The San Francisco 49ers didn’t simply win their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers; they delivered a 41-17 beatdown at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. This wasn’t a fluke. They straight up dominated in all three phases of the game, leaving Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh undoubtedly fuming all night. Meanwhile, Kyle Shanahan’s probably got a grin from ear to ear, even with that “little left guard issue” involving Austen Pleasants still needing some work.
Jones Is Making a Statement in the Secondary
We gotta talk about cornerback Jack Jones. This dude’s in an interesting spot right now, with a bunch of scenarios on the table that could land him significant playing time when the regular season kicks off. And after his performance on Thursday night? He definitely added a few more of those scenarios to the mix. Jones logged a pair of timely pass breakups that changed drives.
Remember that third-and-goal against Jim Harbaugh’s offense? Trey Lance tried to hit KeAndre Lambert-Smith on a fade route, but Jones was perfectly positioned to prevent the score, forcing the Chargers to settle for a field goal. He even got away with a little contact there, a sneaky smart play! Then on the very next drive, facing a second down, Lance went for Devonte Ross. Jones read that play like a book, ran the route for Ross, and nearly snagged an interception before having to settle for another PBU. Just two plays later, the Chargers turned the ball over on downs, giving the ball back to the 49ers offense near midfield. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has to be pumped. He’s got some serious options for a versatile secondary, and Jones is clearly putting in the work to be a big part of those plans.
Stribling Is Purdy’s Go-To Guy Already
Moving to the offensive side, wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling was a standout for the 49ers offense for the second week in a row. Sure, his numbers against the Chargers weren’t as flashy as last week against Tennessee, only catching four passes on five targets for 46 yards. But forget the box score for a second, because this guy passes the eye test with flying colors. The real story here, the one you gotta read between the lines on, is his instant rapport with Brock Purdy.
Now, yeah, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Mike Evans weren’t out there. But even with Deebo Samuel, who usually gets a ton of looks from Purdy, Stribling was Purdy’s preferred target on his lone drive. Out of Purdy’s six attempts on Thursday, three went to Stribling, and he caught every single one of them. Two of those were crucial third-down conversions! That’s not just a casual connection; that’s a quarterback trusting his guy in big moments. Stribling is making a huge case for himself to be a key piece of that 49ers passing game.
This wasn’t simply a preseason win; it was a showcase for players looking to carve out major roles. Jones showed he’s ready to lock down receivers and be a playmaker in a deep secondary. Stribling, meanwhile, proved he’s already developed serious chemistry with Purdy, a connection that could pay off big time in the regular season. These early performances are exactly what coaches look for, and both guys are stepping up when it counts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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