The Chargers are drawing plenty of national attention again as the regular season opens, and a lot of that chatter has them as a real threat to finally grab the AFC West crown for the first time since 2009.
That buzz starts with the offense. After Greg Roman’s departure, Los Angeles brought in Mike McDaniel as its new offensive coordinator, and the fit points toward a much faster, motion-heavy system. McDaniel has built a reputation for high-scoring attacks, and the idea here is simple: put Justin Herbert in a scheme that can unlock him, then give him enough help around him - including running back Omarion Hampton - to keep the scoreboard moving in big games.
The Chargers also enter the season with something they badly lacked a year ago: a healthy offensive tackle pair. Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt both return after injuries wrecked the line last season.
When those two are right, they give Herbert the kind of pocket security that changes everything, while also opening the door to a punishing run game. The source material goes so far as to call them arguably the best tackle duo in the NFL.
That strength up front extends to the other side of the ball, where the pass rush still looks like a major weapon under new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary. The edge trio of Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and first-round pick Akheem Mesidor gives Los Angeles a group with serious division-winning upside.
Tuipulotu is coming off a monster season, Mack brings veteran savvy, and Mesidor adds pass-rush versatility and inside-out flexibility. Put it together, and it’s a front that can make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks every week.
Jim Harbaugh’s presence is another huge piece of the argument. He took over a struggling franchise and delivered back-to-back 11-win seasons in his first two years on the sideline. More than the record, though, it’s the way he’s changed the team: toughness, physical play, and a group that knows how to close out tight games even when injuries pile up.
And then there’s the division itself. The Chargers aren’t walking into a vacuum, but their biggest rivals are all dealing with change.
The defending division champion Broncos are working with a new offensive play-caller. The Chiefs are leaning on an aging core and an unproven, youthful defense.
The Raiders have a first-time NFL head coach and have finished dead last in the division the last two years. That combination gives Los Angeles a real opening if it can put its pieces together early.
In Other News...
Chargers Suddenly Have A Backfield Concern They Cant Shrug Off
The Chargers have been juggling enough health issues that even a smaller one in the backfield deserves attention. After season-ending injuries to Tyler Biadasz and a setback for Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles has also had to monitor running back Keaton Mitchell, who has now missed six straight practices because of an injury. The team has stopped short of placing him on injured reserve, which at least leaves the door open for him to return without the kind of long-term absence that would change the shape of the roster.
General manager Joe Hortiz said Mitchell is working through an issue but nothing major, and that kind of wording usually signals a team that wants to be careful rather than alarmed. Even so, the Chargers may have to handle his status with extra caution because of his injury history, and with the rest of the roster already absorbing significant blows, any uncertainty in the backfield becomes part of a bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Linked To Bold QB Move Behind Justin Herbert
The Chargers have been connected to a speculative quarterback move that would add another intriguing layer behind Justin Herbert. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report floated the idea of Los Angeles sending a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Vikings for J.J. McCarthy, the former Michigan quarterback who would once again be working with Jim Harbaugh if a deal ever came together.
It is the kind of idea that makes sense on a few different levels for a team already built around Herbert, since it would give the Chargers a developmental backup with familiarity built in. For now, though, it remains just a projection, and the more interesting question is whether Minnesota would be willing to part with a young passer before Los Angeles even gets a real chance to test the market. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh Practice Clip Went Viral For The Wrong Reason
A routine Chargers practice clip turned into a talking point for all the wrong reasons this week, after Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel were captured in the middle of a quarterback handoff drill discussion. The exchange itself was about the basics - footwork, timing and how to clean up the handoff mechanics - as the staff continues working with Justin Herbert on the little details that matter when the season gets going.
Social media, though, had other ideas. Instead of focusing on the coaching detail in the video, attention quickly landed on Harbaughs wide-legged stance, which became the unexpected headline from a session that was supposed to be about refinement and repetition. For the Chargers, the real point remains the same: getting Herberts handoffs aligned and the offense sharper before the games begin. [Read more 🡒]