The Chargers are building real buzz at training camp, and it starts with two names drawing plenty of attention: Justin Herbert and rookie wideout Brenen Thompson.
Herbert has already gone on the record with strong praise for Thompson, the fourth-round pick who wasted little time flashing why the Chargers were so intrigued. Early in camp, Thompson has turned heads with deep grabs and boundary catches that stood out in practice. Daniel Popper of The Athletic reported that Herbert said Thompson is going to be “very good” and will make significant contributions to the offense this season.
That excitement around the rookie is part of a bigger wave of optimism around the Chargers’ offense as new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel settles in. A Sports Illustrated report noted the growing confidence in Herbert’s fit within McDaniel’s system, which has been showing up throughout camp.
The setup appears designed to let Herbert use every inch of the field, leaning into his arm strength and his ability to process things before the snap. It also gives him a chance to get the ball out fast and clean while using McDaniel’s run-game ideas to create explosive play-action chances.
Around the team, there’s a sense that Herbert is working with the deepest and most complete supporting cast he’s had in his seven-year career. Practice clips have backed that up, showing a quarterback who looks sharp, precise and comfortable as he operates the new offense.
There’s also encouraging news up front. Starting offensive tackle Joe Alt gave Herbert’s protection situation a boost when he said he feels 100% healthy after last season’s major ankle injury, according to Kris Rhim on X, formerly Twitter. Alt also made his camp arrival memorable, pulling up in a 2009 Toyota Sienna and leaning into his love for minivans.
For Herbert and the Chargers, it’s been a camp filled with positive signs on multiple fronts.
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The timing matters because the Chargers are trying to settle roles before the season gets too far along, and Harbaugh made clear there is still a process to follow before anything is finalized. With the rest of the AFC West also dealing with its own roster business, from Denvers cap maneuvering to updates elsewhere in the division, this is one of those camp decisions that could end up carrying real weight once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]