Chargers vs. Saints preseason Week 3: How to watch, listen, stream online

Find out how to tune in to watch the Chargers take on the Saints in the final week of preseason play.

The Chargers wrap up the preseason against the Saints tonight.

Here’s everything you need to know so that way you can tune in.

Game Information

Los Angeles Chargers vs. New Orleans Saints

Friday, Aug. 26 — 5:00 p.m. PT

Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, LA


Television

The game will be televised on KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and San Diego. Noah Eagle, Dan Fouts, LaDainian Tomlinson will have the call.


Radio

ALT FM-98.7 (English broadcast)

FM 105.5/94.3 (Spanish broadcast)


Streaming

FuboTV (try it for free)


Social Media

Like Chargers Wire on Facebook

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Follow Gavino on Twitter (@GavinoBorquez)

Follow Alex on Twitter (@AlexKatson)

5 matchups to watch in Chargers’ preseason finale vs Saints

Highlighting five matchups to watch as the Chargers take on the Saints on Friday night.

The Chargers wrap up their preseason against the Saints.

With the roster taking shape, this will be the last stand for many players trying to make the team.

Here are five key matchups to watch Friday night:

Chargers EDGE Jamal Davis II vs. Saints OT Trevor Penning

Penning was the favorite choice of many a Chargers fan leading up to April’s draft because of his ability to play right tackle, but LA ended up going with Zion Johnson. Penning is now at left tackle in New Orleans, where he’s been the second-highest graded offensive player on the team through two preseason games. Davis, meanwhile, is still fighting for a roster spot in an EDGE room that may or may not carry four dedicated players with Kyle Van Noy’s role unclear. The stakes will be slightly higher as Davis and Chris Rumph will be out to prove their teammate was the right choice over Penning.

Chargers IOL Ryan Hunter vs. Saints DT Malcolm Roach

Both Hunter and Roach will be fighting for their football lives on Friday. For Hunter, he’s out to prove he’s worth a roster spot over the likes of Will Clapp and Brenden Jaimes. All three have had an up-and-down offseason. Roach is attempting to fend off rookies Jordan Jackson and Josh Black to retain his spot on the Saints. The winner of this battle, likely to take place deep into the game, could cement a place on the 53. The loser could be hoping for waivers to be favorable to them.

Chargers CB Ja’Sir Taylor vs. Saints WR Chris Olave

Rookie on rookie here, as Taylor has been the starting slot corner this preseason with Bryce Callahan getting his veteran rest. Olave, meanwhile, has rotated between the outside and in the slot. The Southern California native was another popular choice for the Chargers’ first-round pick and has lived up to the billing thus far. Taylor likely has a roster spot secured, especially with the injuries piling up at cornerback, but holding his own against Olave will undoubtedly help.

Chargers RB Joshua Kelley vs. Saints LB Kaden Elliss

Elliss has been the Saints’ best defender this preseason, per PFF, and is tied for the third-most defensive stops on the team. He’ll be the primary backer tasked with handling Joshua Kelley, who will be looking to bounce back from a poor performance against the Cowboys. A lot of the struggles as a rusher can be chalked up to subpar blocking, but Kelley also dropped his only target. With Isaiah Spiller nursing an ankle injury, Kelley has a shot to firm up his role as RB2 to start the season with a good performance.

Chargers WR Michael Bandy vs. Saints CB DaMarcus Fields

Fields is the closest allegory to Bandy on the Saints’ defense, as the UDFA has played more than 100 snaps this preseason while looking like a potentially solid depth piece at corner. Bandy has been the star of LA’s preseason, hauling in 15 receptions for 142 yards and 2 TDs in two games. Both he and Fields are battling for roster spots that may not even exist – Bandy is LA’s WR6, while Fields is NOLA’s fifth corner. However, a strong performance from either of them against the other could force their respective team to keep them rather than risk waivers.

Chargers RB Isaiah Spiller’s ankle injury not considered serious

Chargers RB Isaiah Spiller left the preseason contest against the Cowboys during the second half.

Chargers rookie running back Isaiah Spiller left the preseason contest against the Cowboys during the second half with an ankle injury.

