Las Vegas, NV – August 14, 2025
The desert sun was merciless over Henderson as the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders clashed in their lone joint practice before preseason action at Allegiant Stadium. On paper, it was a controlled, scripted tune-up. In reality, it became a showcase of raw, unfiltered football — and one undrafted rookie in red and gold seized the spotlight.
For Sebastian Valdez, nicknamed “The Hulk” in the 49ers’ locker room, every snap this August has been a fight for survival. Signed as an undrafted defensive tackle out of Montana State, he’s been grinding through camp, intent on proving that power and heart can outweigh draft pedigree. Across the line, Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty carried the same chip on his shoulder — a dangerous, big-play threat fighting for his own roster spot.
The tension that had been simmering all morning hit its boiling point during a mid-practice inside run drill. Jeanty took the handoff and darted toward the right A-gap. Valdez was waiting. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound tackle exploded off the snap, met Jeanty square in the lane, and drove him backward with a thud that echoed across the Raiders’ facility. The whistle blew, but neither man stopped moving — Jeanty ripped free, Valdez stepped forward, and suddenly they were chest-to-chest under the blazing Nevada heat.
Words flew. Helmets clashed. A hard shove sent bodies lurching, and within seconds, teammates from both sides were swarming in. Coaches and staff worked to pull them apart, the air thick with shouts, clapping, and the kind of chaotic energy only a joint practice can produce.
Kyle Shanahan quickly pulled Valdez to the sideline, a hand on the rookie’s shoulder pads. Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce did the same with Jeanty. The message from both men was clear: channel that fire between the whistles. But in those moments, every 49ers fan watching knew — this was no ordinary rep.
Clips of the collision hit social media before practice even ended, with 49ers Faithful flooding comment sections. “That’s Niner football!” one fan wrote. Another posted simply, “Sign The Hulk right now.” Raiders supporters defended Jeanty’s response, praising his refusal to back down.
For Valdez, the play was more than a hit — it was a declaration. In the sweltering heat of Henderson, he showed the kind of fearless, physical edge that San Francisco has built its reputation on. And when the 49ers take the field against the Raiders in preseason, all eyes will be on No. 96, ready to see if The Hulk can shake the desert one more time.
