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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
Keenan Allen raved about Justin Herbert’s preparation. Allen said, “He stays like an hour-and-a-half after practice just throwing balls…Philip [Rivers] never stayed after practice to throw the ball. Philip put in the work, but this guy is out here like an hour-and-a-half after, just throwing the same route over and over and over. If there is not a spiral, he’ll just keep throwing the same one.” Jeff Miller of the LA Times projected Chase Daniel as the QB2 behind Justin Herbert while expecting Easton Stick to be the QB3 with a gameday inactive role. Daniel went 10 for 11 in the passing game as the starter in the team’s final preseason game and led two scoring drives, including a deep pass completion to Jaylon Guyton. Stick played the remainder of the game and went 9 for 17 for only 74 yards. During the telecast, GM Tom Telesco said Daniel and Stick are “outstanding fits for our football team, and we feel like they provide a lot of value for us.”
Running Backs
Isaiah Spiller is dealing with an ankle injury and is week to week. This injury is notable because Brandon Staley said it was a minor injury after the team’s second preseason game before it became clear Spiller would miss extended time with the injury. There is a chance Spiller is ready for week one, but he is unlikely to be the primary backup. The final preseason game saw a change in the running back pecking order with Larry Rountree the first running back in the game ahead of Joshua Kelly. Before Kelley entered the game, Rountree had the first running back carry and reception. This indicates that the “battle for the No. 2 spot behind Ekeler is still very much in progress.” Kelley was the more effective runner, with 6 carries for 40 yards, but Rountree got the goal line touchdown. Spiller’s injury status and Rountree’s presence on special teams have Daniel Popper of The Athletic projection the team to keep Spiller, Kelley, and Rountree along with Ekeler.
Wide Receivers
The Chargers' wide receiver situation is clear at the top entering the season: Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both healthy and should be top performers in the offense. After the team’s second preseason game, Josh Palmer entered the concussion protocol, but he cleared the protocol during the week and has been practicing again. Palmer has grabbed the WR3 role in the offense and would be a front runner for “training camp MVP.” Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi was optimistic about Palmer, saying, “He’s a guy that, from Day 1, we felt really good about. I think he’s just getting better and better. So ... very excited about his progress.” The team is also expected to keep Jalen Guyton and DeAndre Carter over preseason standout Michael Bandy. While Bandy has performed well, his skill set largely overlaps with Allen and Palmer.
Tight Ends
Donald Parham has begun to increase his practice activity after missing multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and is expected to be ready for week one. Gerald Everett and second-year player Tre McKitty are expected to make the roster. Everett is expected to start the season. McKitty can also operate as a fullback and provides positional flexibility. The team is suspected to be one that monitors the waiver wire or trade market for tight ends heading into the roster cutdowns.
Defense
Kyle Van Noy has been starting at inside linebacker, but his positional fit will be monitored with Kenneth Murray returning from injury. New free agent acquisition J.C. Jackson chose to undergo surgery on his ankle to correct an issue that flared up earlier in training camp. Head Coach Brandon Staley said Jackson is “going to be full speed, and there’s no turning back,” with Jackson expected to return in two to four weeks, which puts his Week 1 status in question.
Returners
Joe Reed had a strong offseason as he returned from injury, but late projections have him failing to make the final 53-man roster, leaving DeAndre Carter as the lone return specialist on the team.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
The first-team offense has struggled some during camp. Camp reports have included Justin Herbert throwing some interceptions, but Daniel Popper of The Athletic was not concerned, writing “Herbert is very clearly trying to push the envelope in camp, throwing into tighter windows to see what he can and cannot get away with. Those mistakes will ultimately be beneficial for Herbert.” While quarterbacks consistently use training camp as a testing ground for what they can accomplish, Herbert has also missed several wide receivers in joint practices with the Cowboys. Easton Stick drew the starting work in the team’s first preseason game ahead of Chase Daniel. Each quarterback threw a touchdown, but Stick added an interception, lost a fumble, and took a sack. Daniel also threw a touchdown but did not turn the ball over. The team could keep three quarterbacks, but Daniel is the better bet if they have to choose one.
Running Backs
Austin Ekeler is locked into the starter of the offense. The real watch is the RB2 position. Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree, and Isaiah Spiller are getting reps at running back with the first-team offense, but Kelley started the first preseason game. Kelley also gets the most first-team reps in training camp behind Ekeler. Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi was complimentary of Kelley, saying, “He’s been sharp mentally. He’s running hard, decisive. It’s been a really good camp for him, for sure.” This carried over to the second preseason game, as Kelley started the game before Larry Rountree rotated in on the second series. Spiller worked into the game in the second quarter, which has been consistent in the team's pecking order. He left the game with an ankle injury that Head Coach Brandon Staley said is not serious. Notably, Kelley led the team in carries with seven, compared to four for Rountree and three for Spiller. Only Rountree caught a pass and was held to no gain on the play. The situation would likely play out as a committee in the event Austin Ekeler gets hurt inseason, but for now, expect Kelley to be the primary injury-away player.
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are locked into the top two receiving roles on the team. Allen shined in joint practices against Dallas, putting on a “route-running clinic.” Second-year player Joshua Palmer also had an “outstanding period” in joint practices against the Cowboys. Palmer’s success carried over to the second preseason, where he caught three balls for 75 yards on one touchdown. Most impressive about Palmer was his versatility, including his catch and run on a screen where he scored and a 41-yard contested catch deep ball. Palmer lacks the true top gear to consistently take the top off the defense, but his route-running ability should find him a lot during the season. Popper also observed that Michael Bandy “continues to shine” with his NFL quality route running but may struggle to make the 53-man roster. Bandy is not going down without a fight, as he led the team in receptions (8) and second-highest receiving yards (69). Bandy has shown well but becomes duplicative of what Palmer offers.
Tight Ends
Donald Parham continues to sit out of camp with his hamstring injury. Staley said Parham is “week-to-week on that. Just still being patient. But, hopefully, next week, we can kind of start phasing him into the work. He’s progressing, but I would say more week-to-week than day-to-day.” Tre’ McKitty has struggled to stand out, including multiple drops in practice after being injured early in camp. This has all left Gerald Everett with an early season opportunity to consolidate his starting role in the offense.
Defense
Derwin James signed a four-year extension worth 76.5 million dollars with 42 million dollars guarantee, making him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Staley called James the “heartbeat of our defense,” noting his positional flexibility. Staley added ““For me, I look at him as a defensive back. When I see him, I’m like, that’s a defensive back because he can play anywhere. He can play either safety spot. He can play corner. He can play star or money. He can rush the quarterback and make an impact as a blitzer. He can make an impact in man-to-man coverage. And then he can impact zone defense, whether he’s playing low or high. And he’s our signal caller and the heartbeat of our defense.” According to Popper of The Athletic, “it is clear…based on these 16 training camp practices, that the Chargers are going to be much better against the run.” Head Coach Brandon Staley was excited about the defense performance in joint practices against the Cowboys and the running attack headlined by Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Staley said, “I saw a front that was playing together…I feel like we were able to stand up to a good running attack and two premier backs in the league.”
Offensive Line
Four of the five starting positions are locked and loaded, with left tackle Rashawn Slater and center Corey Linsley the clear leaders of the group. First-round pick Zion Johnson (Boston College) has been one of the league's best rookie linemen, showing instant impact potential. The problem is right tackle, where either Storm Norton or Trey Pipkins will start. Pipkins is the younger player, but Norton has more experience. Both are replacement-level starters. This line is excellent, except for the mess at right tackle.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
The Chargers offense struggled to start training camp but has been performing better in the second week of training camp. In the team’s intrasquad scrimmage, Chase Daniel played ahead of Easton Stick. Both are listed as the second quarterback on the team’s first unofficial depth chart. Starter Justin Herbert was held out of the first preseason game, with Daniel again given the start. Head coach Brandon Staley said Herbert is not expected to play in the preseason, including “I think that it will be similar philosophically as last year. If we know who you are, and we’ve, from an evaluation standpoint, we don’t need to evaluate you, then you’re probably not going to play in the preseason[.]” Daniel got the starting opportunity and threw two touchdowns and added a nice scramble before Stick entered the game. Stick struggled, throwing an interception and taking a sack, but ran for a touchdown.
