49ers vs Chargers: 5 bubble players who earned roster spot
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers got solid play from rookie Trey Lance against the Chargers, but these five bubble-watch players sure helped their chances for the 53 man roster.
San Francisco 49ers fans’ eyes are going to stay glued on rookie quarterback Trey Lance for the rest of the preseason, and they certainly were during his two-touchdown efforts against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon at SoFI Stadium.
As fun as it was to watch Lance bounce back from a shaky start in Southern California, everyone knows he’ll be making the Niners’ 53-man roster this season. For him, exhibition football is about fine-tuning his efforts into a prolific starter at some point down the road.
For others, however, preseason bouts like this one provide the needed opportunity to hang onto a roster spot and surviving the inevitable cuts prior to Week 1 of the regular season.
Thankfully, there were a number of players on the bubble who all but guaranteed themselves a spot on the 53-man roster to begin the season.
Especially these five, who impressed in the 15-10 exhibition win over the Bolts.
No. 5: 49ers Safety Talanoa Hufanga
He might have already secured a roster spot, thanks to some solid training camp play and his all-over-the-place efforts from San Francisco’s first preseason game this year against the Kansas City Chiefs.
But if there were any doubts fifth-round rookie safety Talanoa Hufanga would make the cut, they should be erased after Sunday.
Hufanga only registered one tackle during the game, but it was an impressive knife-through tackle on Chargers running back Joshua Kelley for a 2-yard loss at the two-minute mark of the first half.
That play ultimately led to Los Angeles being forced to punt, which subsequently allowed Lance to drive down the field with less than a minute remaining to score the 49ers’ first touchdown of the day.
While Hufanga might be a little ways away from being a starting safety, he certainly is making his presence felt and did so again in a solid defensive showing by the Niners.