Week of August 17, 2026
4 stories
Season recap, August 17 - 23, 2026: the biggest stories of the week, curated from the original reporting. Not a complete daily record.
ESPNArticle
The 49ers beat the Chargers 41-17 at SoFi Stadium on Thursday, August 20. Jacob Cowing, who missed all of last season with a hamstring injury, returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to put San Francisco up 17-3, earning Shanahan's praise as a big-time play. Brock Purdy saw his first preseason action and completed 4 of 6 passes for 29 yards in the first quarter, while Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played the opening series. Rookie running back Kaelon Black, back from an adductor injury, led the 49ers with 65 rushing yards, and Sincere McCormick added a rushing touchdown.
iHeartArticle
Chargers center Tyler Biadasz was carted off the field during the August 18 joint practice with the 49ers after defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez fell on his leg during an 11-on-11 drill. Biadasz, who signed with Los Angeles in March after playing for Washington, suffered a damaged ACL and other knee injuries and was declared out indefinitely. Rookie second-round pick Jake Slaughter stepped in at center, and head coach Jim Harbaugh said he was confident in Slaughter and fellow rookie Travis Burke as potential Week 1 starters.
49ers.comArticle
On August 17 the 49ers signed defensive lineman Victor Dimukeje and lineman Nick Zakelj while releasing running back Khalil Herbert and lineman Kion Smith. Three days later they re-signed Herbert and placed running back Patrick Taylor Jr. on injured reserve, while also re-signing tight end Khalil Dinkins to a three-year contract and waiving-injured defensive lineman Xavier Thomas. On August 18 the team signed defensive lineman Evan Anderson and waived-injured lineman Titus Leo.
49ers.comArticle
The 49ers reinstated tight end George Kittle from the active physically-unable-to-perform list on August 23, keeping alive his hope of being ready for the Week 1 opener. Kittle tore his Achilles in January's playoff run and had missed all of training camp up to that point. The reinstatement was announced alongside Dinkins' three-year contract extension as the team trimmed its camp roster toward the 53-man deadline.
