Welcome to the live blog for preseason week 3.

12:49 - According to multiple reports, the new sod that was put down on Thursday has provided improved footing. There is still a few divots coming up here and there, but there is not as much sand coming up as there was during the open practice during the week.

12:50 - It looks like Craig Dahl will be starting at strong safety in place of Antoine Bethea.

12:51 - The Rams have lost quarterback Sam Bradford to an ACL tear. Barring a trade, former 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill will take over. He should give them a better chance to win than Kellen Clemens did last season.


1:03 - There was a lot of talk this offseason about the 49ers opening up their offense. In three series this preseason the 49ers starting offense has used three wide receivers only three times. Do you think they may open it up today?

1:05 - As I mentioned on Friday it looks as though Justin Smith, Ian Williams and Ray McDonald will see their first action this preseason. All are in uniform on the sideline.

1:11 - The 49ers will receive the opening kickoff.

1:15 - A rough start for Colin Kaepernick. After missing a wide open Vance McDonald down the left seam on second down he is forced to scramble on third and long and fumbles the ball. This will be the first possession for the 49ers starting offense in which they don't move the ball into scoring position.

1:21 - Eric Reid makes a great play to stop Ryan Matthews short of a first down on the Chargers first third down attempt of the day.


1:26 - Is there a more overrated guard in the NFL than Mike Iupati? He is a terrible in pass protection. This is the second time in three preseason games his man has almost killed Kaepernick.

1:28 - The 49ers nickle defense has been nails on third down.

1:29 - The Chargers go for it on 4th down and the 49ers defense drops Ryan Matthews for a loss of 1. Nice job to pick up the offense which has struggled so far.

1:31 - Amazing how much better Michael Wilhoite looks playing alongside Patrick Willis and with the starting defensive line in front of him.

1:33 - The 49ers offense has used 2 tight ends on 6 of its first 8 plays today.


1:35 - Joe Looney and Jonathan Martin were not able to get any push while double teaming Kendall Reyes on that second down run by Hyde.

1:38 - Kaepernick connects with Anquan Boldin for a 10 yard completion on 3rd down.

1:40 - Kaepernick with a duck to nobody on 3rd down. There was a lot of pressure in his face on that play.

1:42 - Nice play on a deep ball by Chris Culliver. That has been an area of his game that he has struggled with in the past.

1:43 - Justin Smith just hog tied Donald Brown on a 1st down run.


1:50 - Rivers hits Matthews for a touchdown on 3rd down. An illegal block in the back by Keenan Allen nullifies the score, but it will be Chargers ball on the 49ers 10 yard line.

1:53 - Antonio Gates beats Craig Dahl on a seam route for a touchdown.

1:54 - The 49ers offense needs to put a drive together to give the defense a rest. The Chargers have held the ball for 9:34 of the quarter.

1:56 - LaMichael James is the 3rd back in for the 49ers, and on his first play he carries for 3 yards on a draw.

1:58 - Total yards in the first quarter: San Diego 121 San Francisco 17


1:59 - Adam Snyder has replaced Jo Looney at right guard.

2:01 - After a nice check down to LaMichael James, Kaepernick hits Vernon Davis for a first down. The offense is rolling now.

2:06 - Kaepernick's 3rd down throw is batted down at the line of scrimmage, bringing on Phil Dawson. And the 49ers score for the first time in Levi's Stadium.

2:08 - Great tackle by Chris Borland on kickoff coverage.

2:12 - The 49ers second team defense has entered the game. Will be interesting to finally see them play against second stringers after playing against starters for the first two weeks.


2:14 - Mike Purcell with his best play of the preseason to shut down a Chargers run on 3rd down.

2:17 - Stevie Johnson seeing his first action of the day with the backups. On first down Carlos Hyde goes for 20 down the left side.

2:20 - On third and short Gabbert throws incomplete to Quinton Patton. This one's on Patton who quit on his route and wasn't looking for the ball.

2:23 - Aaron Lynch and Corey Lemonier with a meeting at the quarterback to force an incompletion on 1st down.

2:24 - Lemonier is abusing that left tackle right now. Forces a quick throw and incompletion on 3rd down.


2:25 - Gotta love Bruce Ellington as a weapon on the fly sweep! Nice run for 5 yards.

2:26 - Gabbert hits Vance McDonald for a first down. McDonald has been solid throughout the preseason.

2:27 - Gabbert should have kept it right there on the read option. The DE just crashed down.

2:29 - What a catch by Vance McDonald right there. Nice job by Gabbert of moving his feet.

2:30 - Stevie Johnson lines up offsides. That's a freshman move by the veteran.


2:33 - Gabbert with the touchdown throw to Vance McDonald. That's the 49ers first touchdown this preseason.

2:35 - Very nice drive by the 49ers offense with mostly their second team guys in there. Gabbert was 5-6 for 55 yards on the drive.

2:57 - The 49ers defense opens the second half by forcing a Chargers punt. Amazing how much better they look when not playing up like they've been forced to do the first two weeks.

3:01 - After back-to-back drops by Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington the 49ers offense goes three and out on their first possession of the second half.

3:06 - It looks as though Alfonso Smith has passed Jewel Hampton on the depth chart.


3:12 - LaMicheal James slips again while trying to field the punt. He seems to be having more trouble than anyone else with the field today.

3:15 - Josh Johnson is now in at quarterback and he hits David Reed for 22 yards on his first attempt.

3:20 - Johnson's first drive ends with a punt.

3:27 - Aaron Lynch has been very good today. Very good day with the pass rush and showing his athleticism to get up and tip the ball leading to an interception by Jimmie Ward.

3:30 - Looks like Jewel Hampton won't make the roster. No big surprise.


3:33 - Johnson misses Asante Cleveland who was wide open on a corner route in the endzone. Then another incompletion on 3rd down. Phil Dawson hits a 28 yard field goal and it is not 13-7.

3:41 - Aaron Lynch and Corey Lemonier have dominated during their time in the game today.

3:49 - Backup center Marcus Martin is down with an injury and they are bringing out the cart. He's had a rough start to his career in San Francisco.

3:54 - Glenn Winston with a 27 yard touchdown run. He has 56 yards on 7 carries today.

3:56 - The 49ers go for two and get it when Josh Johnson hits Lance Lewis in the right flat.


4:01 - D.J. Campbell with the hit of the preseason so far!

4:03 - Aaron Lynch makes another play with a sack. On the next play Chase Thomas just misses getting one too.

4:05 - McLoed Bethel-Thompson is now in the game.

4:08 - Bethel-Thompson looked pretty bad there. All over the place.

4:17 - Darryl Morris with a nice play to intercept a pass and stop a Chargers scoring opportunity.


4:18 - Bethel-Thompson takes a knee and the 49ers will win this one 21-7.

Thanks for following along everyone.
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