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The San Francisco 49ers delivered a decisive response to their disappointing joint practice performance earlier in the week, dominating the Los Angeles Chargers 41-17 in Thursday night’s preseason matchup at SoFi Stadium. The lopsided victory provided San Francisco with redemption and valuable insights heading into the regular season.
Both teams deployed their starting quarterbacks briefly, with 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy seeing significantly more action than Chargers counterpart Justin Herbert. Purdy completed four of six passes for 29 yards during his limited appearance, while Herbert played only the opening series. The defensive unit, which had struggled during Tuesday’s joint practice, showcased marked improvement with multiple three-and-outs and disruptive play throughout the first half.
Second-round receiver De’Zhaun Stribling emerged as a standout performer, catching four passes for 46 yards and establishing strong chemistry with Purdy before departing. Over two preseason contests, Stribling has accumulated 11 receptions on 13 targets for 108 yards. Meanwhile, fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing’s 83-yard punt return for a touchdown represented the 49ers’ first punt-return touchdown since 2011, potentially securing his roster position after missing the previous season with a hamstring injury.
San Francisco led 20-3 at halftime and maintained control throughout, demonstrating the explosive offensive execution and defensive aggression the team aims to replicate during the regular season. The commanding performance answered critical questions about the squad’s ability to bounce back from adversity.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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