Preseason Finale: Chargers backups roll past 49ers
San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Sam Darnold (14) left, runs pass Chargers defender during the second quarter of Friday’s exhibition finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle
2023.08.25 – 49ers QB1 Brock Purdy ran for a 5-yard touchdown during a brief first quarter tune-up before the Los Angeles Chargers backups rolled past San Francisco 23-12 in the preseason finale on Friday night.
The teams took different approaches in the final preseason game with San Francisco (1-2) playing Purdy and several other starters for two drives, while the Chargers (2-1) used almost exclusively second and third-string players.
“We’re ready to get this thing rolling,” Purdy said.
The game took place only a few hours after the Niners traded former quarterback of the future Trey Lance to Dallas for a fourth-round draft pick.
Lance became expendable less than three years after San Francisco traded three first-round picks to draft him third overall because of the emergence of Purdy.
2023.08.25 (SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers) Game Highlights
49ers QB1 Brock Purdy ran for a 5-yard touchdown during a brief first quarter tune-up during the first quarter of Friday’s exhibition finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle
2023.08.25 (SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers) Game Highlights
“Obviously we took our shot, and it didn’t work,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That’s on us for that. I’m not going to say anything was a failure. That’d be too much of a negative towards Trey. I get our deal. We took a shot to go for that. We were hoping that he could be our guy, and that didn’t work out. I understand that from our standpoint, but I still do believe in Trey.”
Purdy won the job after Lance got hurt last season and appears ready to build on a strong rookie campaign. He moved the offense easily on his two drives with the first ending when Jordan Mason lost a fumble at the goal line and the second ending with his TD run. Purdy went 5 for 9 for 73 yards.
Sam Darnold, who beat out Lance for the backup job, struggled to get the Niners offense moving in his first three drives but ended the night by throwing a 6-yard TD pass to Willie Snead.
Brandon Allen, who is now in line to be the third-stringer if San Francisco keeps three quarterbacks, threw an interception on his first pass of the game.
The Chargers have been searching for options at running back behind starter Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley made a good case for it with a 75-yard run touchdown in the first quarter.
Backup quarterback Easton Stick also led a field-goal drive in the first half. Stick finished 9 for 11 for 38 yards.
2023.08.25 – SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers (Larry Krueger – Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brandon Allen looks downfield in the third quarter of Friday’s exhibition finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. He completed 2 of 6 passes in his team’s 23-12 loss. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle
2023.08.25 – SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers (Larry Krueger – Post Game)
2023.08.25 – SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers (Larry Krueger – Post Game)
Third-string QB Max Duggan threw a 3-yard pass to Hunter Kampmoyer.
“To win a game on the road against a quality team, a team that started their starters in the game was a huge confidence boost for our guys,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said.
Trey Lance trade: Lynch explains why 49ers gave up on QB
The 49ers on Friday gave up on quarterback Trey Lance without him ever getting much of an opportunity.
The 49ers burned three first-round selections over three years and a third-round pick to trade in order to select him.
Lance, 23, still has two years remaining on his contract.
In other words, there is still plenty of time for Lance to pay dividends. After all, the quarterback who opened last season at No. 3 on the depth chart – Purdy – is now the unquestioned starter.
So why give up on Lance now?
“It’s a fair question and it’s something we talked a lot about internally,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said Friday night, hours after the club traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round draft pick.
2023.08.25 – SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers (Lombardi – Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) following the NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. The 49ers won 21-20. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2023.08.25 – SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers (Lombardi – Post Game)
2023.08.25 – SF 49ers vs. LA Chargers (Lombardi – Post Game)
Brock Purdy is the starter. Sam Darnold beat out Lance as the backup. Lance sought a fresh start, and the sides collaborated on finding him a new home.
Those two players will get virtually all of the practice snaps during the season, so there might not have been much opportunity for Lance to improve, Lynch said.
“He needs to play to get better,” Lynch said. “And I think that’s going to be his opportunity. Play, I mean, ideally games. But play is running scout team, play is doing all those things. We weren’t going to have that.”
Lynch said the 49ers received multiple offers for Lance. When the conversations started on Wednesday, teams were willing to only send the 49ers late-round picks.
The Cowboys’ offer of a fourth-round selection was the best the 49ers could get, Lynch said.
“It’s not what it looked like when we first started having conversations,” Lynch said. “It wasn’t anywhere close. So it did advance in a hurry (Friday).
“I’m not doing cartwheels over it because my preference would’ve been that it worked out, and it didn’t.”
The 49ers realize no savings on the salary cap this year. In fact, it costs them. Lance’s $940,000 salary is wiped from the books, but his spot will be taken by quarterback Brandon Allen, whose cap figure is $1,092,500.
Next year, the 49ers’ cap savings will be Lance’s scheduled $5.31 million guaranteed salary minus the cost of the quarterback added to the roster.
“Trey’s on the minimum this year,” Lynch said. “Next year, it kicks up quite a bit. And that kind of coincides with when our stuff’s going to get tight. So, of course, that plays a factor.”
Lance was devastated to learn Darnold beat him out for the No. 2 spot, according to both Lynch and Shanahan. Both men said Lance expressed his desire for a fresh start and a better opportunity elsewhere.
Just 2 1/2 years after the 49ers made a huge investment in Lance, the Cowboys acquired him for, comparatively, a minimal commitment.
“Like Trey, typical Trey, he apologized to us and there was nothing for him to apologize for,” Lynch said.
“And we’re happy that he’s got a spot. The Cowboys came up big and I think that’s an indication that they’re excited to have him and we’re excited for Trey’s new opportunity. And we’ll always be big fans.”
INJURY REPORT
Chargers: DL Christian Okoye injured his elbow in the second half but returned to the game.
49ers: Third-round rookie K Jake Moody didn’t play after straining his right quadriceps in practice this week. He is day to day. Zane Gonzalez was expected to play but hurt his calf during pregame warmups and was scratched. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky missed an extra point. … WR Chris Conley (shoulder), DB A.J. Parker (hamstring) and S Taylor Hawkins (hand) left the game with injuries.
UP NEXT
Chargers: Host Miami in season opener Sept. 10.
49ers: Open the season on Sept. 10 at Pittsburgh.
Related: 49ers rally late to beat Broncos in preseason game
Related: See below – 49ers Mostert Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
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