The Chargers didn’t get much out of their second preseason game against the 49ers on Thursday night, but a few players still managed to make their case while others made life harder on themselves.
Junior Colson was one of the clearest bright spots. The former Michigan linebacker, who helped win a national championship before Los Angeles took him in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, has had to work through a tough start to his NFL career.
This was the kind of night he needed. Colson grabbed an interception, giving the Chargers one of their few defensive splash plays, and he added multiple tackles as he stayed around the ball all game.
For a young linebacker trying to carve out a role, it was a timely step forward.
Devonte Ross, meanwhile, took a hit in his battle for a roster spot. The rookie has shown he can contribute as a receiver, but his night turned sour on special teams when he muffed a punt and put the Chargers in a bad spot.
In a preseason game where every snap matters, that kind of mistake can loom large. Ross did score a touchdown last week, but the Chargers’ wide receiver room is crowded, and a special teams error can outweigh a few productive catches when the competition is this tight.
Devin Grant also made sure his name got noticed. The undrafted safety out of Syracuse is trying to survive final cuts in a crowded room, and he came through with one of Los Angeles’ biggest defensive plays of the night: an interception of Adrian Martinez in the fourth quarter.
With the game already slipping away, it was the kind of play that can stick with coaches when they sort through the roster. Grant showed instincts and ball skills when the Chargers needed someone to step up.
The running back group didn’t give the Chargers much at all. Nearly everyone in that room finished under 10 rushing yards, which isn’t the kind of production anyone wants to see, even in August.
Gregory Desrosiers led the way with the most rushing yards, and he did it late. There’s promise there, and he looked like the best of the bunch on the night.
Still, it would be a good sign if the backs are more involved next week against the Rams.
Jerand Bradley was another player who gave Los Angeles something to hang onto. With the offense struggling to move the ball consistently, Bradley provided one of the night’s biggest plays by hauling in a 28-yard touchdown from DJ Uiagalelei.
It was a much-needed spark and one of the Chargers’ few meaningful offensive moments. In a game that was mostly filled with negatives, Bradley put together one of the performances worth remembering.
In Other News...
Chargers Leave Ugly Loss With Two Bigger Problems Than The Score
The Chargers preseason loss to the 49ers was messy enough on the scoreboard, but the bigger concern came from everything around it. Penalties, missed assignments and an offense that never found much rhythm made it a rough night for a team still trying to set its tone under Jim Harbaugh, and the coach did not hide from the fact that the details were not good enough.
Tyler Biadaszs left ACL injury only adds to the unease, because the center spot now has to be reworked on the fly. Rookie Jake Slaughter is expected to slide into the starting job, while Harbaugh also has an unsettled backup quarterback battle still hanging over the roster, leaving the Chargers with more to sort out than a lopsided preseason score. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Leave Chargers Game With A Bigger Concern Than The Score
A preseason game can fade quickly once the result is in the books, and Sundays matchup in Los Angeles felt like one of those nights for the 49ers. They left with a win over the Chargers, but the bigger concern was the list of players who were banged up along the way, including offensive lineman Austen Pleasants, cornerback Renardo Green and linebacker Nick Martin, all of whom exited with injuries.
Kyle Shanahan said Pleasants knee injury is not an ACL tear, while Green and Martin are still waiting on more imaging after hamstring issues. Left guard Robert Jones is also dealing with an unspecified injury that could affect his availability for the next game, giving San Francisco plenty to monitor even as the preseason calendar keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers WR Injury Scares Put One 2026 Battle In Focus
Week 2 of the preseason brought an unwelcome scare to the Chargers receiver room when Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris both went down. Johnstons issue was described as a minor ankle or foot injury in the game against the 49ers, and he is expected back soon, while Harris is dealing with an undisclosed injury and should return to practice shortly. For a team trying to sort out roles behind its top pass catchers, even short-term interruptions can matter.
The bigger picture is how quickly this depth chart can get crowded again once everyone is healthy. Johnston still has a chance to build on his standing, Harris is trying to stay in the mix, and the 2026 outlook under Mike McDaniels offense only adds another layer to the evaluation. For now, the immediate concern is keeping both receivers on track so the Chargers can get a cleaner look at one of their more interesting position battles. [Read more 🡒]