The Chargers’ offense answered back on Sunday morning.
After a rough Saturday against a defense that had its way with the line of scrimmage, Justin Herbert and company came out and found their rhythm in the third week of training camp. Los Angeles still has two official camp dates left - Monday, August 17th and a joint practice with the 49ers on Tuesday the 18th - and Sunday’s work gave the offense a much cleaner look heading into that stretch.
Herbert was sharp and active throughout practice, helping the Chargers get into the red zone several times. He spread the ball around and connected on deep shots to Quintin Johnston, Brenen Thompson and David Njoku.
The biggest reason the offense looked more settled, though, was the play up front. The offensive line handled the Chargers’ defensive front far better than it had the day before, and that changed the tone of the whole session.
Tyler Biadasz had one of the day’s best showings at center and, by all accounts, finally slowed down Teair Tart. Tart has been a force all camp, a constant problem for the offense, but Biadasz and the rest of the line held up well in both team and one-on-one work. That kind of battle matters now with the joint practice against the 49ers coming up.
Kayode Awosika also turned in a strong day and appears to have the edge in the competition at left guard. With Rashawn Slater out again after a setback with his surgically repaired knee on the first day of practice in San Diego during the second week of camp, the next real checkpoint for the line looks like that joint session with San Francisco. Herbert and the first-team offense are expected to get the starting series Thursday night against the 49ers, and the line protecting him then is likely to be the one that opens the season.
There was also some discipline handed out on Sunday. Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers staff have made it clear there’s no room for camp fights, scrums or dangerous contact. When a player crosses that line or loses track of the drill rules, he gets pulled and sent to work with director of player performance Ben Herbert.
That happened to both Teair Tart and Marlowe Wax. Tart got into a scrum with the offensive line, while Wax hit a running back in a drill where he was supposed to tap him down.
One other name continued to pop: Amar Johnson. The second-year running back, coming off an impressive showing against the Houston Texans, caught a deep touchdown from Herbert in seven-on-seven work.
He has made the most of his chances, and while it’s tough to picture the Chargers carrying four running backs with the roster as it stands, Johnson is making a real case for more work and maybe even a spot. At the very least, he’s forcing his way into the conversation for more opportunities.
In Other News...
Chargers O-Line Scare Vs 49ers Could Change Their Week 1 Plans
A joint practice with the 49ers brought an immediate concern for the Chargers' offensive line when center Tyler Biadasz had to leave the field after taking an awkward hit to the knee. The injury interruption was the sort of camp moment teams hope to avoid, especially for a group that needs continuity up front before the season starts.
The next snap at center became an important subplot, with rookie Jake Slaughter moving into the spot after Biadasz departed. For Los Angeles, the bigger issue now is how this affects the line's depth and the team's lineup choices heading toward Week 1, since a test like this can quickly reshape the pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Keenan Allen Just Opened A Tough New Chapter For Chargers Fans
Keenan Allen is moving on again, and for Chargers fans it lands like another familiar name leaving the picture. The veteran receiver has agreed to join the Indianapolis Colts, a move that gives him a new home after a long run in Los Angeles and gives Indy a proven option as it tries to rebuild its receiver room after trading Michael Pittman Jr. and absorbing injuries elsewhere.
The fit in Indianapolis is obvious on paper, especially with Shane Steichen now running the Colts and reconnecting with a player he already knows well from his time coaching in Los Angeles. For the Chargers, though, the ripple effect is more emotional than tactical, because Allen has been one of the most recognizable pieces of the franchise for years and his exit closes another chapter in a roster that has already changed plenty. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Injury Concerns Just Got Worse At The Worst Time
Joint practices are supposed to sharpen a team before the regular season, but the Chargers left the field with a much more uneasy feeling after their work with the San Francisco 49ers. Quentin Johnston, starting center Tyler Biadasz and linebacker Kyle Kennard all came away hurt, turning a routine August session into another reminder of how quickly depth concerns can pile up.
Johnstons issue appears to be minor, which at least offers a little relief for a receiving group trying to build rhythm. The bigger concern was Biadasz, who went down with a left leg injury and had to be carted off, while Kennards status remains unclear as the Chargers wait for more information on how serious the latest setbacks might be. [Read more 🡒]