The Chargers improved to 2-0 on Sunday with a 26-3 victory over the Panthers. It was more of the same in Week 2 for Jim Harbaugh’s squad in which they dominated the game in the trenches.
A few players picked up right where they left off from Week 1, while a few others put in a bounce-back performance.
Check out who the standouts were from this week.
WR Quentin Johnston
The second-year wideout is the biggest winner of the week. In perhaps the best game of his short career, he finished the day with five catches, 51 yards, and two touchdowns, all of which led the game. His first touchdown, a 29-yarder, was an impressive one in traffic. It’s nice to see Johnston step up in a big way and hopefully will be a sign of more things to come.
DC Jesse Minter
Do the Chargers finally have a defense? Okay, it’s still too early, but the early signs are promising. The defense, led by Minter, has given up just 13 points through two games. The performances have come against two of the league’s worst offenses, so we should remain cautiously optimistic for now. Still, Minter did a phenomenal job once again in Week 2 by completely blanketing the Panthers offense.
RB J.K. Dobbins
I listed him as a standout last week, and he deserves a shout once again in Week 2. Dobbins finished the contest with 17 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. His speed and burst look to be back, which was evidenced once again on his 43-yard touchdown. The explosive plays are reasons to believe this success can be maintained, as he now has 266 yards through two weeks. Moreover, Dobbins continues to separate himself as the best back on the team over Gus Edwards.
LB Denzel Perryman
Amidst the defense’s outbreak in the first two weeks, Perryman has led the charge in the middle of the defense. He finished the game with seven total tackles in addition to a huge sack in the first quarter that took the Panthers out of field goal range. His physicality has led the charge in the first two weeks, and the Chargers will need it again from him in Week 3 against the Steelers.
DB Elijah Molden
What a story this guy has become. Molden hasn’t even been with the team for a month and was given a game ball after the game by Harbaugh. He finished the game with seven total tackles in addition to the defense’s lone interception on the day. The takeaway killed any of the Panthers’ potential momentum heading into halftime, and it seems the 2021 third-rounder has earned more playing time moving forward.