3 stars from the 49ers’ preseason win: A cornerback emerges

The San Francisco 49ers emphatically earned their first preseason win with a 41-17 (we can mention the final score this week since the 49ers won) thumping of the Los Angeles Chargers.

It was a thorough beating from the 49ers, who dominated the Chargers in all three facets of the game. A win that will likely keep Jim Harbaugh up late on Thursday night, an attitude that 49ers fans are far too familiar with. But as upset as Harbaugh will be, Kyle Shanahan will be just as excited, as there wasn’t much to complain about – outside of that little left guard issue, which Austen Pleasants is apparently very involved in.

But let’s focus on the positives. Three of them to be exact. Here are the three stars from Thursday’s preseason win:

3rd Star – CB Jack Jones

Garret Wallow was in consideration for the honor, but Jones’s performance stood out just a smidge more.

Jones is in an interesting spot because there are different scenarios that could play out over the next few weeks, with several resulting in Jones getting significant playing time come the regular season. He may have added a few more scenarios with his game on Thursday night.

He finished with a pair of pass breakups, and both were timely. Facing a third-and-goal, a Jim Harbaugh offense opted for a fade route, with Trey Lance targeting KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Jones never got his body around, but Lance’s throw tracked short, and Jones’s positioning was perfect to prevent the score (while also getting away with some contact), forcing the Chargers to settle for a short field goal.

Jones would follow up with his second pass breakup on the next drive. With the Chargers facing a second down, Lance looked to Devonte Ross, but Jones perfectly read the play and ran the route for Ross, nearly coming up with an interception but having to settle for the PBU. Two plays later, Los Angeles would turn the ball over on downs, giving the 49ers offense the ball near midfield.

Raheem Morris should have plenty of options in what could be a versatile secondary, and Jones played like he’s planning to work his way into those plans.

2nd Star – WR De’Zhaun Stribling

For a second week in a row, Stribling was the standout of the 49ers offense. Sure, some production was left on the table, but once again, Stribling passed the eye test.

His game didn’t have the numbers on Thursday night as he did last week against Tennessee, catching just four passes on five targets for 46 yards, but there’s some reading between the lines that has to be done to fully define Stribling’s game. The most important development wasn’t Stribling’s play on the field but his rapport with Brock Purdy.

Now, the 49ers were without Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Mike Evans, so keep that in mind. But even with Deebo Samuel, a man who has seen plenty of targets from Purdy, Stribling was Purdy’s preferred target on his lone drive.

Of Purdy’s six attempts on Thursday, three went to Stribling, and all three were caught, with two converting third downs (ato be the first to suggest the nickname “third-and-De’Zhaun definitelyDe’Zhaun”).

Also, it’s the preseason, so we can just brush over that drop on a perfectly thrown pass from Mac Jones to deny us our first trip into the Strib Club.

With Evans not practicing a ton, Stribling has stepped in to get those reps with Purdy. It’s just something to keep in mind with Evans and the rookie likely to share the field plenty over the regular season.

1st Star – WR Jacob Cowing

It had to be. We watched in real-time a player earn a roster spot.

Cowing felt like he was on the outside looking in with the traffic jam going at the receiver position. It felt like Cowing’s only chance to make the roster was by winning the punt returner job. He grabbed that brass ring against the Chargers.

While Cowing has 28 more punt returns in his career, it was Deebo Samuel who got the first chance at punt return duties on Thursday. However, Samuel didn’t get a chance to showcase his return skills as he let his first chance bounce and then waved for a fair catch on his second.

Kyle Shanahan decided that was enough for Samuel and gave Cowing his opportunity. He would then take that opportunity 83 yards for a touchdown, a play that should ensure Cowing’s spot on the 53-man roster.

Had it been a regular season game, it would have been the first time since Ted Ginn was returning punts for the 49ers that they scored a touchdown via punt return. And nobody looked more excited for Cowing than Deebo, who might have just been showing some relief of one less responsibility on his plate.

With Cowing’s struggle to find his spot with the 49ers since getting drafted in 2024, the return created one of the cooler preseason moments in recent memory.

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