This will be Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen’s 10th season in the NFL. But according to the veteran, it feels like his first.
“Feels good,” Allen said. “Running around, not hurting, feeling young. I’m 30, so the game’s slowed down. Just having fun.”
With Allen feeling youthful, the connection with his young quarterback Justin Herbert is unblemished.
The duo made this clear at training camp this past weekend when they connected for a 10-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone.
Allen and Herbert continued to be in sync throughout full-team drills as they linked for two 20-plus-yard plays.
The seasoned route-runner has caught 14 touchdown passes with Herbert as quarterback these last two seasons, which is a testament to the duo’s chemistry.
Along with Allen, Herbert will have a couple of other talented wideouts to distribute the wealth to this season.
Allen will have his partner-in-crime back, Mike Williams, who signed a contract extension this offseason. But second-year Josh Palmer is another ascending with the talent to make a jump this year.
“He’s polished,” Allen said on Palmer. He was polished last year, but now he’s coming in and understanding more ways to do moves and more ways to get open on routes, and he will keep learning along the way.”
Allen’s accolades include five straight Pro Bowls, with 100-plus catches and 1,000 plus receiving yards in four of those five seasons.