49ers vs. Texans PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts

The San Francisco 49ers dropped their record to 5-3 after a 26-15 loss against the Houston Texans in Week 8. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game. Which Niners stood out, and who needs more work?

Highest-graded 49ers: Offense

• Jake Tonges, TE, 87.8, 5 snaps
• Trent Williams, LT, 81.3, 48 snaps
• Mac Jones, QB, 78.8, 48 snaps
• George Kittle, TE, 78.4, 43 snaps
• Luke Farrell, TE, 71.2, 3 snaps

Highest-graded 49ers: Defense

• Sam Okuayinonu, DE, 71.5, 46 snaps
• Renardo Green, CB, 69.8, 80 snaps
• Curtis Robinson, LB, 69.5, 22 snaps
• Kalia Davis, DT, 68.2, 43 snaps
• Jason Pinnock, SS, 67.5, 2 snaps

Lowest-graded 49ers: Offense

• Jordan Watkins, WR, 41.2, 6 snaps
• Skyy Moore, WR, 44.8, 9 snaps
• Nick Zakelj, LG, 46.9, 19 snaps
• Matt Hennessy, C, 48.9, 48 snaps
• Kyle Juszczyk, FB, 53.0, 20 snaps

Lowest-graded 49ers: Defense

• Chase Lucas, CB, 27.5, 3 snaps
• Jordan Elliott, DT, 42.5, 18 snaps
• Dee Winters, LB, 46.6, 58 snaps
• Kevin Givens, DT, 48.4, 32 snaps
• Alfred Collins, DT, 53.0, 54 snaps

Highest-graded Texans

• Kamari Lassiter, CB, 89.9, 48 snaps
• Jaylin Noel, WR, 83.3, 31 snaps
• Henry To'oTo'o, LB, 83.0, 25 snaps
• C.J. Stroud, QB, 79.8, 80 snaps
• Xavier Hutchinson, WR, 75.8, 57 snaps

Quarterback play

Mac Jones' 78.8 offensive grade was his second-highest of the season (81.1 in Week 3). He completed 19-of-32 passes against the Texans for 193 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

By comparison, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud earned a 79.8 offensive grade, completing 30-of-39 passes for 318 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Highest marks

Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter's 89.9 defensive grade was the best of the game.

For the 49ers, the highest-graded player was tight end Jake Tonges, who earned an 87.8 offensive grade on just five offensive snaps. He was targeted once in the game, recording a two-yard touchdown.

The highest-graded 49ers player with significant playing time was left tackle Trent Williams, who earned an 81.3 offensive grade—the same mark he received a week earlier against the Atlanta Falcons.

San Francisco's highest-graded defender (71.5) was defensive end Sam Okuayinonu, who finished with three tackles, a pressure, and a hit before exiting in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

Blocking

Not only was Trent Williams the game's highest-graded offensive lineman, but his 92.4 run-blocking grade was also the best of the game. His 68.1 pass-blocking grade led all 49ers offensive linemen as well.

Running back Christian McCaffrey earned the game's best pass-blocking grade (84.1).

The lowest-graded offensive lineman was left guard Nick Zakelj, who played 19 offensive snaps and earned a 46.9 offensive grade. Center Matt Hennessy's 42.0 run-blocking grade was the lowest of the game among offensive linemen, while Zakelj's 26.5 pass-blocking grade was the lowest overall.

In total, the 49ers' offensive line surrendered 15 pressures.

• RT Colton McKivitz, LT Trent Williams — 4 each
• C Matt Hennessy, RG Dominick Puni, LG Nick Zakelj — 2 each
• LG Connor Colby — 1

Pass Catchers

Tight end Jake Tonges earned an 80.4 receiving grade, followed by tight end George Kittle, who posted a 73.4 receiving grade. Kittle finished with four receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown.

The game's lowest receiving grade (44.6) went to rookie wideout Jordan Watkins, who finished with one reception for seven yards.

