The Chargers continued preseason play with a 41-17 loss against the 49ers on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.
Here's a game recap from the Bolts second preseason game:
Turning Point
The Chargers won the toss and elected to receive as Justin Herbert and the offensive starters were up first.
But the unit went three-and-out following a run for a loss of a yard, a 9-yard completion to Charlie Kolar and an incomplete pass.
The Chargers defense had a longer run on the field as the 49ers offense converted three times on third down, but a key third-down pass breakup by Elijah Molden forced a San Francisco punt.
The 49ers took a 3-0 lead with a 48-yard field goal in the second quarter but the Chargers tied the game midway through the frame with a field goal of their own.
The Bolts field goal was set up when Lance showed off his wheels with an athletic run that put the Bolts in the red zone.
Down 3-0, the Chargers had the ball on the 49ers 42-yard line. Lance dropped back to pass on first down but stepped up in the pocket and saw an open lane.
Lance, a former first-round pick by the 49ers, then turned on the jets with a 37-yard run down to the 5-yard line that was the Bolts longest play of the night to date.
But it was mostly the 49ers after that as San Francisco scored 17 unanswered points to take a 20-3 lead into the half.
Junior Colson provided a spark in the second half with a 16-yard interception return for a score, but San Francisco responded with a touchdown drive to maintain the double-digit lead.
The Bolts reserves did produce a late highlight when DJ Uiagalelei found rookie undrafted free agent Jerand Bradley for a 28-yard touchdown pass with 63 seconds left.
Uiagalelei found Bradley down the left seam but the tight end made a heady play when he fell to the turf but wasn't touched. Bradley popped up and shrugged off a tackler before finding the end zone.
Browse through live action photos of the second preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium!
C/G Jake Slaughter (66) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
C/G Jake Slaughter (66) and QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Charlie Kolar (88)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
P JK Scott (16)
S Genesis Smith (22)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DB Deane Leonard (33)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
OLB Garmon Randolph (97)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99) and LB Denzel Perryman (6)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99) and LB Denzel Perryman (6)
LB Denzel Perryman (6)
LB Denzel Perryman (6) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
LB Troy Dye (43)
CB Avery Smith (36)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
DB Elijah Molden (2)
RB Keaton Michell (34) and QB Trey Lance (5)
WR Brenen Thompson (89)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
QB Trey Lance (5)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
RB Keaton Michell (34) and QB Trey Lance (5)
OLB Nadame Tucker (56)
S RJ Mickens (27)
CB Avery Smith (36)
CB Avery Smith (36)
CB Avery Smith (36)
CB Avery Smith (36)
CB Avery Smith (36)
CB Avery Smith (36)
DL TeRah Edwards (96)
QB Trey Lance (5)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
S Kendall Williamson (40)
S Kendall Williamson (40)
S Kendall Williamson (40)
DL Jahmeer Carter (61)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
S RJ Mickens (27) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
S RJ Mickens (27), S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
S RJ Mickens (27)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
RB Kimani Vidal (28)
LB Lander Barton (57)
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh
LB Junior Colson (25)
S Genesis Smith (22)
