San Francisco is coming off a 28-24 comeback win at Oakland last Saturday in which rookie running back Anthony Dixon scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:44 remaining. Dixon finished the game with 69 yards on 21 carries to state his care for the backup job behind starter Frank Gore, who made his preseason debut with two carries for 58 yards, including a 49-yarder.
Gore has put together a string of four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, which is a team record. His former backup Glen Coffee abruptly retired last month after his one year in the NFL, so the 49ers signed veteran Brian Westbrook to compete with Dixon for the job. Westbrook ran twice for 17 yards against the Raiders, although all of the yardage came on one carry.
Singletary did not enjoy the first day of September with his squad, as he had to separate wide receiver Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis on Wednesday after they got into an argument at practice. Neither player discussed what caused the incident, but both have yet to play a game this preseason due to injuries. Davis has been ruled out again due to a knee injury while Crabtree’s status is uncertain as he tries to recover from a sprained neck.
Ironically, Davis and Crabtree returned to practice for the first time since the second week of training camp and then made news for the wrong reason. Starting quarterback Alex Smith had not enjoyed the benefit of having his two top receivers in the first three preseason games and will likely rest here as well with the team giving reserves David Carr and Nate Davis a closer look.
San Diego has not been without drama with its receiving corps during the preseason, as Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson continues to hold out without a new contract. Jackson is set to miss the entire season if needed and hopes to force a trade to a team willing to give him a long-term deal.
Another Pro Bowler – left tackle Marcus McNeill – is also sitting out until he gets a long-term extension, but the Chargers have moved on and inserted Brandyn Dombrowski into his place. Dombrowski has fared well so far, as has Jackson’s replacement Malcom Floyd, who is coming off the best year of his career. Floyd totaled 45 receptions for 776 yards and one touchdown last season and figures to get a lot more action as one of the top targets for quarterback Philip Rivers.
Rivers is not expected to play against San Francisco after keeping San Diego within 17-14 when he left last Friday’s 36-21 loss to New Orleans. Backup QB Billy Volek did not fare well against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints in relief of Rivers, completing only 9-of-21 passes for 97 yards and two interceptions, including one that was returned 97 yards for a touchdown. Volek and rookie Jonathan Crompton figure to split the snaps under center on Thursday night.
Chargers head coach Norv Turner has some other difficult decisions to make regarding the final 53-man roster, as wide receivers Seyi Ajirotutu, Jeremy Williams and Josh Reed, running backs Shawnbrey McNeal and Curtis Brinkley, offensive linemen Ryan McDonald, Ryan Otterson, Brady Bond and Nick Richmond, linebacker Kion Wilson and cornerbacks Nathan Vasher and Brandon Hughes are all on the bubble to make the team and need to finish strong against the 49ers. Turner is a perfect 5-0 during his career in preseason finales and will look to avoid seeing his team finish with a losing exhibition record for the first time since 1999.
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