49ers News: Game Day As The 49ers Take On The Los Angeles Chargers

Five 49ers players to watch in team’s preseason Week 2 game vs. Chargers
“San Francisco struggled Tuesday with its pass defense against Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and his receivers. Green and the rest of the players in the secondary probably feel as if they have something to prove on Thursday night as they aim to force Herbert into tighter-window throws…Brown has put together a solid training camp. But he was at the center of the most-talked-about play during Tuesday’s practice when Chargers second-year running back Omarion Hampton plowed him over 6 yards down the field on a running play.”

Top five things to watch in 49ers’ preseason matchup against the Chargers (paywall)
“Thompson had a deep TD catch from Herbert after getting behind safety Ji’Ayir Brown and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, whose body language suggested Brown blew his assignment. It was unlike anything the secondary experienced in last week’s dominant joint practice against the Titans.

That performance was part of what had been an impressive summer. The cornerbacks have flourished in training camp practices while hailing new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ aggressive coverages.

However, Tuesday’s run-in was a showcase for Herbert and new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, formerly a longtime assistant under Shanahan who joined L.A. after a four-year run as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

49ers’ Vita Vea trade hopes dashed after Buccaneers agree to $30 million extension
“The hopes of some San Francisco 49ers fans were dashed Wednesday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a one-year, $30 million contract extension with defensive tackle Vita Vea, ending speculation that the veteran star could be traded.”

Former 49ers draft pick has a new home in the AFC
“But the team waiving Bergen last week shows you how wide receiver is a lot more about catching passes — likely when you’re schemed open — and more about the down-to-down duties, like blocking, lining up correctly, running your route at the correct depth, etc.

The fact that the Niners were willing to not only lose their 7th-rounder from the 2025 draft class to the waiver wire but move on from him ahead of their first preseason game when they knew they weren’t playing their starting wideouts tells us everything we need to know about how the team felt about Bergen.”