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SAN DIEGO – Philip Rivers’ most extensive work came during pregame warm-ups.

Darren Sproles, Malcom Floyd and Stephen Cooper also did not see the field, just a few of the names expected to play major roles during the regular season that watched Thursday’s preseason finale against the 49ers at Candlestick Park.

San Francisco thwarted a third-quarter comeback with a late touchdown to win 17-14, but the outcome mattered far less than the video of a few dozen players scrapping for the final roster spots on each team.

San Diego’s staff will have Friday to mull roster decisions, then will focus on the season opener Sept. 13 at Kansas City.

“The biggest thing for me, obviously, is that we have some decisions to make and we got a good look at a number of our young players,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “We’ll get to go in tomorrow early as a staff and look at this tape and evaluate. We have some decisions to make at the bottom part of our roster.”

Anthony Dixon, who led the NFL with 300 rushing yards during the preseason, sliced up the middle for a 46-yard touchdown in the first quarter that jettisoned the 49ers to a 7-0 lead.

It might’ve expanded, but Antonio Garay and Larry English combined to stuff Dixon deep in Chargers territory minutes later. Garay made stops on first and third down to set up fourth-and-short at the 27, and English read a pitch left and closed on Dixon for a six-yard loss that forced a turnover on downs.

An interception on the next drive again set up San Francisco at the Chargers 38 but Dominique Zeigler failed to get both feet down in the corner of the end zone on third down and Joe Nedney kicked a 25-yard field goal to put the 49ers up 10-0 with 11:20 left in the second quarter.

The Chargers stormed back in the second half with a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jeremy Williams. Curtis Brinkley flipped over the goal line during the third quarter as San Diego took a 14-10 lead with 4:10 left.

So how much could those type of plays help as a closing argument for roster spots?

“I really believe it does,” Turner said. “How much of a difference depends on the position they play and the circumstance they’re in, but I just know in talking to our team, and I told them, ‘It doesn’t matter who you are. By going out and having a strong performance, you help yourself as a football player.’”

Dixon carried the ball 12 times for 80 yards and a touchdown for the 49ers.

Brinkley led the Chargers with 100 total yards of offense on 18 touches.

Jehuu Caulcrick secured a floater from Nate Davis with 8:47 left to account for the final margin. The game basically ended with a San Diego interception deep in the opponent’s territory for the second consecutive road game.

But the moment the 53-man team is selected and assembled, the franchise’s attention will focus on Kansas City and a difficult divisional rivalry on Monday Night Football.

“You always get excited for the regular season because now the bullets start flying. Now they really count,” Antwan Applewhite said. “It’s a different type of focus, a different type of mental preparation for these regular season games. It’s time to turn it up a notch.”