Chargers and 49ers meet in low-scoring preseason contest at SoFi Stadium
Injury concerns and limited starter playing time point to a defensive battle in Thursday’s Week 2 exhibition.
The Los Angeles Chargers will host the San Francisco 49ers in a Week 2 preseason fixture at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET, marking the second exhibition game for both franchises in the 2026 NFL preseason.
Betting markets list San Francisco as a 1.5-point favourite, with the total points over/under set at 38.5. The matchup carries historical context, as the two teams have met 45 times in preseason history, with San Francisco holding a 26-19 advantage.
Analysts anticipate a low-scoring affair, driven by the expected limited involvement of starting quarterbacks Justin Herbert and Brock Purdy. Both players sat out their respective Week 1 games and are expected to see only brief action on Thursday, allowing backup quarterbacks to handle the majority of snaps. In the previous season, both Herbert and Purdy played just one series each across the entire preseason.
Injury concerns further complicate the 49ers’ offensive outlook. Key contributors Christian McCaffrey and Mike Evans missed practice time due to tightness, while tight end George Kittle remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The absence of these players is expected to reduce San Francisco’s scoring potential significantly.
Betting expert Jeff Hochman, who is 99-88-3 over the past five NFL seasons, leans towards the Under 39 combined points. This prediction aligns with recent trends, as three of the last four matchups between these squads have seen under 39 total points scored. The Under also hit in both teams’ preseason openers, with backup quarterbacks taking all snaps in those contests.
The 49ers lost their first exhibition game 19-13 to Tennessee, while the Chargers defeated Houston 27-7 in a game started by former 49ers top pick quarterback Trey Lance. With both teams likely to rely on depth players and defensive schemes, the contest is poised to be a tactical showcase rather than a high-scoring affair.