Running Backs
Austin Ekeler is locked into the starting role in the offense, but there is healthy competition for the number two spot in the backfield. The team’s first depth chart listed the backups as Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree, and Isaiah Spiller. The depth chart was true to form as Kelley was working with the first team offense in the team’s intrasquad scrimmage and in the team’s first preseason game. Staley was positive on Joshua Kelley, saying, “He’s just become a more complete back. Physically, he really has come in in outstanding shape. I think he’s much stronger, much more compact.” Staley noted Isaiah Spiller has been an “impact player on special teams. That's not something that he did at Texas A&M, but he's really shown the willingness to get better at that.” Kelley and Rountree each had three carries, while Kelley had three catches. Spiller had a big opportunity in the second half of the game but failed to distinguish himself. The ordering of his workload will be a critical watch in future weeks.
Wide Receivers
Albert Breer observed the wide receivers are a “big-time strength” and “Keenan Allen looks like Keenan Allen. Mike Williams returns after signing his new deal and looks like a more complete player. And the one to watch is Josh Palmer, who has inside/outside versatility and is already, in Year 2, a very developed route-runner.” Allen and Williams were both held out of the first preseason game. DAndre Carter has worked with the first-team offense and caught a deep throw from Justin Herbert in the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. Carter adds a speed element to the offense the Chargers have been seeking out. Joe Reed also caught a deep touchdown from Daniel on the first drive of the game. Josh Palmer played with the first team and had a drop, while failing to catch any of his four targets. Michael Bandy made a good showing for himself catching a team-high seven passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. Outside of Allen, Williams, and Palmer, the depth chart is open, particularly for a player that can stretch the field.
Tight Ends
According to the team’s first depth chart, Gerald Everett is listed as the starter, ahead of Donald Parham and Tre’ McKitty. Notably, second-year player McKitty is listed as the second-team fullback behind Zander Horvath and Gabe Nabers, who are listed as the lead fullbacks. Everett was held out of the team’s first preseason game with the starters. Parham has been out of practice with a hamstring injury and will likely miss over a week of practice.
Defense
Derwin James continues to sit out of practice during contract negotiations. Staley said, “A huge part of me wishes that he was out here. It would make everybody a lot better. But this is just part of the process. This is a big thing for him, and we’re working through it, and we’ve done a really good job, as an organization and with his team, of working through it together.” Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote, “Joey Bosa is in his second year in Brandon Staley’s defense, is healthy, and the Chargers expect him to have a monster season—he’s been virtually unblockable in camp.”
Returners
The Chargers signed return specialist DeAndre Carter from Washington this offseason, and all early August reports say he's leading the charge to field kickoffs and punts this year. One potential challenger is Joe Reed, who fielded kickoffs for the Chargers in 2020 before missing 2021 with an ankle injury. Head coach recently Brandon Staley singled Reed out for praise, saying, "We’re really going to try to take a long look at him on special teams and see if he can carve a role for himself on offense. He’s improved a lot."
