Jacob Cowing waited nearly a full year for another chance to show what he could do on a football field, and the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver made the most of it Thursday night. Cowing electrified Levi’s Stadium with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown, helping the 49ers pull away for a 41-17 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The explosive play was exactly the kind of moment Cowing needed as he battles for a roster spot in San Francisco’s wide receiver competition.
The Chargers had just gone three-and-out with about three minutes remaining in the second quarter when punter JK Scott sent a 52-yard punt toward the San Francisco 17-yard line. Cowing fielded it, quickly darted to the left and then turned on the speed, racing 83 yards for the touchdown.
The return gave the 49ers a 17-3 advantage and showcased the speed and agility that made Cowing such an intriguing prospect.
Cowing missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a hamstring injury during the preseason. Now healthy, he is attempting to earn his place on San Francisco’s regular-season roster, and Thursday’s performance could prove important in that competition.
The 49ers also got contributions from several other players as they improved to 1-1 in the preseason.
Eddy Pineiro connected on field goals of 48 and 45 yards in the second quarter, helping San Francisco build a 20-3 halftime lead. Sincere McCormick added a 7-yard touchdown run, while fourth-string running back Khalil Herbert scored on a 1-yard plunge.
San Francisco’s offense also featured the preseason debut of quarterback Brock Purdy. The 49ers’ starter played the first quarter and completed 4 of 6 passes for 29 yards before giving way to the backups.
Mac Jones took over on San Francisco’s second drive and finished 6 of 13 for 89 yards. Later, Adrian Martinez provided some excitement of his own, rushing for a 9-yard touchdown and throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Watkins in the fourth quarter.
Rookie De’Zhaun Stribling and KhaDarel Hodge each caught four passes for 46 yards to lead the 49ers in receiving. McCormick led the ground game with 53 yards on six carries.
Christian McCaffrey did not play despite taking part in pregame warmups. Coach Kyle Shanahan has described McCaffrey’s issue as “tightness” and has indicated that the veteran running back would be practicing if this were the regular season.
The Chargers struggled to generate much offense throughout the night. Los Angeles managed only eight first downs while punting eight times and committing seven penalties.
Justin Herbert made his first preseason appearance and played the opening series. He completed 1 of 2 passes, connecting with Charlie Kolar on a 9-yard completion before the Chargers went three and out.
Los Angeles’ first points came on Cameron Dicker’s 21-yard field goal, while backup quarterback Trey Lance the former No. 3 overall pick selected by San Francisco completed 10 of 16 passes for 73 yards.
The Chargers eventually found the end zone late, with Jerand Bradley catching a 28-yard touchdown pass from DJ Uiagalelei. Evan Svoboda added a successful two-point conversion, cutting San Francisco’s advantage to 20-9 in the third quarter.
Los Angeles then appeared to gain momentum when Adrian Martinez’s pass intended for Cowing was intercepted by Junior Colson, who returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. Dicker’s extra point attempt went wide left.
But the 49ers quickly regained control. Martinez’s rushing touchdown and his scoring pass to Watkins helped San Francisco pull away in the fourth quarter, turning what had been a competitive game into a comfortable 24-point victory.
For Cowing, however, the biggest takeaway came much earlier. After spending an entire season on the sideline, he finally had the opportunity to remind the 49ers why they were intrigued by his potential. His 83-yard touchdown return was more than just a preseason highlight it was a statement in a crowded roster battle.
With the regular season approaching, Cowing now has one electric play that could go a long way toward keeping his NFL career moving forward.