Following the game, head coach Brandon Staley said they don’t know the severity of it, but Spiller’s injury should not be serious.

The timeframe for his return is unknown.

Spiller left the game with three carries for three rushes.

It was a stagnant night for the running backs vying for the second spot on the depth chart.

Joshua Kelley finished with 18 rushing yards on seven carries. Larry Rountree had 11 yards on four carries. Leddie Brown and Kevin Marks had five carries for 11 yards and four carries for 10 yards, respectively.

Los Angeles has one preseason game left, which is next Saturday against the Saints. This will be the back’s final shot to make their cases to be Austin Ekeler’s running mate this season.

Studs and duds from Chargers’ preseason loss to Cowboys

Taking a look at the best and worst performers from the Chargers’ preseason loss to the Cowboys.

The Chargers fell to 0-2 in the preseason after a 32-18 loss to the Cowboys Saturday night.

While the game was overall a sloppy affair, there were still a few individual players who made their mark on the game.

Here are the studs and duds from Saturday’s game: 

Stud: WR Joshua Palmer

After a quiet week last week, Palmer balled out on Saturday. His chemistry with Easton Stick was off to start the game, as Stick’s interception came on a play targeting the second-year receiver. Once the offense trotted back onto the field, it was the Canadian’s time to shine. Palmer hauled in a 41-yard reception on the next drive, adding another 26-yard catch later on, to get the Chargers into field goal range. On the next drive, Palmer took a screen 18 yards to the house for his lone touchdown of the game. He looks like a legitimate threat as the team’s third wide receiver and will only get more opportunities as the defense is forced to account for Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, neither of whom have taken a snap in the preseason.

Dud: CB Brandon Sebastian

Sebastian got picked on all day, frequently ending plays out of position or on the ground. It’s a second consecutive tough week for the undrafted free agent corner, who also had a pass interference that wiped out a JT Woods interception against the Rams. With Ja’Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard manning the fifth and sixth cornerback spots as of now, Sebastian seems like a long shot to even make the practice squad at this point.

Stud: EDGE Jamal Davis II

With Ty Shelby and Emeke Egbule both out due to injury this week, it was Davis’ chance to distance himself in the competition for the fourth edge rusher spot, and distance himself he did. The former CFL player looked like a physical force in the run game, shedding blocks for stops at the line multiple times throughout the game. He’s far from refined as a pass rusher, but the intensity and physicality he plays with cannot be ignored. It’s also worth noting that Davis looked like a sure tackler; despite Egbule’s seven pressures last week, he also missed four tackles. Davis’ proficiency in that area could be the difference between making the team and not.

Dud: OT Zack Bailey

Given the opportunity to start at left tackle over Foster Sarell, Bailey looked lost for most of the game. He gave up the pressure that led to Easton Stick’s interception to open the game, then went anonymous until the fourth quarter. Moved to the right side of the line, Bailey gave up two sacks of Chase Daniel, a major factor as to why the Chargers could not move the ball. It certainly looks as though Sarell will be taking his second team tackle job back next week, while Bailey now likely faces a nail-biting next few days hoping his name is not among the wave of cuts due by this Tuesday.

Stud: WR Michael Bandy

If Bandy doesn’t make the final roster, there will be a full-blown riot among the fan base. After hauling in seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown in last week’s game, Bandy followed it up with an eight reception, 69-yard performance, adding a garbage-time touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Bandy once again looked like a seasoned veteran against zone coverage, finding soft spots play after play after play. At this point, Bandy is forcing the Chargers to keep six wide receivers because he is not getting through waivers onto the practice squad. 

Dud: WR Joe Reed

With Bandy again looking like an NFL-caliber player, it was up to Reed to match him as he did against the Rams. However, the 2020 fifth-round pick was only targeted once in the passing game after a 4-catch, 61-yard performance last week. Reed also had a few hiccups on special teams, including a bobbled kick return in the fourth quarter that left the Chargers with a disadvantageous field position. With DeAndre Carter firmly entrenched as the team’s returner and Bandy handling punt returns this week, it looks more and more like Reed is playing catch-up in the battle for a roster spot.

