49ers get redemption, answers in preseason win…
The San Francisco 49ers have been left humbled by Tuesday’s joint follow with the Los Angeles Chargers. Brock Purdy ran into a buzzsaw on one area, while Justin Herbert ran roughshod on the other.
It was a different story when the groups met Thursday night time at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. in the first preseason motion for either beginning quarterback and the most prolonged run yet for a few 49ers first-stringers.
Both QBs performed just one sequence, and their snap counts (Purdy: 12, Herbert: three) told the story just as a lot as the scoreboard (49ers 41, Chargers 17).
Justin Herbert throws the ball against defensive end Romello Height (94) during the first half of the 49ers’ 41-17 preseason win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Aug. 20, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
If there have been three main characters:
1) Raheem Morris’ protection, which confirmed off a wider array of seems and was more disruptive than it was on Tuesday.
2) De’Zhaun Stribling, who has performed himself into the beginning lineup in Melbourne.
And 3) Jacob Cowing, who raced 83 yards through defenders and into the end zone for a punt return landing.
The punt-return gig is one of the few undecided jobs in camp, and the sphere was shaken up a bit when Deebo Samuel went back deep on the first two punts from JK Scott.
Samuel, making his preseason debut, caught one cross on two targets for 4 yards. He’s been listed as the top kick returner on the depth chart since he signed his contract. But he’s never returned a punt in his NFL profession.
He still hasn’t. He signaled for a honest catch twice, letting the first boot go by him and cleanly fielding the second at the 12-yard line, despite having some room to run.
Jacob Cowing runs toward the end zone to rating on a punt return during the first half of the 49ers-Chargers preseason recreation. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Cowing, who had been locked in a two-man competitors with Jordan Watkins, didn’t let his alternative cross him by. A fourth-round decide in 2024, the speedy receiver missed all of last season after injuring his hamstring in the preseason.
With one electric return, Cowing have just locked up a roster spot. The 49ers haven’t had a punt returner take one to the home since Ted Ginn Jr. all the best way back in 2011.
The punt return staff received in loads of follow thanks to the protection’s redemption arc.
Sam Okuayinonu and Jaden Dugger teamed up to carry down Omarion Hampton in the backfield on the Chargers’ first play from scrimmage, and Los Angeles went on to its first of 4 three-and-outs of the first half.
De’Zhaun Stribling catches a cross against defensive back Tony Jefferson during the first half of the 49ers-Chargers preseason recreation. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Renardo Green made his first of two open-field tackles on second down, and Deommodore Lenoir broke up Herbert’s third-down cross supposed for Ladd McConkey.
Third downs have been no issue for the 49ers’ beginning offense, at least as long as it included Stribling. The second-round rookie with sticky arms hauled in two first downs among his 4 catches for 46 yards on 5 targets before hitting the showers.
Through two preseason video games, Stribling has hauled in 11 of 13 potential targets for 108 yards.
He has impressed at every flip in his first training camp and in his second preseason recreation checked off an important box: in-game rapport with the beginning quarterback.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan walks on the sideline during the first half of the 49ers-Chargers preseason recreation. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Purdy accomplished 4 of six passes for 29 yards — 3-for-3 for 25 yards when focusing on Stribling.
Trey Lance didn’t depart the 49ers second guessing themselves for transferring on from the previous No. 3 general decide. He took over for Herbert after the opening sequence and went 10-of-16 for 73 yards. He also helped the 49ers protection keep away from a couple lowlights, overshooting a deep ball to an open receiver and lacking a blown coverage that left his working back open in the flat.
The other open competitors to camp is at left guard. Rookie Carver Willis began there alongside the first-string offensive line, with Connor Colby at proper guard. Austen Pleasants received a look there too before leaving with a knee injury.
Shanahan said afterward that Pleasants’ knee injury wasn’t an ACL. Fellow guard Robert Jones was ruled out of next week’s preseason finale with an undisclosed injury. And the 49ers misplaced two gamers to hamstrings: Green and linebacker Nick Martin.
Left sort out Trent Williams, linebacker Fred Warner and receiver Mike Evans have been among the healthy 49ers who didn’t go well with up.
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