Winners and Losers From 49ers vs. Chargers Preseason Disaster

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Winners and Losers From 49ers vs. Chargers Preseason Disaster

Chargers Defense — Tony Jefferson | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Brennan Isham · Los Angeles Chargers On SI

Fri, Aug 21, 2026 ·

5 min read

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The Los Angeles Chargers went up against the San Fransisco 49ers on Thursday night in the second preseason game of the year, and it was a rough one. The two teams crossed paths earlier in the week, participating in a joint practice. Providing both teams with useful information on all sides of the ball.

For the Chargers, it offered another chance to evaluate players before the roster begins to take shape.

The regular season is where the stakes begin to rise. However, with position battles still in full effect these types of matchups are crucial for players fighting to make the 53-man roster. From impressive performances to players who struggled to make an impact, here are the winners and losers of Thursday's contest.

Winner: Junior Colson

Junior Colson had a night worth talking about . The former Michigan Wolverine helped win a national championship before the Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. The young linebacker has had to fight through a difficult start to his NFL career, making tonight's performance an especially encouraging one.

Out of all the athletes on the field, I think Junior Colson genuinely surprised tons of people, making his mark when he truly needs it the most.

The biggest moment took place when Colson came away with an interception, giving the Chargers a much needed splash play from their defense. He also finished with multiple tackles, showing that he was consistently around the football throughout the night. For a young linebacker looking to establish himself, this was the type of performance that can build confidence and give the Chargers another reason to believe Colson can become a bigger part of their defense .

Loser: Devonte Ross

Chargers Receiver — Devonte Ross | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Devonte Ross has shown that he can make plays as a receive r, but tonight was a rough one for the rookie. The biggest problem was his mistake on special teams, where he muffed a punt and put the Chargers in a difficult situation. In a preseason game where every snap matters, especially for a player fighting to make the roster. That kind of mistake can be extremely costly. Ross has the receiving ability to make an impression, but the muffed punt might be too much to recover from.

That's what makes Ross one of the losers of the game. Even with a touchdown last week, the Chargers have a packed wide receiver room and Ross is competing for a limited number of roster spots. When the competition is that tight, a mistake on special teams can carry a lot more weight than a few decent catches. Ross has talent, but he has to prove he can be trusted in every phase of the game.

Winner: Devin Grant

Cornerback — Devin Grant | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In a crowded safety room, Devin Grant must show what he is really made of, if the wants to make final cuts.

With the game already slipping away, Grant stepped up and made one of the Chargers' biggest defensive plays of the night, intercepting Adrian Martinez in the fourth quarter. It was the kind of play that gets noticed when roster spots are on the line. Grant is fighting for his place on this Chargers defense, and moments like this can go a long way. The undrafted rookie out of Syracuse showed his instincts and ball skills when the opportunity came his way.

Loser: Running Backs

The running back play was nothing special, as almost every single guy in that room went under 10 yards the whole game. This does not mean to much in the long run, but you would like to see more even in the preseason.

Gregory Desrosiers had the most rushing yards, and they came at the end of the game. The young back has a large amount of promise . In the grand scheme of things, he is a high level practice squad player. He showed more than anyone else tonight, so props to him.

Next week versus the Rams, I would like to see more involvement from the running backs . A good performance against their neighbors, would be a testament that this showing was just a fluke.

Winners: Jerand Bradley

Chargers Offense — Jerand Bradley | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jerand Bradley was one of the few bright spots for the Chargers in yesterday's game against the 49ers. With Los Angeles struggling to consistently move the ball, Bradley gave the offense a much needed spark by coming up with a 28-yard touchdown reception from DJ Uiagalelei . It was one of the Chargers' biggest offensive plays of the night and showed Bradley's ability to make an impact when his opportunity came.

The result wasn't what the Chargers wanted, but Bradley gave the team something positive to take away from the game. In a game filled with negatives for Los Angeles, Bradley's performance gave him a strong case to be considered one of the winners of the night.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/chargers/onsi as Winners and Losers From 49ers vs. Chargers Preseason Disaster .

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