49ers @ Chargers Preseason Live Blog
This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers Preseason Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from my living room.
2:15 As far as the quarterbacks are concerned, I'm curious to see if the 49ers will allow Jimmy Garoppolo to throw downfield and risk getting intercepted, because he has gotten intercepted in practice a lot recently. I think that's why the 49ers didn't let him throw downfield in the first preseason game. Now they might make him do more and defend his starting job.
I'm also curious to see if the 49ers will allow Trey Lance to scramble out of the pocket when there's pressure. Last week, it seemed like either the 49ers wanted him to show he could succeed in the pocket, or he wanted to show the 49ers. Either way, he'll be at his best when he throws from the perimeter. Will the 49ers allow him to be at his best?
2:20 As far as the defense goes, I'm curious to see who starts opposite Jason Verrett at cornerback. Emmanuel Moseley is out with a hamstring injury, and his replacement most likely will be one of the rookies -- Ambry Thomas or Deommodore Lenoir. Does either player look good enough to start? Or do the 49ers have a major problem at corner?
I'm also interested to see if the 49ers offensive line has improved from last week, when it got Lance sacked four times. There's no way it could get any worse, right?
4:02 The following 49ers will not play tonight: Azeez Al-Shaair, Aaron Banks, Nick Bosa, Shon Coleman, Dee Ford, Jalen Hurd, Jauan Jennings, Javon Kinlaw, George Kittle, Alex Mack, Elijah Mitchell, Emmanuel Moseley, Raheem Mostert, Trey Sermon, Jason Verrett, Jimmie Ward, Fred Warner, K’Waun Williams, Trent Williams and Tavon Wilson.
Here are the starters who will play: Jimmy Garoppolo, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Laken Tomlinson, Daniel Brunskill, Mike McGlinchey, Kyle Juszczyk, D.J. Jones, Arik Armstead and Dre Greenlaw.
4:14 Sermon is out with a minor ankle injury and Jennings is out with a minor heel injury, according to the team.
4:34 Jimmy Garoppolo will play the first series, Trey Lance will play the next two series, and then Garoppolo will come back into the game. I kid you not. John Lynch just said that on KPIX.
4:37 The Chargers will receive the opening kickoff.
4:44 On 2nd and 3 from the Chargers 44, Arik Armstead lets Easton Stick bootleg around him, but then Armstead chases him down from behind for the sack. Next play, 3rd and 5, Deommodore Lenoir breaks up a short curl over the middle while playing zone coverage. Nice play. James returns the punt 10 yards to the 49ers 16.
4:57 On 3rd and 12 from the Chargers 34, Jimmy Garoppolo sails a pass over the head of Brandon Aiyuk, who leaps and tips the ball to a Chargers defender who picks off the pass. Bad throw. That's what happens in training camp when the 49ers let him throw more than 10 yards downfield.
5:12 On 3rd and 13 from the Chargers 32, Easton Stick tries to scramble through the middle of the 49ers defensive line, and Samson Ebukam chases him down from behind for the sack. That's what he'll bring to the team.
5:13 Trey Lance's turn.
5:20. On 1st and 10 from the 43, he scrambles away from pressure and throws the ball away. On 3rd and 8, he throws pass that gets tipped at the line of scrimmage and flutters high and behind Deebo Samuel, who ran a dig route from right to left.
5:25 On 3rd and 11 from the 7, defensive end Jordan Willis sacks Stick in the end zone for a safety. The 49ers offense will get the ball next.
49ers 2, Chargers 0.
5:30 On 3rd and 4 from the 49ers 20, Lance throws the ball as hard as he can to Sanu, it sails high, and Sanu tips the ball to a Chargers defender who picks it off. Yikes. The 49ers have a quarterback problem.
5:36 On 1st and goal from the 3, Stick rolls right and throws a touchdown pass to Josh Palmer. Amazing how the Chargers can get Stick out of the pocket and the 49ers can't do that with Lance.
49ers 2, Chargers 7.
5:39 Lance is still in.
5:42 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 30, Lance scrambles to his right, but stops to throw instead of running, and gets sacked. He still hasn't ran once in preseason. Bizarre.
5:56 On 2nd and 2 from the 49ers 23, Zach Kerr hits Stick, who tries to throw the ball away and gets flagged for intentional grounding. Kerr is having a good game.
5:57 Michael Badgley makes a 50-yard field goal.
49ers 2, Chargers 10.
6:05 On 2nd and 2 from the Chargers 6, Lance throws a touchdown pass to Mohamed Sanu, who ran a slant.
6:05 The 49ers go for two, and Lance scrambles into the end zone, but it doesn't count because Jaylon Moore committed a holding penalty. So the 49ers kick the extra point instead. And Robbie Gould misses it. That's the second extra point he has missed in two preseason games.
49ers 8, Chargers 10.
THIRD QUARTER
6:26 On 1st and 10, Lance gets sacked. Richie James was open in the flat. On 2nd and 16, James drops a pass. And on 3rd and 16, Wayne Gallman for 11 yards. Then the 49ers punt.
6:31 On 3rd and 8 from the Chargers 22, Chase Daniel overthrows a receiver downfield, and then the Chargers punt.
6:42 On 3rd and 4 from the 16, Lance rips a touchdown throw to Travis Benjamin, who ran a slant route. Gorgeous throw. Terrific drive. Lance threw one pass that got knocked down and nearly intercepted, but the rest of his throws were on point. He's improving his pocket passing.
49ers 15, Chargers 10.
6:48 Alex Barrett tackles the Chargers running back for a 5-yard loss on 1st down, and then the Chargers go three and out.
6:53 Nate Sudfeld takes over and the 49ers go three and out. He threw a sweet 5-yard pass on 3rd and 8.
7:02 Jared Mayden intercepts Chase Daniel. Mayden was an undrafted free agent last year. He's a good player who should make the team.
7:05 Sudfeld fumbled the snap and the Chargers recovered. Josh Rosen wouldn't have done that.
8:07 The 49ers win 15-10. Click here to check out the grades for Garoppolo and Lance.
