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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players to watch vs. Chargers in Week 4

By Nicholas McGee

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 25: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 25: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers meet the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4 in their first game since Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury. Here are five players to watch.

The San Francisco 49ers first game since Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending knee injury is a very tough one.

San Francisco goes on the road to take on an extremely talented Los Angeles Chargers team that should have no problem putting up points against the Niners fragile defense and has the horses on defense to potentially turn this game into a blowout.

Here we look at the five players who could be key to making sure that is not the case.

C.J. Beathard

Beathard will obviously be in the spotlight as he takes the helm of the offense in the wake of Garoppolo’s ACL tear, and his first start of 2018 will be a good barometer of whether he has improved on his rookie season as he takes on the best defense he has faced since last year’s Week 8 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.

On that occasion, Beathard was only able to muster 10 points playing behind a decimated offensive line. That will not be the case against the Chargers talented unit, which will again be missing star pass rusher Joey Bosa.

The Niners are major underdogs to pull off an upset in Los Angeles. However, if Beathard can take advantage of protection that is much improved on what he received last season and put up points against Gus Bradley’s defense, hope he can keep San Francisco competitive will increase.