Stud: DL Carlo Kemp

Kemp was all over the field in the second half, beginning with a pass deflection that probably should have been an interception late in the third quarter. As the fourth quarter got rolling, Kemp fought his way through blocks to pressure Cowboys QB Ben DiNucci, who fumbled the ball as he scrambled away from the threat. After recovering, DiNucci found a receiver, who Kemp tracked down at the line of scrimmage. Later that drive, Kemp found himself unblocked and made his way across the formation for a run stop at the line. It was a stellar performance for a player who was in the USFL this spring, and you’d certainly think that he’s upped his chances of making the practice squad with a showing like that.

Dud: Special teams

Giving it to the whole unit here because things looked as sloppy as ever. It seems that even new coordinator Ryan Ficken hasn’t found a way to cure the Chargers curse just yet, as just about everything but the field goal team looked out of sorts in this one. We touched on Reed’s miscue on the fourth-quarter kickoff return. LA also allowed Cowboys returner KaVontae Turpin, to run back a kickoff and a punt return for touchdowns in this one, the latter coming after rookie Deane Leonard missed a tackle at the catch point. Turpin is an excellent returner with undeniable NFL talent, but that only hammers home the point that the special teams unit will need to improve to avoid putting the rest of the team in difficult spots, as they did today.

6 takeaways from Chargers’ preseason loss to Cowboys

Highlighting important storylines from the Chargers’ loss to the Cowboys in Week 2 of preseason play.

The Chargers lost to the Cowboys, 32-18, Saturday night at SoFi Stadium in the second preseason game.

Here are my takeaways:

Chargers vs. Cowboys: Takeaways from first half of preseason Week 2

Highlighting the notables from the first half of the preseason matchup between the Chargers and Cowboys.

The Chargers currently trail the Cowboys in the second preseason game by the score of 29-10.

Here are a few quick takeaways from the first half of play:

Have a game, Josh Palmer

Palmer has done everything to show that he will be a key piece of the Chargers’ offense this season during camp, and he continued to do so tonight. The second-year player finished with three catches for 75 yards and a score, displaying the ability to win at the catch point on a 41-yard reception and be a threat after the catch on his scoring play.

Special teams struggles

While most of the starters are not playing, guys that are battling for roster spots and roles on special teams are, and hardly anyone did anything to help themselves. On both of the Cowboys’ kickoff returns, they went for 98 yards, a score, and 32 yards, respectively. On their lone punt return, it was taken 72 yards to the end zone. Players failing to get off their blocks and tackling were the reasons for their struggles.

Flashbacks from last season

The Chargers’ offseason priority was to get stouter along the interior part of the defensive line. While they did with the additions of Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson, who are not playing, the guys vying for rotational roles, did not do anything to make a positive impact against the run. The tackling in the open field has been poor, as well. The Cowboys produced 4.2 yards per carry and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

Chargers vs. Cowboys preseason Week 2: How to watch, listen and stream online

Find out how to tune in to watch the Chargers take on the Cowboys in the second week of preseason play.

The Chargers continue their three-game preseason slate as they meet the Cowboys at SoFi Stadium tonight.

Here is everything you need to know so you can tune in:

Game Information

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Saturday, Aug. 20 — 7:00 p.m. PT

SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA


Television

The game will be televised on NFL Network and on KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and Orange County. Noah Eagle, Dan Fouts, LaDainian Tomlinson will have the call.


Radio

ALT FM-98.7 (English broadcast)

FM 105.5/94.3 (Spanish broadcast)


Streaming

FuboTV (try it for free).

5 matchups to watch in Chargers-Cowboys preseason tilt

The Chargers meet the Cowboys in Week 2 of the preseason on Saturday, and there are plenty of matchups to keep an eye on.

After two days of joint practices, the Chargers and Cowboys are scheduled to face off this Saturday in the second preseason game of the year.

Dallas has yet to indicate whether or not they plan to play their starters at all this week. For this, I assume that most of their starters will be sitting out.

