The Chargers don’t need a preseason masterpiece on Thursday. They do need something cleaner, sharper and more recognizable than what they showed in the 41-17 loss to the 49ers.
That game did not look anything like the explosive offense many expect this group to become in Mike McDaniel’s first season as offensive coordinator. The rhythm never really showed up, Justin Herbert was on the field for only three snaps and the unit spent most of the night going nowhere against San Francisco.
So the preseason finale against the Rams matters, even if only in a limited way.
Herbert is expected to see just six to nine plays, according to Jim Harbaugh, which obviously isn’t enough to judge the offense. But it should be enough to offer a quick look at what McDaniel’s system might look like with Herbert operating it.
The Chargers have spent the offseason talking about pace, and about how McDaniel can get the most out of Herbert. Herbert has also spoken about tightening up his footwork, mechanics and timing, along with getting the ball out faster.
Thursday gives them at least a small chance to show that some of it is real.
There’s more to watch than just the quarterback, too.
Rashawn Slater is expected back in game action after missing last season with a knee injury, and the starting offensive line is also expected to get work. That matters, especially with Tyler Biadasz out for the season after a knee injury and rookie Jake Slaughter stepping into the starting center spot. Any time this group can build chemistry, it helps.
The skill talent adds another layer.
Omarion Hampton has been one of the most electric pieces of camp and looks like a big part of what McDaniel wants to do on the ground. Ladd McConkey has kept building his connection with Herbert, and Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris and David Njoku give this offense a lot to work with.
No one is asking the Chargers to tip their hand before Week 1. But a drive that looks organized, a run that pops, an offensive line that feels more settled - that would be a real step forward.
That’s the bar Thursday. Not perfection.
Just progress.
In Other News...
Chargers Fringe Players Face One Last Shot To Survive Cutdown Day
With cutdown day approaching, the Chargers still have a handful of fringe roster battles hanging in the balance, and the preseason has given several players one last chance to make their case. Jacob Spomer, Amar Johnson, Andre Carter II, Junior Colson, TeRah Edwards and Greg Desrosiers Jr. have all been trying to turn limited opportunities into something more meaningful, whether that means a spot on the 53-man roster or a path to the practice squad.
For a team sorting through injuries and crowded position groups, those late-August evaluations matter as much as anything that happened earlier in camp. The Chargers are not just judging production in a vacuum, either, since special teams value, depth needs and positional fit all factor into the final call, leaving a few players squarely on the edge as the deadline closes in. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Special Teams Breakdown Put JK Scott Under The Spotlight
The Chargers had one of those preseason moments on special teams that can linger long after the snap, when a coverage lapse turned into an 83-yard punt return touchdown against the 49ers. Special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken dug into the play afterward and made clear the problem was not a single bad bounce or one isolated miss, but a unit-wide failure to do the job on the coverage side.
JK Scott still found himself in the middle of the discussion, since Ficken said the punter should have helped finish the play and was disappointed he did not make the tackle. Even so, the emphasis was on how the coverage lost contain and opened the door for the return, a reminder that the Chargers third phase is still sorting out its details before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Have One Last Chance To Build Momentum Against The Rams
The final preseason tuneup against the Rams gives the Chargers one more shot to carry some momentum into the real thing, even if most of the familiar names are likely to be off the field quickly. Both teams have already shown their hand this month, with Los Angeles on the other side of the city winning its first two preseason games while the Chargers have split theirs, and the matchup also serves as a reminder that the clubs will see plenty more of each other when the regular season arrives on Nov. 1, 2026.
There is still enough intrigue to make this one worth watching, especially with the Rams getting strong early returns from first-round pick Ty Simpson in exhibition play. For the Chargers, though, the bigger question is how much they can glean from a game in which both coaching staffs have signaled a light workload for starters, leaving the spotlight on depth players trying to make one last impression before the preseason closes. [Read more 🡒]