Rushing

The teams' two quarterbacks, C.J. Stroud and Mac Jones, earned the best run grades of the game (71.8 and 71.0, respectively). Christian McCaffrey was the only 49ers running back with carries in the game, earning a 65.0 run grade.

Pass rush

Second-year safety Malik Mustapha earned the 49ers' best pass-rush grade (70.5). He finished with one pressure and a quarterback hurry. Defensive tackle Kevin Givens recorded the team's second-best pass-rush grade (67.8).

Linebacker Tatum Bethune's 49.7 pass-rush grade was the lowest of the game.

• DE Mykel Williams, LB Dee Winters — 2 each
• FS Ji'Ayir Brown, DT Alfred Collins, DE Trevis Gipson, FS Malik Mustapha, DE Sam Okuayinonu, CB Upton Stout — 1 each

Run defense

Rookie cornerback Upton Stout earned the game's best run-defense grade (90.8), recording three stops. The team's worst run-defense grade went to defensive tackle Kevin Givens, who earned a 38.5 mark in that category.

Pass defense

San Francisco's best coverage grade (79.6) went to linebacker Curtis Robinson, who filled in for an injured Dee Winters. Cornerback Renardo Green was the highest-graded 49ers defensive back, earning a 73.4 coverage grade.

The game's lowest coverage grade (28.9) went to cornerback Chase Lucas.

Tackling

Safety Malik Mustapha earned the game's best tackling grade (84.7). Cornerback Renardo Green's 81.2 tackling grade ranked second, while cornerback Chase Lucas recorded the lowest tackling grade (26.5).

• FS Ji'Ayir Brown, CB Deommodore Lenoir, CB Upton Stout — 2 each
• LB Tatum Bethune, CB Chase Lucas, DE Mykel Williams, LB Dee Winters — 1 each

49ers Week 8 snap counts

Offense
48 - Colton McKivitz (RT), Dominick Puni (RG), Mac Jones (QB), Matt Hennessy (C), Trent Williams (LT)
46 - Christian McCaffrey (RB)
43 - George Kittle (TE)
41 - Jauan Jennings (WR)
38 - Kendrick Bourne (WR)
29 - Connor Colby (LG)
27 - Demarcus Robinson (WR)
20 - Kyle Juszczyk (FB)
19 - Nick Zakelj (LG)
9 - Skyy Moore (WR)
6 - Jordan Watkins (WR)
5 - Jake Tonges (TE)
3 - Luke Farrell (TE)
2 - Brian Robinson (RB)

Defense
80 - Deommodore Lenoir (CB), Ji'Ayir Brown (FS), Malik Mustapha (FS), Renardo Green (CB), Tatum Bethune (LB)
58 - Dee Winters (LB)
54 - Alfred Collins (DT)
53 - Mykel Williams (DE)
48 - Upton Stout (CB)
46 - Sam Okuayinonu (DE)
43 - Kalia Davis (DT)
39 - Trevis Gipson (DE)
35 - Robert Beal Jr. (DE)
32 - Kevin Givens (DT)
27 - Luke Gifford (LOLB)
22 - Curtis Robinson (LB)
18 - Jordan Elliott (DT)
3 - Chase Lucas (CB)
2 - Jason Pinnock (SS)

Special Teams
23 - Darrell Luter Jr., Luke Gifford, Marques Sigle, Siran Neal
18 - Robert Beal Jr.
16 - Luke Farrell
15 - Jake Tonges
13 - Curtis Robinson
12 - Chase Lucas
10 - Isaac Guerendo, Nick Martin
9 - Skyy Moore
7 - Brian Robinson
6 - Jon Weeks (LS), Kalia Davis, Mykel Williams, Tatum Bethune, Thomas Morstead (P)
5 - Alfred Collins, Kyle Juszczyk
4 - Eddy Pineiro (K), Kevin Givens
3 - Ji'Ayir Brown, Jordan Elliott
2 - Jason Pinnock
1 - Austen Pleasants, Colton McKivitz, Connor Colby, Dominick Puni, Drew Moss, Nick Zakelj