With that in mind, here are a few matchups to watch in the game:

Chargers CB Michael Davis vs. Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert

Davis has looked like a completely different player in the last week after splitting reps with Asante Samuel Jr. last weekend. While CeeDee Lamb is almost certainly not going to play, and Michael Gallup is continuing to rehab from his ACL tear, a matchup with the rookie Tolbert is still an important one to watch as the de facto WR1 vs. CB1 battle. Tolbert looked like a rookie in Dallas’ first game, but Michael Gehlken of the Dallas News reported that he looked “back on track” against the Chargers in practice. Limiting Tolbert’s impact could further strengthen Davis’ case that he should retain his starting role from last season.

Chargers WRs Michael Bandy/Joe Reed vs. Cowboys CBs Kelvin Joseph/Nahshon Wright

Bandy and Reed looked like much-improved players last week, and I think they’ll get in the game early enough to match up with Joseph and Wright, both of whom will probably start on Saturday as Trevon Diggs and Anthony Brown rest. Both corners are still on the rise as second-year players who saw action as rookies and should be roster locks, although there have been rumors that Joseph’s spot on the team is not secured. If Bandy and/or Reed can show the same flashes they did last week against these NFL-level corners, it could be the difference in the battle for the final spot.

Chargers C Will Clapp vs. Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore

Initially, I had this down as rookie Zion Johnson vs. Gallimore, but I’m unsure if Johnson will play or if his preseason will look like Rashawn Slater’s did last season. Gallimore has yet to break out since being drafted in the third round in 2020, as a preseason elbow injury knocked him out for most of last season. However, the third-year player has received rave reviews in Cowboys camp this season, suggesting that a full-time starting role may be in the cards. Clapp, meanwhile, struggled last week against the Rams. A strong performance against the likes of Gallimore could get him back in the team’s good graces.

Chargers EDGE Chris Rumph II vs. Cowboys OT Terence Steele

Rumph had the team’s best performance against the Rams, with a dominant day, including a sack of QB Bryce Perkins. With Dallas likely to start Steele, their presumptive starter at right tackle, the second-year pass rusher will have his first chance to line up against starter-level talent. Another solid showing and Rumph cements himself as a dangerous rotational pass rusher that teams will have to account for when Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack come off the field.

Chargers TEs Tre’ McKitty/Hunter Kampmoyer vs. Cowboys S Markquese Bell

Bell, an undrafted free agent, has been one of the standouts in Cowboys camp this season, leading many to believe he has an inside track to a roster spot. Versatility is a huge part of his game – Dallas reportedly views him as another version of Jayron Kearse as a player capable of playing in the box or matching up with slot receivers and tight ends. It’s an excellent opportunity for McKitty to show growth in the receiving game, where he’s been essentially a nonfactor thus far. It’s also a big chance for Kampmoyer to stand out and prove the Chargers need to keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster again.

6 Chargers who must stand out vs. Cowboys on Saturday

Spotlighting six Chargers players who need strong performances to improve their stock as final roster cuts approach.

The Chargers and Cowboys concluded two days worth of productive sessions which saw plenty of reps for both teams’ starters.

When Los Angeles meets Dallas for its preseason matchup on Saturday night, it’s more than likely that the players fighting for a starting or roster spot will see the field, like last weekend against the Rams.

With that being said, here are six players who need strong performances to improve their stock as final roster cuts approach.

Studs and duds from Chargers’ preseason loss to Rams

Taking a look at the best and worst performers from the Chargers’ preseason loss to the Rams.

The Chargers’ preseason officially kicked off Saturday, as they fell 29-22 to the crosstown Rams.

Most of the starters did not play, as Brandon Staley has placed an emphasis on keeping their guys healthy and prepared for the regular season.

While overreacting to the preseason is almost always a losing proposition, it’s still important to keep an eye on players who stood out, both in positive and negative ways.

Here are the studs and duds from the preseason opener:

Stud: EDGE Chris Rumph II

Rumph had arguably the best game of anyone on Saturday. The second-year player got the start with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack both sitting out and displayed the improved strength we’ve heard about all training camp. With a key third-down sack, a dominant day against the run, and another few pressures, Rumph looked like a much-improved player from last season. Chargers fans should be excited about Rumph as the third edge rusher behind Bosa and Mack this season, especially because it gives Kyle Van Noy the ability to play more inside linebacker.

