SANTA CLARA — Overreacting to a preseason opener is easy, especially when a new quarterback hits an 80-yard touchdown pass or an embattled wide receiver drops a pass. Here are the studs and duds in the 49ers’ preseason-opening loss Saturday to the Kansas City Chiefs:

STUDS

1. Quarterback Trey Lance

His 80-yard touchdown pass to Trent Sherfield was perfectly scripted and reflected the big-play ability that’s been evident almost every training camp practice. That one play isn’t enough to unseat Jimmy Garoppolo from the starting role, but it illustrates Lance’s potential. (That one play also enhances Sherfield’s receiving duties.)

2. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir

With the 49ers resting their would-be starters, Lenoir relished the opportunity to gain first-team reps, one of which paid off with an interception.

3. Safety Talanoa Hufanga

His aggressive style could win him a starting strong safety role, but he’ll have to beat out Tavon Wilson and Jaquiski Tartt, whose toe issue remains a concern. Hufanga had two special-teams tackles — a solid start to his draft-day goal of becoming a Pro Bowler on special teams.

4. Wide receiver Nsimba Webster

Webster (Deer Valley High-Antioch) showed his speed with a 34-yard run, a 43-yard kick return and two receptions for 18 yards.

5. Linebacker Jonas Griffith

After breaking up two passes and totaling four sacks as a fill-in starter, Griffith said: “It feels amazing, honestly. It’s my first time in the NFL and it was great, man. It was everything I wanted and wished for and thought of growing as a kid.”

DUDS

1. Wide receiver Richie James Jr. 

He’s not the only one who had a drop (Brandon Aiyuk and River Cracraft did, too) but James can’t afford such lapses. He appeared to short-arm another pass Lance fired to him over the middle. James made a fair catch of the lone punt he fielded.

2. Offensive tackle Shon Coleman

This was only the second game he’s played in with the 49ers, and his last was the 2019 opener in which he sustained a season-ending ankle injury. After opting out last season, he didn’t inspire, especially on the sack he allowed.

3. Quarterback Josh Rosen

He met the media for the first time after the game and sounds like an upstanding guy. Marring his night was a red zone interception as he completed 10-of-15 passes for 93 yards.

4. Running back JaMycal Hasty

He ran for a team-high 63 yards and a go-ahead touchdown, but a lost fumble is alarming because he’s had ball security issues in practice.

5. Safety Kai Nacua

His hit on a sliding quarterback likely will draw a fine, and it’s a play a veteran should not do.