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Chargers vs. 49ers preseason preview: Much at stake for fringe players

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 30: Cardale Jones #7 of the Los Angeles Chargers passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during their preseason game at Levi's Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 30: Cardale Jones #7 of the Los Angeles Chargers passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during their preseason game at Levi's Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers walks around the field after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers walks around the field after the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

NFL Preseason Week 4 by the Numbers

There’s only so much one can take away or break down for the fourth and final preseason bout for any team in any season.

Paying attention to team stats for the 49ers and Chargers will be pointless, aside from penalties, perhaps. But there are individual accolades and numbers worth diving into a bit. And they primarily stem from individual players — the kind of stats you’d want to understand this final exhibition week.

Case in point, Niners quarterback C.J. Beathard didn’t see the field in Week 3’s victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Considering the relative logjam San Francisco has at quarterback behind Jimmy Garoppolo, it’s pretty easy to understand why Beathard’s performance against the Chargers is important.

So far this preseason, Beathard’s numbers are as follows:

  • Completion percentage: 64.3
  • Passing yards: 222
  • Touchdown-to-interception ratio: 1-to-1
  • Passer rating: 85.7

His counterpart, Nick Mullens, has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes and owns a 95.6 passer rating over three preseason appearances. While there are context differences here, obviously, the numbers comparison suggests yet another reason why Beathard is losing this bout for the No. 2 spot.

This game is crucial for other fringe players, too, such as defensive lineman Damontre Moore, who is Pro Football Focus‘ best-ranked 49ers defender this preseason with an elite-level 89.5 overall grade.

Again, it’s a preseason narrative. But another solid outing from Moore could make it impossible for San Francisco to keep him off the 53-man roster in Week 1.