SANTA CLARA — For the 49ers’ starters, Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers will be the most forgettable night of the season. The starters won’t even play.
But for the backups, Thursday will be the night their careers end or survive — perhaps their final opportunity to show they belong in the NFL. The exhibition finale is their Super Bowl.
With that in mind, here are five backups to watch closely Thursday night.
1. QB C.J. Beathard
The 49ers took a leap of faith when they traded up for Beathard in the third round of the 2017 draft.