On Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers used their second preseason game against the Los Angele Chargers to answer many pressing questions about their roster. Given that they played the lowly Titans in Week 1, the contest represented the first significant test of the summer.
One burning question, however, remains unanswered. With Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams sidelined, the 49ers learned next to nothing about their pass rush, and the effects may be catastrophic.
In 2025, the red and gold finished dead last in defensive sacks recorded, as Bosa and star linebacker Fred Warner went down early with season-ending injuries. Williams, a highly-touted rookie, played in just nine games.
This offseason, GM John Lynch did little to bolster the attack. Instead, he elected to rely on the recoveries of his essential defenders. Whether or not the strategy will pay off remains a mystery, and, thanks to the Chargers, it will stay that way, at least for another week.
Chargers did 49ers no favors in providing analysis
During the game, the Chargers were nursing their own ailments, specifically on the offensive line. Star center Tyler Biadasz is out indefinitely, and Rashawn Slater is still feeling the effects of his own season-ending injury from last year.
As a result, there was little to be discovered about the San Franicisco defensive unit, primarily on the front seven. The Chargers never put their best foot forward in the trenches, and the 49ers operated with their own makeshift rotations.
If Nick Bosa fails to log snaps in the final preseason game against the Raiders, then the 49ers will be entering the regular season knowing virtually nothing about their pass rush. Mykel Williams has already been reported to be a long shot to play in Week 1, and the team may be faced with the daunting task of playing the Rams without both of their top edge rushers. If that is the case, then there is a legitimate chance Kyle Shanahan's squad will head into Week 2 having yet to crack the win column.
While the team's edge rushing room is a bit of a mess, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has still been able to learn about some of his other young defenders, namely Gracen Halton and Jy'Ayir Brown. He looks to have the defense clicking with the players who have been healthy enough to execute his scheme.
Hopefully the team can add Bosa and Williams to that mix soon. If not, they could find themselves in the same frustrating spot they wound up last year: having to make up for the inability to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
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