San Francisco 49ers

TE McDonald savoring memory of first career touchdown with 49ers

Published Nov. 24, 2015 12:25 a.m. ET

foxsports

In an otherwise forgettable game, tight end Vance McDonald had a memorable moment for the San Francisco 49ers.

McDonald scored the first touchdown of his three-year career in Sunday's 29-13 loss at the Seattle Seahawks, hooking up with Blaine Gabbert on a 19-yard scoring strike over the middle in the final seconds of the first half.

“I’ve never been a stats guy or cared about how many yards or catches I have, but it was very fun breaking that seal and getting in the end zone,” McDonald said.

A second-round draft pick out of Rice in 2013, McDonald and Garrett Celek are seeing extended playing time after the 49ers shipped longtime tight end Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos at the trade deadline.

McDonald entered Sunday's matchup with 19 career receptions. He never had more than two catches in a game until Sunday's breakout performance, when he had four receptions for 65 yards - or one more yard than he had in his first eight games this season.