Associated press

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Brandon Allen didn’t get nearly enough help from his more recognizable San Francisco 49ers teammates as the 32-year-old quarterback made his first start in nearly three years.

Now the defending NFC champions are 5-6 and in last place in the NFC West.

Allen did a decent job Sunday filling in for the injured Brock Purdy before losing a fumble on a Lukas Van Ness strip sack in the fourth quarter of the 49ers’ 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. But on a day when San Francisco regulars had to be on their toes in Purdy’s absence, the 49ers were sloppy.

Allen threw a three-yard pass to tight end George Kittle for San Francisco’s only touchdown.

“I thought he played well,” Kittle said. “We just have to play better.”

That will be necessary if the Niners want to get back to the playoffs. And it would help if they became healthier.

Right now, San Francisco (5-6) looks like a team missing many of its biggest stars.

Purdy did not play Sunday due to a shoulder injury. An ankle injury sidelined three-time All-Pro tackle Trent Williams. Four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa was out with a hip/oblique issue. And All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey still appears slowed by Achilles tendonitis.

Coach Kyle Shanahan had no immediate update after the game on Purdy’s potential availability for next week, when the Niners visit AFC East-leading Buffalo.

“He’s been here all the time rehabbing,” Shanahan said. “I’m sure we’ll have him go over some things early Monday and Tuesday so we can get a better idea.”

Allen joined the 49ers last year but had not thrown a pass in a game for them before Sunday. His previous start was for the Cincinnati Bengals in their 2021 Finals.

He went 17 of 29 for 199 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. He fumbled twice and lost one. The interception went through the hands of Deebo Samuel before Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney picked it up.

The 49ers didn’t use the injuries as an excuse.

San Francisco committed three turnovers, nine penalties and missed fifteen tackles in the first half alone. McCaffrey was limited to 31 yards on 11 carries and three catches for 37 yards.

When asked about the most disappointing part of the game, Shanahan saw no need to limit himself.

“That was the whole game,” Shanahan said. “So to name the biggest one, just the first half, the point defense was just really disappointing. I thought we came out of our holes a few times. I thought we had way too many missed tackles. Just the fact that they were able to control that clock in the first half was one of the worst I’ve been a part of so far.”

San Francisco struggled to down Josh Jacobs, who finished with 106 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He became the first player in the past 55 regular season games to rush for 100 yards or more against the 49ers. It was the longest time a team had gone without allowing a 100-yard rusher since 1955.

Then-Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields rushed for 103 yards against the Niners on October 31, 2021.

Jacobs had 91 yards rushing by halftime.

“That’s about as bad as it can get,” Niners linebacker Fred Warner said of the first half. “It was probably the worst thing I’ve been a part of.”

The Niners trailed 17-7 and got the ball to start the second half. Then they received their most expensive punishment.

Eric Saubert was flagged for holding to nullify Samuel’s kickoff from 87 yards, which would have given the 49ers first and goal. They finally turned the ball over on downs at the Green Bay 39-yard line.

The Niners then turned the ball over on three of their next five series, including McKinney’s interception and fumbles by Allen and McCaffrey. Green Bay scored touchdowns after each of those turnovers.

“We started to build some momentum there at the end of the half,” Allen said. “In the second half there were some drives and only penalties and turnovers really killed us.”

As bad as things look for the Niners, they are still in contention to win the NFC West. Arizona’s loss in Seattle leaves San Francisco one game out of first place.

“It’s one game at a time,” McCaffrey said. “Every day you have to wake up, look yourself in the mirror and get better, whether you win or lose. Speaking for me personally, that’s what I’m going to do.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL