Chargers rookie running back Joshua Kelley should be very familiar with his new teammates, coaching staff and the team’s training facility by now. But that’s not the case, as the coronavirus outbreak put all in-person activities to a delay.
Kelley, along with the rest of the first-year players, arrived a little over a week ago for training camp, and are now able to put all the virtual activities to bed after being limited to it since the spring.
Kelley wasn’t too bummed about not being able to take the practice field months ago. Instead, the Zoom meetings helped get him a lot of mental reps. He eventually was able to get some reps in with his positional group prior to reporting to camp.
“Usually you’re in the meeting rooms and you go out on the field (but) this year has been different, it’s been an adjustment,” Kelley said. “Luckily for me, I’ve worked out with Austin (Ekeler) and Justin (Jackson,) so I’ve been able to get these reps with those guys.
For me, I was almost just stealing some reps this offseason where a lot of guys didn’t have that. It was almost kind of a seamless type of feel for me, because I’ve worked through these reps, I’ve worked through this with these guys, so it’s really helped me in walk throughs so far. But, I’m not perfect. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, so I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’ll get better.”
Kelley has gotten the help from players like Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson and Hunter Henry as he transitions to the professional level.
“They’ve been great,” he said. “They’re fantastic role models. They’re great people, great players. They’re pretty much just teaching me how to be a professional. And for me as a rookie, that’s the best thing you can ask for, veterans just taking you under their wing and teaching you how to be a pro.”
Kelley, the former UCLA product, was productive in college. While he has the opportunity to take on a big role in the backfield, he admits that the game is a lot faster going from virtual to in-person activities, and he needs to get caught up to the speed of the NFL first.
“The biggest thing is getting a chance to see how fast things are going. For me, I’m in the huddle so I have to really process information (and) get lined up, and it just goes by really fast. I’m pretty sure when the vets get here, it’ll be light speed.”