Aug. 21, 2026, 4:04 a.m. PT
The San Francisco 49ers earned a resounding 41-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday in Week 2 of the NFL preseason. A win on the preseason scoreboard is nice, but there were some bigger picture things we learned Thursday night as we creep inside of three weeks until their regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Here are seven things that stood out in the 49ers’ blowout victory:
1.
De’Zhaun Stribling picked up where he left off It was another very impressive performance from the rookie No. 33 overall pick. After posting seven catches for 63 yards in the preseason opener, he lit it up again Thursday with four catches for 46 yards on five targets. He was a drop away from having five catches and over 80 yards with a touchdown. Despite the drop it’s still 109 yards and 11 receptions for Stribling in a little over two quarters of preseason action. That bodes well for his chances to produce in 2026.
2. Kaelon Black’s most impressive skill We got our first glimpse of Black in game action after the rookie third-round pick dealt with an adductor injury that cost him a large chunk of camp and the first preseason game. He had good burst as a runner and put up 33 yards on eight carries with a long run of nine yards.
The most impressive part of his game, however, was what he did as a pass blocker. He was dynamite in that facet and showed a willingness to stick his nose in and do the dirty work to keep the quarterback upright. That kind of stuff will get him on the field. 3. Jacob Cowing staked his claim to a roster spot Perhaps the 49ers are all the way out on their 2024 fourth-round pick. If they weren’t, though, it’ll be hard to keep him off the roster after his 83-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the first half. The 49ers are looking for consistency at the punt return spot.
He’s their most experienced player there and he showed burst a couple of times. He had a 36-yard return called back for a pre-kick penalty earlier in the contest. His touchdown came after the Chargers next drive.
Cowing didn’t add much on offense, but that won’t matter if he has juice as a return man. 4.
Brock Purdy is ready to go The 49ers saw what they needed to see from Purdy in one series. He went four-for-six for 29 yards and completed consecutive third-down throws to keep the chains moving.
It wasn’t perfect for Purdy, but he looked once again to be in full command of the offense even without George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey on the field. 5.
49ers roster conundrum at RB The 49ers may or may not keep four halfbacks. We can pencil Christian McCaffrey, Black and Jordan James in. After that things get a little murky. The 49ers backups Thursday night all made cases to stick around on the roster, but Sincere McCormick might’ve made the best case with 53 rushing yards and a touchdown.
His 37-yard run set up the 49ers’ first TD. Special teams will be key if the 49ers elect to keep a fourth RB. Their decision to do so may depend on numbers at other positions and the ability to get a reserve to the practice squad.
6. Adrian Martinez’s impressive showing It wasn’t a particularly good night for Martinez overall who threw a couple of bad interceptions. It was what happened after he threw a pick six. The next drive he drove the 49ers 74 yards on 14 plays for a touchdown. On the possession after that he went seven plays and 30 yards, capping it with a nine-yard touchdown run. On the next possession he ripped a nice throw in to Jordan Watkins for a touchdown.
He helped account for three scores after giving up the first touchdown of the game for the Chargers with his interception, and that was a fun stretch of game for Martinez who’s trying to make a case to stay on the 49ers’ practice squad. 7. Left guard is still a mess Carver Willis got the start, but Austen Pleasants was next up which can’t bode well for Connor Colby or Robert Jones. Pleasants went down with an injury in the third quarter which opened the door for the rookie Willis to re-enter the fray. He was eventually replaced by Connor Colby (also in the LG competition) late. We’re two preseason games in and no closer to knowing who’ll start Week 1 at left guard for the 49ers.
More 49ers: Struggling 49ers WR may have earned a roster spot with this highlight play
