Kyle Shanahan got the response he wanted from his 49ers on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.
After a rough joint practice with the Chargers earlier in the week, San Francisco looked like a different team in the preseason game. The energy was sharper, the execution cleaner, and the 49ers stacked together a 21-point burst in the second half to put a strong finish on the night.
The tone was set early by the defense. Justin Herbert and the Chargers opened with the ball, but San Francisco’s starting unit closed down the edges and forced a three-and-out. When Los Angeles later handed things to former 49ers quarterback Trey Lance, the front stayed firm against the run and produced another quick stop.
There was even a special-teams wrinkle right away. Deebo Samuel Sr. surprised plenty of people by dropping back to handle the opening punt, and he fielded it cleanly on a fair catch. It was a clear sign Shanahan was testing field-position options.
The defense kept making timely plays as the game moved along. In the second quarter, Jack Jones broke up a pass in tight coverage in the red zone, and that forced Los Angeles to settle for a 21-yard Cameron Dicker field goal.
The night also featured a full quarterback rotation, with Brock Purdy starting, Mac Jones driving, and Martinez finishing.
But the loudest moment belonged to Jacob Cowing.
With less than three minutes left in the first half, Cowing took a JK Scott punt, found a seam behind excellent blocking, and sprinted 84 yards for a touchdown. It was the kind of special-teams swing play that can flip a preseason game in a hurry.
San Francisco’s special teams kept contributing after that. The 49ers later recovered a muffed Chargers punt in the second half, handing the offense a short field.
On the ground, Sincere McCormick made the most of the room in front of him. Running behind an offensive line that was opening big lanes, he ripped off a major gain in the second quarter and then finished off a strong red-zone drive with a short touchdown run.
At receiver, De’Zhaun Stribling continued to build his case for a larger regular-season role. His route running and body control stood out again, and he looks like a player who could make noise before long.
Jordan Watkins added the final punch to Martinez’s second-half run, catching a 17-yard touchdown after the recovered muffed punt.
Preseason football always comes with its share of sloppiness, and this one had the usual penalties and uneven snaps. But San Francisco showed what mattered most on Thursday: the ability to bounce back, handle adversity, and execute under the lights.
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 🡒]