The Chargers close out their preseason with a loss as the San Francisco 49ers cash in multiple late-game turnovers for a 30-23 win. In the final game, the score didn’t matter so much as those looking to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Some helped their case.
Winners
OLB Caleb Murphy
Throughout the course of training camp and preseason, the third-year outside linebacker has shined in comparison to those he’s competing with. Against the 49ers, Murphy snared the lone forced fumble for the Chargers by
Wax and looked good in his reps.
OLB Marlowe Wax
Though Wax is likely on the outside looking in, what the undrafted rookie out of Syracuse did in his final game was nothing short of respectable. Wax finished with a game-high six tackles, two quarterback hits, a pass deflection and forced fumble. His closing argument for a roster spot: back-to-back denials against Isaac Guerendo before forcing a fumble on his sack of Carter Bradley. If he does not make the roster, I imagine Wax will be on a practice squad in Los Angeles or elsewhere.
CB Nikko Reed
Another undrafted rookie who may not be on the roster come Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, but he’s an NFL-caliber cornerback. Once more, he delivered excellent coverage and tallied an all-too-familiar pass breakup. He also corralled fumble to notch yet another takeaway this preseason.
TE Oronde Gadsden II
There wasn’t much chance Gadsden was missing this roster. His addition here is more due to getting his confidence up as he enters the regular season. The rookie finding the end zone on a 25-yard pass from D.J. Uiagalelei and a sharp route that was near the boundary is an excellent start.
Losers
WR Luke Grimm
Losing one fumble is a painful way to end a preseason. Sadly, Grimm doubled the experience, losing two against the 49ers. Though he did score a touchdown with a minute left in the game to put them within seven, the fumbles loom too large.
QB D.J. Uiagalelei
If not for the terrible pick-six thrown directly to a 49ers defender, his stat line would be respectable. But, it’s there and it was an egregious one. Uiagalelei finished going 16-of-31 for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
Fumbling the football does not help a player secure the roster. Miller-Hines was hit perfectly to dislodge the football, but it can’t happen. Furthermore, Miller-Hines finished with 21 yards on nine carries. One of which was for 10 yards, meaning he gained an average of 1.38 yards per carry on the other eight.
