San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard turns to make a pitch out in action against the Kansas City Chiefs during a NFL preseason football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Aug. 11, 2017. The 49ers won, 27-14. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)

By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA–Hey, look, the 49ers are 1-0!

 Well, OK, it is only the preseason, but after all that transpired over the past couple of years, you have to draw anything positive that you can if you’re a 49ers fan.

 The 49ers’ reserves – as is the case with many preseason games – were the key in sparking a 27-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

 Most of the offensive starters for both teams played only about two series before making way for the backups – including those on the bubble to make the 53-man roster come September – to show what they could do.

 One of those backups that impressed was rookie running back Joe Williams, who actually gave up football for a season while at Utah before deciding to resume his career. He carried the ball seven times for 60 yards, including a 17-yarder in the second half.

 Starting quarterback Brian Hoyer threw only four passes – completing only one – before giving way to Matt Barkley, who completed 10 of his 17 passes for 168 yards.

 However, Barkley didn’t get it into the end zone. That’s what rookie C.J Beathard did, as he fired a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead the 49ers to victory.

 The 49ers will now head home to play their second exhibition game against the Denver Broncos, who also won their first preseason game. The two teams will actually face each other before Saturday night’s game at Levi’s Stadium, however, as they will have a pair of joint practices in the South Bay starting Wednesday and continuing into Thursday.

 Meanwhile, Reuben Foster is said to have the inside track on the starting weak-side linebacker position after a strong performance Friday night in Kansas City. Also impressing the coaching staff was rookie defensive lineman Solomon Thomas.

 Foster instantly became the favorite to become the starter at that spot once Malcolm Smith, whom the 49ers just signed away from Oakland this year, was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.