The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 41-17 on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium during the 2026 preseason. The matchup marked the second consecutive meeting between the two teams in the same week, following a joint practice held at the Chargers facility on Tuesday, according to the San Francisco 49ers. Thursday’s contest represented the 52nd all-time preseason meeting between the franchises, with San Francisco extending its lead in the preseason series.
49ers Secure 41-17 Preseason Victory Over Chargers at SoFi Stadium
Quarterbacks Make 2026 Preseason Debuts
Quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones both saw their initial action of the 2026 preseason during the contest. Purdy started the game under center for San Francisco, playing one opening drive where he completed 4 of 6 pass attempts for 29 yards, including moving the chains twice on third down with a pair of seven-yard completions to wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling alongside a three-yard scramble.
Mac Jones took over for the remainder of the half, connecting with Stribling for a 21-yard gain on his opening drive and finding tight end Luke Farrell for a 13-yard pickup. Stribling finished the night as a primary target after also hauling in three catches for a combined 25 yards on Purdy’s opening drive, continuing an emergence that followed a strong showing in Tuesday’s joint practice.
Ground Game and Special Teams Highlight Performance
San Francisco leaned heavily on its rushing attack and special teams to build the commanding margin. Rookie running back Kaelon Black made his preseason debut after returning to practice earlier in the week, logging eight carries for 33 yards during the first quarter alone. Sincere McCormick contributed the longest run of the night by gaining 37 yards up the right sideline, eventually powering through for a seven-yard touchdown that gave the 49ers their first lead.
Special teams contributed major scoring plays when wide receiver Jacob Cowing returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. Cowing fielded the ball at the San Francisco 17-yard line, worked across the field, and broke free down the left sideline to push the lead to 17-3, helping secure a stellar grade for the special teams unit alongside two field goals made by Eddy Pineiro and a forced fumble by Nick Martin.
Defensive Stands and Roster Battles Take Shape
Defensively, the 49ers shut down the Chargers running game despite allowing a 42-yard scramble by Trey Lance on two carries. Midway through the second quarter, after a 37-yard run put Los Angeles inside the five-yard line, defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu came up with a crucial stop against running back Kimani Vidal for no gain to halt the scoring threat.
Other standout defensive efforts included Romello Height and Sam Okuayinonu making tackles in the backfield, while defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa repeatedly penetrated the backfield to cause disruption. At linebacker, Garrett Wallow played with zero hesitation against the run to record big solo tackles in the hole, rounding out a physical performance as both teams evaluate their rosters ahead of the regular season.
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