Training camp time is underway in the NFL, and the Los Angeles Chargers have completed three days of it so far. While they have not been playing with pads yet, this does offer some of the first looks – or hints – at what we might see from the Chargers this year. Questions start getting possible answers and new developments come into play. Let’s go over some of the most interesting things that have happened this week in training camp.
Notes From First Week of Los Angeles Chargers Training Camp
Cam Hart Off to a Good Start
Cam Hart is one of two rookie cornerbacks this year for the Chargers (both in the fifth round), and he got off to a strong start. On Day 1, he made the biggest play of the day as he had one of two interceptions (Tony Jefferson had the other), outfighting Quentin Johnston for the ball. While Johnston is not known for his route-running ability, he has a pretty strong frame, so being able to completely overtake him is not an unimpressive feat.
cam was allll over that pic.twitter.com/Gvx7Nt98CG
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 24, 2024
If Hart can keep this up in camp and the preseason, he will likely be in line for a starting spot or major role player with Asante Samuel Jr and Kristian Fulton.
Wide Receivers Doing Well Early
After Josh Palmer, there has been a question of who all will step up at wide receiver for the Chargers. Multiple guys are giving their best shots at it early on. Newcomer D.J. Chark made one of the more impressive catches so far on a 35-yard touchdown catch, barely managing to adjust to catch it as he tried to fight off Cam Hart. That play does show the lack of separation that Chark tends to struggle with, but it does show that he’s capable of making good plays nonetheless.
chark week pic.twitter.com/7g25XhAILy
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 26, 2024
An early indication from Daniel Popper suggested that the main wide receiver trio this year for the Chargers (at least in 11 personnel) would be Palmer, Ladd McConkey, and Chark. Plays like this would further that suggestion at least in Chark’s case. This would also imply that Quentin Johnston will not be a starter this year, but he’s giving it his best in camp too. Despite losing that fight with Hart for the ball on Day 1, he has made some good catches as well, including this one in double coverage. It’s too early to crown him, but it is promising.
Brenden Rice had a nice catch here as well – a good start for one of the two Chargers seventh-round rookie wide receivers.
Unexpected New Fullback or Tight End?
The Chargers signed Ben Mason from the Ravens this off-season to presumably be a new fullback, though he had only played in one regular season game so far. We have not heard much about him so far, but one unexpected Chargers player who has been getting some training camp snaps at fullback – as well as at tight end – is guard Jordan McFadden.
McFadden was a fifth-round pick last year and started two games. He actually played some snaps in the backfield as a fullback last year too, and Greg Roman seems to be experimenting with using more of that – as well as an extra tight end. It’s unknown if he can catch that well or if he would just purely be an extra blocking tight end or fullback. This might also indicate, though, that Mason’s spot on the roster may not be entirely a sure thing.
Offensive Line Injury?
Rashawn Slater left the field on Day 3 of camp and went back with the trainers. Frankly, at this point we know too little to be panicking – the Chargers may just have been exercising extra caution so that they didn’t lose one of their most important players long-term.
Nevertheless, we did get to see what the lineup might look like if Slater were out. Currently, the lineup has consisted of Slater and Joe Alt at left and right tackle, Zion Johnson and Trey Pipkins at guard, and Bradley Bozeman at center. They put Jamaree Salyer in initially at left tackle – similar to what happened in 2022 when Slater missed most of the year. Later they moved Alt over to left tackle, Pipkins to right tackle, and Salyer to right guard – more similar to the 2023 lineup with Alt in place of Slater.
If needed, the lineup with Salyer at left tackle may arguably be the better option – he actually did better there (in his rookie year!) than he did at guard last year. It would be understandable if they wanted to put the best player possible to protect Justin Herbert’s blindside, but Salyer and Pipkins did not do well on the right side last year – and more of that would seem non-ideal.
But hopefully this ends up not being a problem that the Chargers have to worry about and Slater is fine or only misses a short amount of time and is ready by Week 1 of the regular season.
Main Photo: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
