Deommodore Lenoir got absolutely mossed for a touchdown on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. This wasn’t some fluke; it was a glaring lowlight in what looked like a brutal day for the San Francisco 49ers’ secondary during their joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers. If that’s a preview of things to come, then yikes.
Chargers QBs Were Absolutely Shredding the Secondary
The chatter coming out of that joint practice was all about the 49ers’ defensive backs getting carved up. Jennifer Lee Chan reported that the 49ers DBs were “getting toasted left and right,” with Chargers quarterbacks “finding the soft spots in the coverage for huge plays.” You never want to hear that, especially when you’re facing a guy like Justin Herbert. Vic Tafur backed that up, saying Herbert and his receivers were “putting on a show” against the 49ers’ defense. Tafur even called it a “Big step up in competition” compared to their earlier practice against Cam Ward and the Titans. This wasn’t a one-off error; it sounds like a systemic issue with multiple breakdowns. We saw Ji’Ayir Brown being late to react to a deep post route when he only had one vertical threat. That’s a huge miscue. Rookie wide receiver Brennan Thompson, who reportedly clocked a blistering 4.26 40-yard dash, was involved in what was just described as a “mess” play that ended in a touchdown. That kind of speed can kill you, but the coverage needs to be tighter than that.
Individual Breakdowns and Some Much-Needed Bright Spots
Beyond the collective struggle, some individual defensive backs really had it rough. Lenoir, for example, didn’t just get mossed for a touchdown; he also allowed an easy reception for a first down earlier in the practice. You simply can’t let guys get open that easily. And it wasn’t just the DBs getting outmaneuvered. On one play, Jaden Dugger got blocked to the ground. His job was to prevent the running back from getting outside, but that didn’t happen. Thankfully, Dre Greenlaw scraped through the trash and made a tackle near the line of scrimmage, but the initial breakdown was there. Now, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins made a tackle for loss, which is always good to see. And a couple of guys really stood out. Osa Odighizuwa had himself a day, with Vic Tafur estimating “half dozen sacks if they were allowing those kinds of things.” He was so dominant that on one long touchdown play, Tafur noted Odighizuwa “would’ve annihilated Justin Herbert,” meaning that score would never have happened in a real game. Romello Height also picked up a sack on another play where a touchdown ended up happening. So, some plays that looked bad on tape would’ve been shut down by the pass rush in a real game setting, but that doesn’t excuse the secondary’s struggles.
Cleaning Up the Mess
It’s clear the 49ers’ secondary has some serious work ahead of them after that joint practice. While the pass rush showed flashes of brilliance with Odighizuwa and Height, the defensive backs looked vulnerable. They’ve got to hit the film room hard and tighten up that coverage, especially with guys like Lenoir and Brown getting picked on. This kind of early performance is a huge red flag that coaches need to address immediately. They simply cannot afford these kinds of breakdowns when the games actually count. This is the kind of tape that coaches lose sleep over, and they need to find answers fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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