Dud: DL Jerry Tillery

It was a bit of a surprise to see Tillery still listed as a starter on the Chargers’ unofficial depth chart earlier this week, but we pointed out at the time that Morgan Fox hadn’t separated himself in camp. Saturday against the Rams, we got the separation. Tillery got shut out on the box score in 12 snaps, while Fox had two QB hurries, including the brutal bull rush that led to Rumph’s sack of Bryce Perkins. Four other interior defensive linemen had at least one pressure. Tillery also struggled in the run game, consistently getting pushed off the line of scrimmage. While he may still make the roster, it’s looking more and more like his role will be diminished in 2022.

Stud: WR Michael Bandy

Bandy led the team with seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown, looking like a legit NFL wide receiver. The offense was lasered in on him all night, as he garnered eleven targets. That’s probably because he was running routes like this:

The former undrafted free agent from San Diego has looked good all training camp and could be pushing for a roster spot at this point. We’ve long assumed the Chargers would only keep five receivers: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, DeAndre Carter, and Jalen Guyton. But Bandy – as well as Joe Reed, who had a solid game of his own – could be making the case for a sixth receiver spot on the 53.

Dud: S JT Woods

It was a bit of a rough debut for Woods, whose most notable play was taking out Deane Leonard while Rams WR Lance McCutcheon cruised down the sideline for a 60-yard TD. The rookie struggled to finish plays multiple times on Saturday, which was a concern of mine on his college tape as well. The bright side for Woods: it’s clear his closing speed is elite. His instincts are there but maybe a touch too slow right now. The rest of the preseason will be about fine-tuning his tackling angles and following through to the ground rather than building a new player from scratch. There’s still plenty of reason to be optimistic about Woods, but Saturday was a definite “welcome to the NFL” moment for him.

Stud: RB Joshua Kelley

Kelley looked like the player we’ve heard about in training camp: a transformed body, renewed confidence, hitting holes with explosiveness. Isaiah Spiller also looked good, but Kelley looked like the RB2: not only did he get the first reps of the game, but he stood out while doing so. Kelley also flashed some receiving ability, something of a hidden skill for him, given what his role has been in previous years on this team. Staley said after the game that Kelley did exactly what he’s done all offseason: look “really steady and strong.” For a team that has emphasized consistency in their position battles this offseason, it’s a good sign Kelley has the upper hand as of right now.

Dud: QB Chase Daniel

Daniel led a few long touchdown drives and made the correct decisions, but overall his arm simply looked spent. Out-breaking routes looked tough for the 35-year-old and his accuracy was all over the place. Meanwhile, Easton Stick had his best performance as a pro in the second half. Granted, the offense looked rather simplified for Stick, who had many more opportunities on bootlegs and with designed escape hatches to scramble around. But still, it looks like Stick may be able to grab that QB2 role. It shouldn’t be a huge surprise for Daniel, who was always going to be kept around more for his ability to mentor Justin Herbert as essentially another assistant coach and not for his ability on the field.

Stud: EDGE Emeke Egbule

Egbule led the team with seven pressures on Saturday and overall looked like a more polished player than CFL signee Jamal Davis II. He was also within striking distance of finishing two sacks: on one, Bryce Perkins was able to slither out of his grasp; on the other, a teammate tackled him instead of Perkins and ruined both of their opportunities. Egbule did miss three tackles, per PFF, an indication that his run defense is still a work in progress. But in a tight competition for EDGE4 with Davis, racking up pressures the way he did will certainly endear him to the coaching staff.

Dud: OL Will Clapp

I thought Clapp got outperformed at center by Ryan Hunter, who’s making a real push for a roster spot due to his versatility at guard and center. Hunter has looked better than Brenden Jaimes at guard during camp as well. Clapp and Hunter both gave up one pressure per PFF, but Clapp’s led to a near-instantaneous sack of Chase Daniel. It’s not a great sign for Clapp, who was signed because of his familiarity with new OL coach Brendan Nugent. To struggle with that advantage on his side is a bit nerve-wracking. I’m curious if Hunter starts to get a few second-team reps at center this week in practice.