The San Francisco 49ers used their second preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers as another chance for players to make a case for themselves, and a handful did exactly that.
With roster decisions and depth-chart battles creeping closer, every snap matters for guys trying to hang on. Against the Chargers, five players gave the coaches something to think about.
Rookie Kaelon Black was one of the biggest eye-openers. For most people outside of training camp, this was the first real look at him, and he made it count.
Black ran with toughness and power, showing he’s not built to win with speed or quick cuts so much as with force. That makes him a different kind of option than Christian McCaffrey, and one the 49ers can use when they need a few hard yards and a back who won’t back down from contact.
Sincere McCormick may have been the surprise of the night. Signed on Jun. 10, he arrived without much buzz, but he put together a run of his own that stood out.
McCormick finished with six carries for 53 yards, highlighted by a 37-yard burst. The numbers help, but the real boost came from how hard he ran and how smoothly he moved.
He looked like a player the 49ers can no longer ignore.
Jacob Cowing also helped himself in a big way. Before training camp even started, he was a player the writer had already written off as unlikely to make the team.
That changed in a hurry when Cowing took an 83-yard punt return to the house. Kyle Shanahan said the return helped his stock, and now Cowing has a real chance to use that play as a springboard into the preseason finale.
Jaden Dugger didn’t have quite as many flashy moments as he did against the Titans, but he still flashed enough to matter. The play that stood out came in coverage, where he stayed with tight end Oronde Gadsden, a pretty fast player.
Dugger didn’t get a breakup and did bite on what looked like a fake screen, but he recovered with enough athleticism to nearly stay step for step. His traits keep jumping out.
Garrett Wallow rounded out the list by making life miserable for the Chargers’ run game. Whenever they seemed to have a lane for a modest gain, Wallow showed up to blow it up.
He has a real feel for the ball and attacks it aggressively, and running backs weren’t safe when he was in the area. He also played in the first half, which suggests he’s ahead of Tatum Bethune.
After this performance, Wallow’s stock is clearly climbing.
In Other News...
49ers Roster Battle Took A Turn During This Preseason Blowout
The 49ers turned a preseason blowout into a long look at the bottom of the roster, and the game quickly became more about auditions than the score. Brock Purdy played briefly before giving way, San Francisco was up 20-3 by halftime and stretched the margin to 41-9 in the second half, opening the door for a cluster of rookies and fringe players to get extended snaps in a live setting.
Jacob Cowing, DeZhaun Stribling, Kaelon Black, Carver Willis, Austen Pleasants and Jalen Stroman all saw meaningful action, with the results mixed as the staff sorted through a crowded roster battle. Adrian Martinez handled the second half and left a little bit of everything on the tape, including a pick-six, but also a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown as the 49ers kept the scoreboard moving while the evaluation window stayed wide open. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Pileup Is Raising New Concerns Before Week 1
The 49ers left their preseason game against the Chargers with more than just the usual August bruises. Guard Austen Pleasants was ruled out with a knee injury, and rookie cornerback Renardo Green also left the contest and was questionable to return before ultimately not coming back. For a team trying to get through camp healthy and ready for Week 1, those are the kinds of exits that can linger well beyond one exhibition game.
Kyle Shanahans update on the defensive front added another layer to the concern, even if it came with some cautious optimism. He said Nick Bosa is making progress, while Mykel Williams is still trending toward missing the season opener. With the regular season approaching, the 49ers are once again navigating the uncomfortable mix of waiting, monitoring, and hoping the injury report does not keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Facing Uncomfortable Roster Calls As Two Camp Battles Intensify
The 49ers are moving deeper into preseason evaluation mode, and a couple of roster questions are starting to feel less like camp chatter and more like decisions the front office may have to live with. Christian McCaffrey remains part of the bigger picture, but the more immediate pressure is on players such as Kirk and Colby, whose place on the roster now depends on how the team weighs performance, health, and fit as August unfolds.
Kirks case has become especially tricky because the injury interruptions have stacked up alongside a dip in production, which puts him in the middle of a real cut conversation rather than a routine depth chart debate. Colby, meanwhile, is fighting a different kind of battle, one centered on the starting guard job and the sort of interior competition Kyle Shanahan and Chris Foerster tend to use as a true test of who can hold up when the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]