San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black scored his first NFL touchdown on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. However, his milestone came in a disappointing loss, as the Falcons handed the previously undefeated 49ers a 29-20 defeat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.


Black was asked about head coach Kyle Shanahan's message to the team after the loss, especially with much of the season still ahead.


"Just making sure we stay focused, locked in on the details, and eliminating turnovers," Black said. "And, as a team, we've just got to do a better job. But we tried hard. We tried hard to the end, and that's one thing that we always play with, is effort."

The 49ers hurt themselves throughout the game with turnovers, penalties, and other costly mistakes. San Francisco committed four turnovers, including a lost fumble by Black.

"It's a team thing, and we just knew that we had to correct it," Black said. "I feel like it starts with me. In my role that I'm playing, I can't, you know, turn the ball over. I know, as a running back, 100 percent ball security is the main focus. And in that moment, I lost it. But we're going to shake [it off], get ready for the game in a couple of weeks."

Black's fumble came one play after running back Jordan James lost the ball, which the 49ers recovered. Shanahan expressed his frustration with the back-to-back miscues.

"It was very frustrating. Yeah, it's tough," was all Shanahan could say about the unfortunate sequence of plays.


Black said his teammates offered encouragement, not criticism, after the fumble. That support is one reason he believes the 49ers have a special team.

"Just [telling me to keep] my head up, plenty of opportunities left in the game, plenty more time in the game," Black said of his teammates' messages. "I love being on a team where you've got guys who support you regardless of what happens. And we've got great veteran leadership, and it's easy to get behind those guys."

Shanahan acknowledged that the mistakes were uncharacteristic of the 49ers, noting how difficult it is to win when the turnover differential is so lopsided.

"That was one of those frustrating things," Shanahan said. "Anytime you have four turnovers like that, and you get zero, it's real tough to win. I thought we had some—I don't know about the amount of penalties, but the timing of some penalties, just keeping them on the field, giving them some big plays, especially when we have them behind the chains and stuff with those illegal contacts or holdings, whatever they called. But too sloppy to win."

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