We saw Brock Purdy throw six passes, but once Kyle Shanahan saw him scramble, that would be the end of the night for the San Francisco 49ers’ franchise quarterback. Still, there was plenty of action in the first half.
Deebo Samuel was the first punt returner up, but Jacob Cowing showed why he should be the starter come Week 1:
Cowing needed to atone for an earlier drop on a pass that
happened right in front of his head coach. Cowing could’ve caught a first down, but Mac Jones sailed a throw to him. Cowing had an eventful half.
It also was for De’Zhaun Stribling, who caught four passes for 46 yards, including a 21-yarder on third down. Stribling dropped a would-be touchdown after beating a Chargers defensive back on a double move. The pass from Jones was perfect, but Stribling couldn’t haul it in. Otherwise, he lined up at multiple spots and had a reception on four different routes. He was not the most impressive rookie.
That goes to Kaelon Black. He had eight carries for 33 yards with a long of nine. But one of those should’ve been a loss of four. Black fought his way back to the line of scrimmage, which helped set up Stribling’s third-down conversion. Black was decisive, and that paid off, leading to multiple positive gains.
Sticking with the rookie theme, Carver Willis started at left guard. That wasn’t a surprise. Austen Plesants was up next. That qualifies as a surprise. We didn’t see Robert Jones at all in the first half, as Connor Colby played every snap at right guard. That might say more about Colby and Jones than it does about Pleasants. Regardless, it still seems like Willis’s job to lose.
The 49ers had a commanding 20-3 lead at the half, thanks to some impressive blocking that sprung Sincere McCormick for a 37-yard gain. McCormick found the end zone on the same drive.
Adrian Martinez took over in the second half. Plesaants remained at left guard. Martinez threw a pick-six on the first play of the second half. Pleasants got blown up on first down, then missed a pressure, allowing a free rusher on the interception.
Pleasants ended up leaving with an injury midway through the third quarter. It did not look good, as it looked like his knee buckled. Willis replaced Pleasants. Another sign that it’s not a three-man race.
Ephesians Prysock made a nice pass breakup on third down.
Martinez ended up scrambling for a 9-yard touchdown run. After Nick Martin forced a fumble on a kickoff, Martinez found Jordan Watkins for a 17-yard touchdown. That was the third consecutive scoring drive for the 49ers, and just like that, the score was 41-9.
Rookie Jalen Stroman had a big hit on the ensuing kickoff.
Deep into the fourth quarter, the Chargers had rushed for three yards. The score was 41-9. The Chargers added a touchdown and a two-point conversion late to make it 41-17.
