The Chargers have already had an eventful training camp. Wide receiver Mike Williams retired, only for second-round pick Tre’ Harris to end his holdout the next day. Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater was extended on Sunday. Running back Najee Harris is on the Non-Football Illness list after a fireworks incident.
Here’s what to take away from the second week of training camp.
Khalil Mack still has the juice
As he enters his 12th season, Mack still looks to be an impact player for the Chargers after contemplating retirement this offseason. On Tuesday, the veteran edge rusher destroyed an entire series of 11-on-11 in the first padded practice of training camp. He beat second-team right tackle Ryan Nelson on two consecutive plays. He added two more sacks during 11-on-11s on Saturday to close out the week. With Slater out, the only Charger that’s been able to block Mack is second-year tackle Joe Alt.
Trikweze Bridges turns a corner
Bridges struggled to open training camp, but the seventh-rounder settled into a more comfortable zone this week at cornerback. The rookie broke up two passes and intercepted Justin Herbert on a go ball on Tuesday. Asked about the young player’s performance, safety Derwin James told the press that “he had an amazing day. I told him, ‘Don’t forget this feeling. Remember how this day felt coming off the field.'” With a crowded secondary room that will need to make some tough cuts, Bridges’ performance was a strong step forward.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith makes his case
Lambert-Smith was the star of Wednesday’s practice, showing off his ability to adjust to the ball in the air multiple times with multiple quarterbacks. Paired with backup QB Taylor Heinicke, the rookie contorted to high-point an underthrown ball in front of cornerback Deane Leonard. With third-string QB Trey Lance targeting him later in the day, Lambert-Smith made a falling catch aimed at his back shoulder. With Williams no longer in the picture, the Chargers are lacking a proven in-air adjuster at wide receiver, which makes Lambert-Smith’s display that much more important.
Stock up for Ja’Sir Taylor
Taylor is fully mired in that battle for a roster spot in the secondary after losing his starting nickel job last year to Tarheeb Still, but the former sixth-rounder looks to have taken his game to a new level this offseason. He broke up two passes on Wednesday, including one in tight coverage against Tre’ Harris and another on a deep ball to Dez Fitzpatrick, prompting The Athletic’s Daniel Popper to say that Taylor “feels firmly on the 53-man roster”. Taylor also started at nickel on Saturday when Derwin James was at safety, as Still missed practice.
Dalevon Campbell and Nikko Reed are early favorites for the practice squad
Two undrafted free agents the Chargers signed this offseason are making huge impacts – and it’s not the ones many fans expected. Running back Raheim Sanders has been out of practice with an injury, and tight end Stevo Klotz has had a few moments, but hasn’t shown up as much as wide receiver Dalevon Campbell and cornerback Nikko Reed. Campbell, who played his college football at South Carolina, has gotten first-team reps on offense and arguably made the catch of the day on both Tuesday and Friday. Reed, who finished his college career at Oregon, had a pick-six on Thursday and intercepted Herbert on Saturday, and has been working consistently with the second-team defense.
Center competition gets a new contender
On Saturday, offensive coordinator Greg Roman told the media that center Andre James has “elevated himself into the mix as well” in the starting battle between Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson. James, who started 60 games at center over 6 seasons with the Raiders, has mostly been considered a backup while Bozeman and Johnson swap between left guard and center. Johnson has only gotten one padded practice at center despite never playing the position in the NFL, however, and it sounds as though the Chargers are willing to toy with the idea that one of their 2024 starters is not worthy of keeping a role on the first five this year.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 6 takeaways from the second week of Chargers training camp
Reporting by Alex Katson, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