LB Lander Barton (57)
LB Lander Barton (57)
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (84)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
P JK Scott (16) and K Cameron Dicker (11)
P JK Scott (16) and K Cameron Dicker (11)
K Cameron Dicker (11) and P JK Scott (16)
K Cameron Dicker (11) and P JK Scott (16)
K Cameron Dicker (11) and P JK Scott (16)
K Cameron Dicker (11) and P JK Scott (16)
K Cameron Dicker (11) and P JK Scott (16)
P JK Scott (16), K Cameron Dicker (11) and TE Johnny Pascuzzi (42)
K Cameron Dicker (11) and LS Peter Bowden (59)
DL Scott Matlock (44), K Cameron Dicker (11) and LS Peter Bowden (59)
LB Lander Barton (57)
LB Junior Colson (25) and CB Avery Smith (36)
RB Jaret Patterson (32)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
CB Eric Rogers (39)
RB Kimani Vidal (28)
WR Devonte Ross (24)
WR Devonte Ross (24)
WR Devonte Ross (24)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
DL Scott Matlock (44)
DL Scott Matlock (44)
C/G Jake Slaughter (66)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
QB Trey Lance (5)
C Jacob Spomer (60)
DL Terry Webb (64)
S Devin Grant (38)
S Devin Grant (38)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
WR Devonte Ross (24)
LB Marlowe Wax (58)
LB Marlowe Wax (58)
Former Basketball Star Blake Griffin
Former Basketball Star Blake Griffin
OLB Andre Carter (51)
LB Junior Colson (25)
S Kendall Williamson (40)
S Genesis Smith (22)
S Kendall Williamson (40)
WR Devonte Ross (24)
WR Devonte Ross (24)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7)
RB Amar Johnson (35), QB DJ Uiagalelei (7) and T Travis Burke (77)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7)
WR Derius Davis (12)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
RB Amar Johnson (35)
Defensive Coordinator Chris O'Leary
DL Nick Barrett (91)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
OLB Nadame Tucker (56)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Emany Johnson (50), LB Junior Colson (25) and CB Isas Waxter (37)
LB Junior Colson (25), LB Emany Johnson (50) and CB Isas Waxter (37)
CB Isas Waxter (37), LB Emany Johnson (50) and LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Emany Johnson (50), LB Junior Colson (25) and CB Isas Waxter (37)
CB Isas Waxter (37), LB Junior Colson (25) and LB Emany Johnson (50)
CB Isas Waxter (37), LB Junior Colson (25) and LB Emany Johnson (50)
CB Isas Waxter (37), LB Junior Colson (25) and LB Emany Johnson (50)
S Devin Grant (38) and LB Junior Colson (25)
S Devin Grant (38) and LB Junior Colson (25)
S Devin Grant (38) and LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25) and S Devin Grant (38)
LB Junior Colson (25) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25)
Chad Jessop and LB Junior Colson (25)
LB Junior Colson (25), OLB Bud Dupree (48), LB Emany Johnson (50), LB Marlowe Wax (58) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
OLB Bud Dupree (48), LB Junior Colson (25) and LB Emany Johnson (50)
LB Junior Colson (25) and LB Marlowe Wax (58)
CB Nikko Reed (46) and CB Avery Smith (36)
CB Nikko Reed (46) and CB Avery Smith (36)
DL Jahmeer Carter (61), CB Nikko Reed (46), CB Avery Smith (36) and LB Lander Barton (57)
CB Avery Smith (36) and CB Nikko Reed (46)
LB Lander Barton (57) and OLB Garmon Randolph (97)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
S Kendall Williamson (40) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
OLB Garmon Randolph (97)
LB Emany Johnson (50)
LB Lander Barton (57) and LB Emany Johnson (50)
LB Emany Johnson (50) and LB Lander Barton (57)
LB Emany Johnson (50) and LB Lander Barton (57)
LB Lander Barton (57) and LB Emany Johnson (50)
LB Lander Barton (57) and LB Emany Johnson (50)
OLB Garmon Randolph (97)
CB Avery Smith (36) and DL Jahmeer Carter (61)