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
The early part of training camp was a struggle for the passing game against the new-look Chargers defense. Daniel Popper of The Athletic noted that positives for “Herbert and the offense were few and far between” in the opening days of training camp. Keenan Allen also colorfully bragged on the defense. Things improved, as Lindsey Thiry of ESPN noted how Herbert “places a ball so only his target can catch it, always reaching away from the DB, is pretty incredible” thus far in camp. Head coach Brandon Staley was optimistic about the direction of the offense through a week of training camp. Staley said Herbert “has improved so much, too. They're a tough cover. I knew that last year in camp. Each day, I was like, 'Hey, this is a tough cover.' But now, it's so much tougher because they now have an ever further command of the system. Now, they're able to play even more confidently. Really excited about where they're at, and they must continue to improve.” Easton Stick and Chase Daniel are rotating work with the second unit offense in team drills.
Running Backs
Early in camp, Austin Ekeler, Larry Rountree, and Joshua Kelley received first-team work at running back. When pads came on, Isaiah Spiller also worked with the first-team offense, a critical step in his campaign to win the injury-away role behind Ekeler. Running Back Coach Derrick Foster complimented Kelley’s game intelligence and pass protection while noting he put on good weight during the offseason. Foster also noted Rountree “spent a lot of time in the offseason on his craft, spent a lot of time on the mental part of the game.” Foster said Spiller is a blend of both, saying, “I like the speed, the pass-catching ability, and the ability to be able to run with the ball in his hands.” Daniel Popper of The Athletic noted, “Spiller continues to play primarily with the second and third teams, but his physicality is starting to pop now that pads are on.” This was before he began getting first-team reps, a sign his development is on the right track. According to Popper, the best outcome is that Spiller emerges as the backup running back in preseason games because “The team clearly loves his skill set.” Brandon Staley said Austin Ekeler is having an outstanding camp and that he did not want to take for granted a great player.
Wide Receivers
The wide receiver corps is well defined, with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as one of the top duos in the league. Noting that he is 30 and in his 10th season in the NFL, Allen said he “feels good. Running around, not hurting, feeling young. I’m 30, so the game’s slowed down. Just having fun.” Allen was complimentary of second-year man Josh Palmer saying, “He was polished last year, but now he’s coming in and understanding more ways to do moves and more ways to get open on routes, and he will keep learning along the way.” Mike Williams, fresh off a 3 year contract, drew praise from J.C. Jackson saying “Mike is a big, aggressive receiver. He plays in the boundary; I play in the boundary. It’s fun going up against him every day. We’re competing. I’m making him better. He is making me better. I enjoy it.” Wide Receiver DeAndre Carter is enjoying a strong start to camp. Thought of more of a kick returning when he signed in free agency, he had four touchdowns in red zone drills in three practices, and drew praise from Head Coach Brandon Staley. Staley said, “He is a very good receiver. He is not just a return specialist. This guy can play offense. He can play in the slot. He can play out wide. He’s very good after the catch.” Carter’s ability to contribute behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams would increase his odds to make the roster. Joe Reed should compete for one of the last wide receiver spots. Reed missed all last season but looked close to his 2021 training camp form.
Tight Ends
According to Daniel Popper of The Athletic, Donald “Parham is having a great camp, and it is clear he will once again be a prominent piece in the Chargers’ downfield passing attack.” The news was tempered when Parham limped off from practice over the weekend before the trainers worked on him and placed a wrap on his left thigh. Second-year tight end Tre McKitty is dealing with a soft tissue injury and is considered day-to-day. The injuries at the position can open an opportunity for free agent acquisition Gerald Everett.
Defense
Safety Derwin James is holding in as he waits for a new deal. Under the new CBA, James would be punished for not showing up to training camp, so he reported but is not practicing, missing more than a week with no end directly in sight. Linebacker Drue Tranquill missed multiple practices during the week with a groin injury that is not expected to be long-term. Tranquill was working with the first team before he was injured. Kenneth Murray is on the PUP list after offseason ankle surgery. Staley said of Murray’s return, “I’m hoping it’s some point during camp. We’re not close yet, but he is improving, and he’s getting more and more confident. Our goal for him was just to be here at some point during camp, and I think that goal is achievable.”
