The Chargers’ season opener against the Cardinals comes with plenty to watch before the first snap even lands.
Sunday afternoon will give fans their first full look at Justin Herbert running the offense with new coordinator Mike McDaniel, and that pairing is easily the headliner. Los Angeles is also bringing back new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary, who steps in after Jesse Minter left to take the head coaching job with the Baltimore Ravens. Between the coordinator changes and a nearly rebuilt offensive line, the Chargers are rolling into Week 1 with a long list of moving pieces.
The run game sits near the top of that list. First-round pick Omarion Hampton, selected out of North Carolina in the 2025 draft, flashed against the Giants after injuries slowed most of his rookie year.
His fit with McDaniel makes sense on paper: the new offense leans heavily on outside zone, and Hampton ran more outside zone than gap concepts in college. That matters because McDaniel’s system depends on the ground game working.
If the Chargers can’t force defenses to respect the run, opponents can sit in lighter boxes and crowd out the explosive passing plays. But if Hampton and the rest of the backs get rolling, the defense has to pull more bodies toward the line, and that opens space for receivers downfield.
Up front, the Chargers are starting fresh. The line that takes the field Sunday will be completely different from the one that faced the New England Patriots in the wildcard round.
Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are back at tackle, which is a major boost, but the real attention will be on the untested interior. McDaniel should be able to help the group with scheme and motion, but the Cardinals’ defensive front will be a real early test for those inside spots.
The Cardinals’ skill players also put pressure on the middle of the defense. Denzel Perryman is on injured reserve to start the year, and that leaves the linebacker group in a spot where it will be tested from multiple angles.
Arizona may have top rookie running back Jeremiyah Love available after a preseason injury, but if he can’t go, Tyler Allgeier is still there to bring a bruising style. Then there’s Trey McBride, one of the league’s top tight ends, who will be aiming right at the linebackers.
That puts the spotlight on how O'Leary rotates his group, with Marlowe Wax coming off a playmaking stretch and veterans Del'Shawn Phillips and Troy Dye also in the mix.
There’s also the question of how cleanly all of this comes together. McDaniel’s offense is built on motion, shifts and a lot of verbiage, which can create trouble early if the timing isn’t sharp.
Pre-snap penalties, missed assignments and communication issues are all part of the concern, especially with a rookie center who only took over the job a few weeks ago. The protection plan will be worth watching closely.
In the end, the Chargers have plenty to sort through before this group starts to look fully synced up. The first test arrives Sunday, and the early returns should tell a lot about how quickly all these new pieces can settle in.
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