Los Angeles Chargers training camp is nearly here, and the offense already has a few names that should be popping up early in the reports.
Justin Herbert is at the top of that list. He’s spent the offseason working on his footwork, leading with his left foot instead of his right in shotgun, and those tweaks should start to show once camp gets rolling.
The hope is that he’s not hanging onto the ball and is fully letting his arm go, especially after not throwing as much this offseason. With more weapons around him and added help up front on the offensive line, Herbert looks set up for a strong year.
Ladd McConkey is another player worth watching closely. He was already projected to be the Chargers’ number one receiver this year, and if the hamstring issue he picked up in the offseason is behind him, he should be operating in that role from the start of camp. After a down 2025 following a standout rookie season, training camp gives him a chance to reset the tone.
Up front, Tyler Biadasz should be a key figure in the camp conversation. The expectation is that he’ll be showing up in reports for the protection he gives Herbert, and this is a crucial stretch for building chemistry with the quarterback and tightening up the offensive line as a whole. His experience with different teams and quarterbacks makes him a natural fit to help guide that group.
Omarion Hampton also has a chance to make noise. He’s had the full offseason to recover from multiple injuries and prepare for the season without draft prep hanging over him.
With Najee Harris no longer in the picture, Hampton is the Chargers’ clear number one back, even with Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell in the mix. As a first-round pick, he should be flashing in drills.
Then there’s Oronde Gadsden, who looks primed for a fast start. He was one of last year’s stars and, despite a few blunders, still lived up to the hype.
The receiving production should be there again, but there’s also room for growth as a blocker, possibly with help from fullback Alec Ingold and tight end Charlie Kolar. Herbert leaned on him heavily last season, and that role should be there again this year.
In Other News...
Chargers Camp Battle Could Reshape A Position Fans Thought Was Set
Training camp is bringing a few moving parts for the Chargers offense, and one of the more interesting ones sits at tight end. With new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel expected to shape how Justin Herbert is used, the team is also sorting through a transition for rookie Jake Slaughter and a roster that still has a few unsettled spots on both sides of the ball. That kind of uncertainty can create opportunity, but it can also expose places where the depth chart looked firmer than it really was.
Oronde Gadsden enters the summer with a chance to hold onto the top tight end job, yet the job security is not as simple as it once seemed. Analysts have pointed to his blocking as the area that still needs the most work, and the Chargers now have a veteran option whose profile gives the staff a different kind of balance to consider. For a team trying to get the offense aligned around Herbert, the tight end room has become one of those camp battles worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Camp Is Already Putting Harbaugh Roster Favorites In Danger
Training camp has barely gotten going, and Jim Harbaugh is already forcing some uncomfortable decisions across the Chargers roster. The linebacker room is crowded with established names and younger pieces trying to carve out space, while the backfield has its own sorting-out process behind expected lead back Omarion Hampton. For a team trying to build a tougher identity, that kind of competition is exactly the point, even if it means some familiar faces are suddenly fighting for their jobs.
The ripple effects are showing up on both sides of the ball, with veterans and recent additions alike being judged against Harbaughs preferred depth chart. Young defenders such as Akheem Mesidor and Tuli Tuipulotu are in the mix for bigger roles, and the running back evaluation is still open enough to keep several names in play. In a camp like this, the real intrigue is not just who looks good in July, but which roster favorites can survive the first round of cuts. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Still Have One Huge Justin Herbert Problem To Solve
Joe Hortiz made it clear the Chargers are still looking at Justin Herberts protection with a sharp eye, even after the early wave of roster work. The general manager said the offensive line is not finished being reshaped, and the emphasis appears to be on the interior, where guard play has been a point of concern while the tackles remain a strength.
For a team built around Herbert, that leaves an important offseason question hanging over the depth chart. Los Angeles has options to keep improving the group through free agency, the draft, or other roster moves, and the front office seems intent on keeping those doors open until it finds the right fit. [Read more 🡒]