New Orleans having closed to 9-7, the 49ers got the ball back on the 23-yard line with 1:10 left. Nine plays later, Christian McCaffrey had scored his first touchdown since 2023 on a 7-yard pass from Mac Jones, and the 49ers led 16-7.

“I was real proud of the guys there,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday in a conference call with local writers. “To be able to go the length of the field in a minute with one timeout and finish with a touchdown, I thought it was huge. Mac did a hell of a job. All the guys made some plays and they protected well.”

The drive opened with a 13-yard pass to Jauan Jennings, a 4-yard pass to McCaffrey, a 29-yard pass to Jennings, 8 yards to Kendrick Bourne and 11 yards to Jake Tonges. Passes of 5 yards and finally 7 and the touchdown to McCaffrey finished it off.

“That was a huge drive. And our offense is complicated and the two-minute can be complicated too,” McCaffrey said. “For new guys to come in all over the field and execute that way — we had Kendrick Bourne just recently getting here, we had a new guy at let guard — that’s rare. That doesn’t happen everywhere.”

Left guard Ben Bartch lasted just 10 plays, as did fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

Aside from Bartch, who Shanahan said “will be out for awhile” with a high ankle sprain, Juszczyk began the week in concussion protocol as will core special teamer Siran Neal, who reported to work Monday with concussion symptoms.

Jennings continue to be evaluated with an ankle injury. The most serious injury was a knee injury sustained by tackle Spencer Burford on special teams.

“We’ve got to see how his knee reacts over these next couple of days to decide if it will heal or if we have to go in a different direction with it,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully we’ll have some better answers as the week goes.”

With Ben Bartch out indefinitely, 49ers’ rookie left guard Connor Colby (75) will get more starts in the coming weeks. Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group

Connor Colby could be a starter for awhile

One year after getting a step-in starter at right guard in Dominick Puni, have the 49ers struck gold on the other side with rookie seventh-round draft pick Connor Colby?

It’s too soon to tell, but Colby stepped in at left guard for Bartch, who departed with an ankle injury after 10 snaps, and played the rest of the game. Colby committed no penalties and more than held his own.

With Bartch sidelined with a high ankle sprain — an injury that usually takes a few weeks to heal — Colby figures to start again Sunday in the 49ers’ home opener against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.

Bartch was ticketed throughout the offseason to be the starter even as he battled other injury issues. If Colby plays as well as he did in a difficult road environment, he will be difficult to dislodge from the lineup.

“I’ve loved how he’s been here so far,” Shanahan said. “He came in that game early and did a hell of a job. He’ll get better the more he plays, but he was ready for the moment and definitely helped us with that win.”

Mykel Williams dominates

While Colby went about his business anonymously as a lineman should, first-round pick Mykel Williams looked every bit the No. 11 overall selection by flexing his muscles against the Saints.

Williams did some good things in terms of beating blocks against Seattle but didn’t stand out.

“He looks more comfortable the more he goes,” Shanahan said. “From an assignment standpoint, I thought he did a lot better this week. From a production standpoint, he got in the backfield a number of times, really affected the quarterback by just pushing through the pocket. I thought he did a lot of good things.”

Beal is back

Defensive end Robert Beal, released going into the New Orleans game, cleared waivers and was re-signed to the practice squad.

Beal was a fifth-round draft pick in 2023 and has played in 18 games with 15 tackles with one sack.

SNAP JUDGEMENTS

A look at who played and how much against the Saints:

71–Unsure if he could play at the outset, Trent Williams played every offensive snap along with with Puni, center Jake Brendel, tackle Colton McKivitz and Jones at quarterback. The defense also had 71 snaps, with Marques Sigle, Jason Pinnock, Fred Warner, Renardo Green and Deommodore Lenoir never leaving the field.

63–Ricky Pearsall Jr. played one more snap than Jennings, with both contributing. Jennings was targeted 10 times and had five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown when he appeared to be leaking oil with shoulder, knee and now ankle issues. Pearsall had four catches in six targets for 56 yards.

61–Colby took over at left guard when Bartch departed with a high ankle sprain. No penalties, no flagrant errors. For a seventh-round draft pick that’s a hell of a starting debut.

56–Who would have thought Tonges in Week 2 would get one more snap than McCaffrey. Pressed into some fullback duty after Juszczyk departed with a concussion after 10 snaps. Tonges caught four passes for 31 yards. Nick Bosa had 56 defensive snaps, the most among defensive linemen. Upton Stout also had 56 and his first sack.

“We don’t train all our tight ends that way but we have only one fullback,” Shanahan said. “When Juice goes out of the game, we need one of those guys to know it. Losing Juice early puts pressure on those guys. Huge credit to Jake and Luke (Farrell) to be ready for that moment.”

55--McCaffrey had 19 touches after 31 the previous week against Seattle. Being on the field for 36 snaps when he didn’t touch the ball showed good restraint by the 49ers.

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What the 49ers said after beating the Saints

48—Williams excelled pretty much on brute strength and power alone both on the interior and setting the edge. He can throw an offensive lineman like a sack of potatoes.

35–Welcome back Kendrick Bourne. Straight into the rotation after a few days of practice. Had three receptions for 32 yards on three targets.

28–Sam Okuayinonu’s defensive line total doesn’t include 20 snaps on special teams — the most on the roster.

7–An interesting wrinkle by Robert Saleh was having Ji’Ayir Brown on the field as a hybrid linebacker/box safety. He wasn’t utilized that way in Week 1. According to Shanahan, the 49ers call it their “Big Nickel.”