Cowing's 83-yard punt return sparks 49ers preseason win

Jacob Cowing continued to push for a roster spot with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2026 preseason, delivering a standout 83-yard punt return TD that highlighted his speed and vision after missing all of 2025 with a hamstring injury. Earlier in the same game, he flashed again on a 50-yard punt return, underscoring his value as a return specialist and his desire to reclaim a key role. The performances came as the 49ers relied on Brock Purdy and a productive special-teams unit to build momentum, with Pineiro contributing field goals and head coach Kyle Shanahan noting ongoing competition for receivers. Cowing’s exploits rekindled talk of a potential rematch against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in December, where they’ll look to build on the preseason showing. The broader context includes his recovery from last year’s injuries and the ongoing evaluation of depth at wide receiver as San Francisco looks toward the regular season.