NFL coaches typically play some of their starters in Week 2 of the preseason. Such was the case for the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers exhibition at SoFi Stadium.
Justin Herbert and many of the Chargers starters played a series. Meanwhile, the 49ers trotted out Brock Purdy and some of their starters in what was a Bay vs. LA preseason tilt.
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Based on reports on the ground, the Chargers got the better of San Francisco when the two teams met for a joint practice on Tuesday. Thursday was a complete role reversal.
San Francisco outplayed the Chargers in all three phases in a dominant 41-17 preseason win.
Led by De’Zhaun Stribling’s four first-half catches and Jacob Cowing‘s punt return touchdown, the 49ers got out to a comfortable 20-3 halftime lead and never looked back.
USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon examines the winners and losers from Thursday night’s preseason game:
Winners
Rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling continues to shine
The 49ers have a promising wide receiver in Stribling. The 2026 second-round pick out of Ole Miss continued his superb summer. He had a decided advantage against Los Angeles‘ secondary in man coverage. Stribling produced four catches for 46 yards. He was a go-to target for both Purdy and Mac Jones.
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Stribling did drop a ball that might’ve resulted in a touchdown late in the first quarter. Otherwise, it was an impressive showing from the rookie.
Stribling had a team-best seven catches for 63 yards in San Francisco’s preseason opener.
49ers’ Jacob Cowing has house call
Cowing retrieved a punt and raced down the field 83 yards for a touchdown to extend San Francisco’s lead to 17-3 late in the second quarter.
Cowing beat multiple Los Angeles special teamers as he showed off his speed and scampered down the sideline. It was the type of punt return that could win him San Francisco’s punt returner job.
49ers’ run defense
San Francisco’s defensive line created a steady push in the run game. Chargers running backs couldn’t find any running lanes with defenders often meeting them in the backfield. Defensive linemen Sam Okuayinonu and Romello Height each had a tackle for loss in the first half.
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Chargers running backs Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal combined for eight carries for 4 yards in the first half. They didn’t have much room to operate because of the 49ers’ defensive front.
Chargers LB Junior Colson reaches paydirt
Chargers edge rusher Nadame Tucker pressured 49ers backup QB Adrian Martinez up the middle and forced Martinez into an errant throw that was corralled by Colson.
Colson caught the football and had an easy 16-yard walk-in touchdown. Colson’s touchdown was one of the few bright spots for the Chargers in the loss.
The 2024 third-round pick out of Michigan is fighting for a spot in the Chargers’ inside linebacker rotation.
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Undrafted rookie safety Devin Grant also had an interception late in garbage time.
Rematch set … with more at stake
The 49ers and Chargers will be well acquainted with each other this year. In addition to Tuesday’s joint practice and Thursday’s preseason game, the Chargers will host San Francisco for “Thursday Night Football” in Week 15.
Jim Harbaugh, who coached the 49ers from 2011-2014, has never faced his former team during the regular season.
George Kittle ahead of schedule
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said on Tuesday he thinks Kittle will start practicing “sooner than later.” Shanahan’s update on the 49ers tight end was followed by another encouraging report.
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Kittle visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who repaired Kittle’s Achilles in January. The visit was reportedly encouraging, and Kittle is on track to play Week 1 versus the Los Angeles Rams.
Kittle ruptured his Achilles during San Francisco’s wild-card playoff win versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11, 2026.
Losers
Chargers’ first-team offense
Herbert and much of the Chargers’ first-team offense went three-and-out in their first series. The 49ers blew up a run play for a tackle for loss on first down. Herbert completed a 9-yard pass to tight end Charlie Kolar on second-and-11, but was unable to connect with a tightly covered Ladd McConkey on third-and-2, which forced a punt on fourth down.
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Trey Lance and the Chargers’ second-team offense wasn’t much better. Multiple penalties negated big plays. The best play from Los Angeles was a 37-yard scramble by Lance.
The Chargers went 1-for-8 on third down and had just three first downs in the first half. The offense finished 2-14 on third down in the game.
The Chargers’ entire offense was terrible.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel won’t be satisfied with what the Chargers put on film on Thursday.
Cameron Dicker shanks another extra point
Sure it’s the preseason, but the Chargers kicker has missed an extra point in consecutive weeks. Dicker missed one extra point all of last season.
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Chargers’ backup QB situation
The Chargers have to do whatever they can to keep Herbert upright because neither Lance or DJ Uiagalelei have proven they can lead the team’s offense if Herbert is sidelined. Lance and Uiagalelei had multiple inaccurate passes. The Chargers struggled to sustain drives throughout the loss.
On the other sideline, Jones has shown he’s a quality backup. Even Martinez had a couple nice moments under center.
Chargers’ special teams unit
As bad as the offense was, the Chargers’ special teams was worse. The unit gave up an 83-yard punt return touchdown, Dicker missed an extra point and Devonte Ross fumbled a kickoff return.
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Final roster spots are often decided by special teams play. Ross and many Chargers players didn’t do themselves any favors.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners and losers from 49ers vs. Chargers: De’Zhaun Stribling breakout star of preseason
