The preseason schedule wrapped up Saturday for the San Francisco 49ers with a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The end to this year’s preseason slate is a welcome reprieve for a 49ers club that’s badly trying to get to the regular season with enough healthy players to be effective once the games count. Their key starters have only played sparingly and they didn’t play at all in the finale.
San Francisco still managed to grab a win to move their preseason record to 2-1.
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Tight end Jake Tonges on the makeshift hands team snagged the onside kick to give the 49ers a second preseason win.
The 49ers’ TD didn’t completely deflate the Chargers. QB DJ Uiagalelei drilled a 15-yard throw in to Luke Grimm with 1:01 left in the game. It cut San Francisco’s lead to 30-23.
Owens, the son of 49ers legend Terrell Owens, grabbed his first ever catch in the second preseason game. He followed that up with his first touchdown catch to put the nail in the Chargers coffin Saturday night. QB Carter Bradley threw a perfect pass on a play-action bootleg. All Owens had to do was haul it in for an easy score.
The 49ers made a massive special teams play late in the fourth quarter. LA’s punt returner had Thomas Morstead’s punt bounce off his facemask and onto the turf where 49ers linebacker Chazz Surratt dove on the loose ball for the team’s second special teams takeaway.
What a moment for linebacker Curtis Robinson. He missed all of last season and the first preseason game with a torn ACL and he returned for the second preseason game this season. In the preseason finale, Robinson dropped into a zone and perfectly read Chargers QB DJ Uiagalelei who threw a pass directly into the linebacker’s chest. Then Robinson turned on the jets for a go-ahead touchdown to put the 49ers up 23-16.
Tanner Mordecai came out of a QB sneak attempt limping badly. He stayed in the game for fourth-and-1 and struggled to even get to the running back for a handoff. Mordecai entered early because starting QB Carter Bradley suffered some sort of injury in the first series. He returned sporadically during the game, but he may have to finish the game if Mordecai isn’t able to move and protect himself.
It was difficult to see exactly what happened to Prince before he was on the ground holding his left knee. The 49ers ran his way, and the right tackle was moving into the second level when he got rolled up on by a pile of bodies. He sat upright holding his left knee and appeared to be in severe discomfort. Prince did walk off under his own power. A replay showed he may have hyperextended his left knee, which was not the leg that got rolled up on. That’s good news for him.
San Francisco’s defense did well to bail out rookie WR Junior Bergen. His fumble on a punt gave Los Angeles tremendous field position, but the 49ers limited the Chargers to only three points to tie the game at 16-16.
Ouch. The 49ers’ rookie punt returner had an outside chance to make the roster thanks to injuries ahead of him on the depth chart. His dropped punt in the fourth quarter gave the Chargers the ball at San Francisco’s 10. He was going to need to be perfect and a muffed punt is not that.
Moody made an extra point, but then gave the Chargers good field position on the ensuing kickoff after his kick sailed out of bounds. He really needed to drill his 38-yard field goal try and he did to help keep his night from being a complete disaster. Moody’s first made field goal of the game put San Francisco ahead 16-13.
Two preseason games, two touchdowns for Wilson. He plowed in from five yards out and made a nice cut in the process to find the end zone. Wilson put together a really nice series, he’s up to 38 rushing yards on eight carries. Moody hit the extra point to a raucous cheer from the Levi’s Stadium crowd.
Martin had a tough first preseason game, but he was better in Week 2 and he helped create a turnover Saturday vs. the Chargers. On a run play, the 49ers stacked the line and Martin flew in to put his helmet on the ball and the running back put it on the ground. Defensive tackle Evan Anderson did well to secure the loose ball and give the 49ers the ball at their own 48 after their abysmal start to the half.
It was an ugly start to the second half for the 49ers. They committed three penalties on the first three plays of the third quarter and wound up in a first-and-23 for quarterback Tanner Mordecai. They went three-and-out and punted.
The 49ers took a 6-0 lead on a Tanner Mordecai touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson. It was all Chargers after that with the visitors posting the final 13 points of the half on a touchdown and two field goals. No major injuries in the first two quarters is a win for the 49ers.
Ji’Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle are vying for starting jobs in San Francisco’s secondary, and they both got beat for a score on Uiagalelei’s first throw of the game. The undrafted rookie rolled right and threw a dime to put his team ahead by four. LA got great field position after Bradley was hit while throwing and fumbled. Chargers 10, 49ers 6.
After injury scares, Bradley and Guerendo returned after the Chargers got on the board with a field goal to make it a 6-3 49ers lead. Bradley missed a couple of series with what appeared to be a lower body issue. Guerendo left after covering a punt and was favoring his right shoulder. He figures to be the No. 2 or 3 RB in San Francisco’s backfield, so they’ll be happy to see him back in action.
Whew. Tanner Mordecai threw a dime to Robinson to capitalize on the Chargers giveaway. Robinson could be a key player for San Francisco’s offense this season once he returns from his three-game suspension. Jake Moody missed the extra point. 49ers 6, Chargers 0
The first quarter between the 49ers and Chargers featured nothing but punts until a Chargers punt returner muffed a punt and 49ers tight end Brayden Willis fell on the loose ball for a turnover in Chargers territory. Running back Isaac Guerendo was covering the punt and appeared to be favoring his previously-injured right shoulder on his way off the field.
The expectation according to the 49ers’ broadcast was that Bradley would play the first half. He left after only three series with an apparent lower body injury. He started limping after the first drive and continued to do so into his next couple series. Tanner Mordecai has stepped in.
The 49ers defense forced a three-and-out on the Chargers’ first drive and Moore returned the ensuing punt. He’s struggled in that area as a pro and his first return with San Francisco only went for a couple yards. Moore also got a target on third down, but he was well covered and the pass was broken up.
No surprise, but count Bosa among the starters not suiting up. He’ll go the entire preseason without playing a snap. His primary focus is Week 1.
It appeared to be trending this way, but the Athletic’s Matt Barrows confirmed before kickoff that the trio of Purdy, Kittle and Pearsall will be among the starters not suiting up for San Francisco.
Expect plenty of action from Moore in his new No. 6 jersey as the 49ers get him acclimated to their offense.
What time does 49ers vs. Chargers start?  Date: Saturday, August 23Time: 5:30 p.m. PT  Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.What TV channel is 49ers vs. Chargers on today?  49ers vs. Chargers predictionsJim Harbaugh is the type of person who is going to make sure Trey Lance throws for 280 yards and four touchdowns in a blowout win because he wants to embarrass Jed York and the 49ers. Chargers 38, 49ers 1049ers injury updates
It doesn’t look like any of the rookies who have been hurt for the entire preseason are playing. That includes first-round defensive end Mykel Williams (knee), third-round cornerback Upton Stout (calf) and fifth-round running back Jordan James (finger).
49ers preseason schedule 2025
Here is San Francisco’s preseason schedule and results.
Game 1: Broncos 30, 49ers 9Game 2: 49ers 22, Raiders 19Game 3: Chargers at 49ers (Aug. 23, 5:30pm PT)
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