49ers and Chargers hold joint practice, secondary struggles highlighted

San Francisco and Los Angeles met for a joint practice on Tuesday, during which coach Kyle Shanahan provided injury updates for the 49ers. The session highlighted several defensive shortcomings for San Francisco, especially among the secondary.

Chargers’ footage showed defensive tackle Alfred Collins recording a tackle for loss, while 49ers’ defensive backs allowed multiple big plays. Jaden Dugger was blocked, permitting Dre Greenlaw to make a tackle near the line of scrimmage, and Deommodore Lenoir surrendered a first-down reception and later a touchdown. Osa Odighizuwa generated four pressures, the most of any defender, prompting ESPN analyst Kris Rhim to comment that “Odighizuwa was a problem throughout practice.”

Other missteps included safety Ji’Ayir Brown being late on a deep route and corner Marques Sigle abandoning his coverage area, leading to a coverage bust. In the red-zone, safety Brown was beaten by a runner, and corner Jack Jones allowed a touchdown after being substituted for Renardo Green.

On offense, the 49ers introduced rookie running back Kaelon Black, who previously ranked fourth nationally in high-impact plays. Quarterback Brock Purdy completed a short pass before it was broken up, and the team failed to score during two-minute drills, with Shanahan noting “we struggled a little bit in the move the ball periods” and Purdy adding, “I don’t think it was our best day.”

The Chargers’ defense held the 49ers scoreless in the final two-minute drills, preserving a four-point lead with 80 seconds remaining. After a series of incomplete passes and a near-interception by rookie corner Avery Smith, the Chargers forced a turnover on downs to end the practice.

Both teams will continue to evaluate personnel, with the 49ers considering guard Carver Willis for a starting role and monitoring the health of other players ahead of Thursday night’s game.