How to watch 49ers v. Chargers Preseason game: TV channel, start time

Aug 24, 2023, 11:00 AM

Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers hits Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers dur...

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Sports Editor/Writer

After almost a month of training camp practices, the 49ers and the rest of the NFL are gearing up for the grand finale of the 2023 preseason.

The San Francisco 49ers will play host to quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers Friday, wrapping up their preseason schedule early. With the game being before the weekend slate, the Red & Gold will have more than two weeks to rest & prepare for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1.

The final week of the preseason brought some unexpected drama to The Bay, with reports surfacing that the team has named Sam Darnold as the backup QB to Brock Purdy this season. The move leaves former third overall pick Trey Lance in limbo, with both the team & player “exploring options” for his future.

At the end of the day though, the 49ers would like to keep both backups on the roster if they could, but will only do so if its right for the young gunslinger.

"I mean, this isn't a thing that we're giving up on Trey….This is more of how Brock played in his seven games…..And then how good Sam's looked. They both looked good.”

Kyle Shanahan on Trey Lance Via @KNBR

pic.twitter.com/Mnp7JeE5Ym
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) August 23, 2023

“I mean, it was a hell of a battle. They were neck and neck for a long time but just really over these last ten days, we felt Sam started to separate himself,” coach Kyle Shanahan said on KNBR Wednesday. “We felt he did it in practice consistently and he’s been getting better each day. Trey made it real tight and made it tough. It wasn’t an easy decision for us.”

What time does the preseason game start?

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PST on Friday, Aug. 25th, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Who’s starting?

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is expected to start the team’s third preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Purdy and the rest of the starters will likley play one to two series Friday night, with Kyle Shanahan looking to get his squad well-tuned before Week 1.

Newly-appointed backup Sam Darnold will play the rest of the first half of Friday’s contest, while Trey Lance will likely play some of the second half. Brandon Allen could also see some action against the Chargers.

This rotation follows suit with the team’s decision to make Darnold the backup QB this season. Wanting to get the backup more reps, the former USC standout should see the field for the majority of the game. He had a solid outing Week 2 of the preseason, throwing 109 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Darnold and the rest of the 49ers backups will look to build off that Friday, hoping to send LA back home with a loss.