The 49ers left Los Angeles with a preseason blowout over the Chargers, and the biggest takeaway for San Francisco may have been the way its rookies showed up. None of these players are household names yet, but this was the kind of performance that gets attention fast. For a 2026 draft class that has already taken its share of criticism, the group took a noticeable step forward.
De'Zhaun Stribling kept stacking good reps on top of good reps. The former Ole Miss standout turned in four catches for 46 yards, matching veteran KhaDarel Hodge for the team lead in both categories. He’s done enough this preseason that it’s getting harder to find fresh language for how well he’s playing, and Ryan Paganetti even noted that what Stribling has done is unprecedented.
Romello Height also added to the momentum. His slimmer frame is still something the team is working through, especially when it comes to his pass-rush limitations, but the tools are there in the run game. The No. 70 overall pick made that clear by swallowing up Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell for a tackle for loss.
Kaelon Black’s night offered another strong sign. There had been initial reporting that the running back would not play because of an adductor injury, but he ended up suiting up and looked healthy enough once the game started.
His 8-for-33 rushing line only tells part of the story. The polarizing third-round pick also held up in pass protection, and his vision showed up throughout the outing.
Not every rookie got to build on that momentum. Gracen Halton sat out with an ankle issue, though he had been trending upward before the injury. The Oklahoma product had already flashed in the 49ers’ first glorified scrimmage against the Tennessee Titans, where his quickness, power and high motor were on display.
Carver Willis also had a learning experience in the middle of the line. He spent his entire five-year college career at tackle, with only eight snaps anywhere else, and the adjustment to the interior is clearly still a work in progress. Starting at left guard, he had more negative plays than positive ones.
Ephesians Prysock followed his debut with another encouraging showing. The 6-foot-3, 196-pound corner’s length and size stood out again, and the Chargers tested him twice over 12 coverage snaps. He gave up one 10-yard catch, broke up another pass, and finished with a 64.6 passer rating against.
Jaden Dugger kept flashing the traits that made him an intriguing conversion from safety to linebacker. His range, speed and explosiveness were easy to see again, and he stayed with Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II on an incomplete deep ball, disrupting the play with his recovery and burst.
Two-thirds of the way through the preseason, the picture for this rookie class looks a lot better than it did when the summer started. The names are still new, but the performances are starting to speak loudly.
In Other News...
49ers Owner Jed York Arrest Case Just Got Even More Damaging
The fallout from Jed Yorks arrest in Ohio continues to linger around the 49ers top executive, adding another unwelcome layer to a story that already had plenty of it. York, the principal owner and CEO of San Francisco, was taken into custody during an operation targeting human trafficking, and the case moved through a series of charges before reaching its final disposition in court.
What began as a prostitution charge was later amended to disorderly conduct, and York also pleaded no contest to possessing criminal tools. He was sentenced to two days in jail and fined $1,150, while $160 in cash seized during the arrest was forfeited to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, leaving a messy legal record attached to one of the NFLs most visible ownership figures. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Have Found A Receiver Worth Watching For Brock Purdy
The 49ers wide receiver room has spent plenty of time lately dealing with injuries, so it makes sense that any long-range draft projection tied to that group will get some attention. In a 2027 NFL mock draft from Sports Illustrateds Gilberto Manzano, San Francisco was linked to Nick Marsh, the Indiana wideout who already has a reputation as a physical, agile target with the kind of upside that can make evaluators stop and take notice.
Marshs path has also added to the intrigue, with the former Michigan State receiver transferring to Indiana and showing the sort of traits that could make him a real problem for defenses down the line. For a 49ers team always thinking about how to keep Brock Purdy supplied with reliable options, it is the kind of name worth filing away, even if the real draft decision is still far off. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Owner Jed York Now Faces A Serious NFL Question
Jed Yorks legal case in Ohio is now moving into a different kind of scrutiny, one that could matter well beyond the courtroom. The 49ers owner was arrested in East Palestine on suspicion of engaging in prostitution, then later pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors, disorderly conduct and possession of criminal tools, in a resolution that included a short jail sentence and a fine.
Now the attention shifts to the league office, where the NFL may review the matter under its Personal Conduct Policy. For San Francisco, the issue is awkward even if it stays separate from the day-to-day football operation, because it puts one of the leagues most visible ownership figures in a position where discipline remains a real possibility. [Read more 🡒]