The Chargers’ defense has wasted no time carrying the edge from the preseason opener into training camp work back in Southern California. After smothering Houston and holding the Texans scoreless after the opening drive, that same energy showed up again Saturday, where the offense spent most of the day trying to survive.
Teair Tart was right in the middle of it. The Chargers kept their four main defensive tackles - Tart, Jamaree Caldwell, Dalvin Tomlinson and Justin Eboigbe - out of the Texans game, giving the younger linemen a chance to put something on tape. Tart took full advantage of that opportunity once practice resumed, repeatedly wrecking plays and making life miserable for the offense.
One of his best moments came against rookie left guard Jake Slaughter, who started with the first group while Kayode Awosika rotated in. Tart beat Slaughter cleanly on a pass rep and helped force a sack of Justin Herbert, one of several disruptive plays he logged during the session.
The defense as a whole controlled the day. In team drills, Herbert and the starters eventually pushed the ball into the red zone, but the drive died when Trey Lance came in and threw an interception to safety Elijah Molden. That was only part of a rough afternoon for the offense, which also had to deal with pressure from Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Akheem Mesidor, Nadame Tucker, Justin Eboigbe and Andre Carter, all of whom had plays that would have ended in sacks.
There were clean reps on the back end too. Deane Leonard had a strong day in coverage, and Troy Dye, Genesis Smith and Eboigbe each recorded pass breakups.
The left guard competition is still very much live, but the picture is starting to sharpen. Slaughter worked with the first team again, Awosika rotated through, and Branson Taylor handled second-team reps.
With Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel pointing to a resolution in the next week or so, the next few days could matter a lot. The Chargers are expected to give Herbert and the starters a series against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, and Tuesday’s joint practice with San Francisco may end up deciding the job before the game even kicks off.
Quarterback-wise, there’s at least a little more to watch than just Herbert’s first series. Lance, who joined the Chargers last offseason and eventually earned the backup job, and DJ Uiagalelei, who made the practice squad after competing as an undrafted free agent in 2025, were both back in the mix this offseason. Uiagalelei reportedly picked up Mike McDaniel’s offense quickly in OTAs and carried that into camp.
Against Houston, both quarterbacks had solid moments, but Lance also put together at least two throws he’d like back - one intercepted and another that should have been. Uiagalelei, meanwhile, ran a near-perfect offense with the third team, prompting Harbaugh to say, "I thought both played really well."
Harbaugh added, "And DJ, what more do you have to do? 148.6 quarterback rating. That's pretty darn good."
Lance continued to take second-team reps Saturday, though Uiagalelei got his first snaps with that group on Tuesday before the preseason game. If that usage keeps expanding, it could mean the Chargers have more than just a backup plan to sort out.
In Other News...
Amar Johnson Just Turned Up The Heat In The Chargers Backfield
Amar Johnson spent the preseason game against Houston showing why the Chargers backfield is starting to feel crowded in a hurry. He handled six carries for 17 yards and added two catches for 68 yards, flashing the kind of versatility that can make a young running back stand out when roster spots are at a premium.
Johnson also gave Los Angeles a look at what he can do as a receiver, which matters in a room that already includes Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, Greg DeRosiers and Jared Patterson. The Chargers are sorting through a lot of competition at one position, and Johnsons night at least made the conversation a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Roster Battle Just Got Tougher After What Happened In Houston
The Chargers got another look at the back end of their roster picture in Houston, where several fringe players made a case to stick around. Jahmeer Carter, Jake Slaughter, Keandre Lambert-Smith, Marlowe Wax, Amar Johnson and DJ Uiagalelei each had moments that matter in August, the kind of snaps coaches and front office staff lean on when the decision-making gets tougher later in camp. It is the sort of preseason performance that can help a player climb from the outside of the conversation to the edge of it.
Amar Johnson, in particular, added some real intrigue with a showing that caught the attention of the sideline, while Uiagaleleis night also gave the staff a chance to evaluate him in game action. For a team sorting through the final layers of its roster, games like this can quietly shape the last few spots and special teams depth, even if the bigger names barely enter the discussion. The Texans matchup did not settle anything, but it did make the competition a little more crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Front Seven Could Steal L.A. Bragging Rights From The Rams
The two teams sharing SoFi Stadium are heading into the season with very different defensive vibes. The Rams made the louder offseason splash with aggressive moves for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, and there is still intrigue around whether Aaron Donald might come back into the picture. The Chargers, by contrast, were quieter in free agency, but their 2025 defense already showed real promise, especially up front, and that has kept them in the conversation in a town where every edge gets compared.
Training camp has only sharpened that view, with the Chargers front seven drawing steady attention as a group that could change the way the race for L.A. bragging rights looks this fall. First-round pick Akheem Mesidor has been part of that buzz, and the broader expectation is that both defenses should be better at getting to the quarterback. For the Chargers, the question is whether a less flashy offseason can still translate into the kind of pass-rush improvement that makes the rest of the city notice. [Read more 🡒]