Our final game in tonight’s preseason tripleheader is a matchup of Northern and Southern California between the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers. Will any of the starters play tonight? We break down the matchup, give out a best bet, and more.
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Los Angeles Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers (-7.5)
Blewis: Through the first two weeks of the preseason, overs are a combined 4-0 in Chargers and 49ers games.
After he lost the backup quarterback competition to Sam Darnold, we should see a lot of Trey Lance tonight. With the 49ers shopping him and having no luck so far in finding a potential trade partner, they might use this game to showcase his upside to the rest of the league.
The Chargers, on the other hand, have averaged 25.5 points per game so far this season, and that has come from exclusively playing their backups. L.A.’s play-calling has been aggressive as well, with 85 passing plays compared to 46 on the ground.
I’m going to ride the trend of these teams going over their total in the 2023 preseason.
Pick: Over 37.5 (-110) at FanDuel
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Justin Herbert has never taken a snap in a preseason game in his short NFL career, and it’s safe to assume that won’t change tonight. So expect to see a lot of Easton Stick once again and former TCU star Max Duggan under center tonight.
In last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, Stick played the entire game and was underwhelming through the air, going 21 of 41 for 233 yards and two interceptions, but ran for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
MORE: Win-Loss Predictions for Every NFL Team
First-round pick WR Quentin Johnston has been the most notable offensive player on the Chargers to get playing time this preseason. Through two games, he has six receptions for 47 yards and one TD.
Second-year running back Isaiah Spiller should continue to get playing time this week. This preseason, he has rushed for a combined 54 yards on 10 carries.
San Francisco 49ers Roster and Injury Report
Head coach Kyle Shanahan held his starters out of the first two games of the preseason but told reporters that won’t be the case for tonight’s finale.
“It’s all about having guys ready to play a real football game,” Shanahan said after Tuesday’s practice. “And there’s so much that goes into mentally being ready, physically being ready. You can’t have any hesitation in this game. When Week 1 starts, people see that, and you can lose games very fast, just being a little off.”
A few notable 49ers players returned to practice this week after dealing with injuries, though it’s unclear how much they will play tonight.
49ers expect LB Dre Greenlaw, DL Drake Jackson, DT Javon Kinlaw, TE George Kittle and RB Elijah Mitchell all to return this week to practice.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
After losing the competition for the backup quarterback spot behind Brock Purdy, we should continue to see Lance tonight. Although he hasn’t had much of an opportunity so far in his short NFL career, Lance has received the majority of the snaps under center in the preseason.
As Lance is falling out of the picture in San Francisco, will tonight’s game be an audition for other teams around the league in a potential trade?