OLB Andre Carter (51), OLB Garmon Randolph (97), DL Terry Webb (64) and CB Avery Smith (36)
CB Avery Smith (36)
DL TeRah Edwards (96)
CB Isas Waxter (37)
CB Isas Waxter (37)
CB Isas Waxter (37)
CB Isas Waxter (37)
RB Greg Desrosiers (31)
RB Greg Desrosiers (31) and LS Peter Bowden (59)
DL Jacobian Guillory (95)
S Myles Purchase (41)
DL Jacobian Guillory (95)
DL Jacobian Guillory (95)
S Devin Grant (38)
S Devin Grant (38)
S Devin Grant (38)
S Devin Grant (38)
S Devin Grant (38)
S Devin Grant (38)
S Devin Grant (38) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
C Josh Kaltenberger (68) and T Laekin Vakalahi (78)
RB Greg Desrosiers (31)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7) and TE Johnny Pascuzzi (42)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7) and TE Johnny Pascuzzi (42)
TE Johnny Pascuzzi (42)
TE Johnny Pascuzzi (42)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36) and RB Greg Desrosiers (31)
TE Jerand Bradley (36) and RB Greg Desrosiers (31)
G Alex Harkey (73) and TE Jerand Bradley (36)
TE Jerand Bradley (36) and G Logan Taylor (65)
G Alex Harkey (73), TE Jerand Bradley (36) and G Logan Taylor (65)
TE Jerand Bradley (36)
QB DJ Uiagalelei (7)
TE Evan Svoboda (49)
TE Evan Svoboda (49)
WR Devonte Ross (24) and TE Evan Svoboda (49)
C Josh Kaltenberger (68) and TE Evan Svoboda (49)
TE Evan Svoboda (49) and C Josh Kaltenberger (68)
C Josh Kaltenberger (68) and TE Evan Svoboda (49)
TE Evan Svoboda (49) and WR JaQuae Jackson (82)
TE Evan Svoboda (49) and WR JaQuae Jackson (82)
TE Evan Svoboda (49) and G Logan Taylor (65)
TE Evan Svoboda (49) and G Logan Taylor (65)
C Jacob Spomer (60), TE Evan Svoboda (49) and G Alex Harkey (73)
RB Greg Desrosiers (31) and TE Evan Svoboda (49)
C/G Jake Slaughter (66)
Top Play
It's been a frustrating two seasons for Colson, the Chargers 2024 third-round pick.
An appendectomy set him back as a rookie before he played 218 defensive snaps that year. Colson then missed the entire 2025 season due to a shoulder injury.
But the third-year linebacker was all smiles Thursday night as he found the end zone.
Early in the third quarter, Colson stepped in front of an Adrian Martinez pass in the flat and waltzed 16 yards untouched for the score.
The touchdown was the first of the night for the Chargers.
Key Stat
On a tough night for the Chargers offense, the unit was hampered by penalties in the second preseason game.
Early in the second quarter, Lance hit Keaton Mitchell for a 21-yard gain but it was negated by an illegal formation infraction.
An 18-yard pass from Lance to Oronde Gadsden was later wiped out by an illegal shift while a 5-yard Lance run was also called back by an illegal formation call.
A Kimani Vidal run was later called back by an illegal shift.
The Chargers were called for seven penalties in all on Thursday night, four of which came on offense.
Scoring Summary
| Scoring Play | Score | |
| 2nd Quarter | 49ers: (14:56) 48-yard field goal from Eddy Piñeiro | 3-0, 49ers |
| Chargers: (7:11) 21-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker | Tied at 3 | |
| 49ers: (5:28) 7-yard run from Sincere McCormick | 10-3, 49ers | |
| 49ers: (3:01) 83-yard punt return from Jacob Cowing | 17-3, 49ers | |
| 49ers: (0:00) 45-yard field goal from Eddy Piñeiro | 20-3, 49ers | |
| 3rd Quarter | Chargers: (10:45) 16-yard interception return from Junior Colson (kick fail) | 20-9, 49ers |
| 49ers: (3:46) 1-yard run from Khalil Herbert | 27-9, 49ers | |
| 4th Quarter | 49ers: (13:42) 9-yard run from Adrian Martinez | 34-9, 49ers |
| 49ers: (12:54) 16-yard pass from Adrian Martinez to Jordan Watkins | 41-9, 49ers | |
| Chargers: (1:03) 28-yard pass from DJ Uiagalelei to Jerand Bradley (2-point try good) | 41-17, 49ers |
Up Next
The Chargers will host the Rams in a preseason matchup on August 27 at SoFi Stadium.
