Tag: chargers camp

Chargers’ Josh Palmer making sure he’s not forgotten in top-heavy wide receiver room

Chargers WR Josh Palmer made a spectacular catch at training camp.

Heading into the season, the Chargers’ wide receiver room is headlined by veterans Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and first-round pick Quentin Johnston, while third-year Josh Palmer has been overshadowed by them.

During Tuesday’s practice, Palmer made a spectacular play with a leaping, one-handed catch with Asante Samuel Jr. in coverage in a one-on-one drill, reminding everyone that he’s just as important to the positional group.

“We feel like Josh is an elite player,” Brandon Staley said. “Our entire coaching staff will tell you the same. Through two years, he’s done a lot for us. Last year, over 70 catches. He’s a very complete receiver. You can line him up anywhere. He’s outstanding in the release game. He’s very strong.”

Last season, Los Angeles spent a good chunk of time without Allen and Williams due to their respective injuries. That led to Justin Herbert relying on other targets. Palmer seized his opportunities.

Palmer finished with 72 receptions for 769 yards. Weeks 9 and 11 were his most prominent games, amassing 106 receiving yards in each contest. He ended up establishing himself as a reliable target for Herbert.

“There’s a trust factor,” Staley said. “Justin will wait for him. Justin now knows where he can hit Josh in that sweet spot. Josh is a very, very complete player and he is a weapon and we’re excited to have him.”

Despite being No. 4 on the depth chart after the pick of Johnston, Palmer is not phased and he’s eager to be a significant contributor when his name is called this season.

“I feel like he’s got the same motivation,” Williams said. “Just to be in this league, you’ve got to be motivated. Show up every day, put the work in if you want to stay in this league. So, I feel like he’s always been motivated.”

Palmer’s target share will likely take a slight dip. Still, he is one injury away from resuming a more prominent role. Looking beyond 2023, if Allen or Williams isn’t back, Palmer should be a starter.

Asante Samuel Jr. ‘feeling good’ entering Year 3 with Chargers

Asante Samuel Jr. has been a bright spot for the Chargers in training camp.

In the last game cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. played in, he finished with three interceptions as the Chargers were shocked by the Jaguars in the Wild Card game.

Fast forward a few months to training camp, and Samuel has not skipped a beat.

Samuel has been a bright spot on the defense, especially on Wednesday during the two-minute toward the end of practice. He broke up three passes on the final drive in the red zone to seal the deal for the defensive unit.

“I’m just trying to get better and make plays for this team,” Samuel said following Wednesday’s practice.

“I’m feeling good. I feel like our team is getting better each and every day,” Samuel added. “We’re just competing really hard. We’re making each other better.”

Samuel has been impressive in coverage in his first two seasons in the NFL. Those skills have been on display on the practice field, as he has made great plays through the air nearly every day.

Samuel has played both along the boundary and in the slot, having his versatility utilized. With J.C. Jackson returning from his knee injury and Michael Davis handling the other outside spot, Samuel will likely play inside to start out the season and kick out depending on the matchup.

“Asante in his first two years, he has started every single game of his pro career,” head coach Brandon Staley said. “There has not been one game that he has been active for that he has not been a starter. He has earned that. He has gotten better and better both years.

“Going into this training camp, we’ve been able to see the versatility that we know that he has, but because of our depth and quality, we feel like we can put him in there more,” Staley added.

“He’s really improved inside because it’s a position that’s difficult to master, especially the way we play. We put a lot on that position. It’s not an easy position to play for us. It’s a feature position in our defense.

While strong against the pass, one of Samuel’s areas of improvement is in run support. In his rookie season, Samuel had a 20% missed tackle rate. Even though it dropped last season, it was still at 10%. Staley, however, feels like he is getting better in that department.

“He’s playing, from a technique standpoint, a lot better because he’s in there a lot more. I think you’ve seen, throughout these practices, him making plays outside and inside. He has to cover the tough guys in both places. He’s also done a good job in run support. He just needs to keep improving.”

Chargers CB J.C. Jackson continues to make strides in return from injury

One of the most encouraging takeaways as the Chargers kicked off training camp was seeing J.C. Jackson participating in team drills.

One of the most encouraging takeaways as the Chargers kicked off training camp was seeing cornerback J.C. Jackson on the field.

Jackson participated in seven-on-seven on Day 1 before sitting out of team drills Thursday. He then participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time Saturday.

Head coach Brandon Staley commented on Jackson’s road to recovery, stating that it’s all part of the ramp-up plan as he continues to work his way back from his season-ending knee injury in October.

He got a little bit more work than he did the first couple of days. As long as he keeps progressing, then that’s going to be the plan. [Director of Player Health, Wellness and Performance] Marco Zucconi and [Head Athletic Trainer] Sal [Lopez] are doing a really good job working him back into practice. He has looked strong and healthy. He’s been on top of his assignments. We’re a much better team with him out there.

Before the injury, Jackson struggled in his first season with the Bolts, as he allowed a 149.3 passer rating when targeted through five games. They hope he can return to his 2021 All-Pro form when he was with the Patriots.

That year, Jackson finished with eight interceptions (second-most) and a league-leading 23 pass deflections.

If Jackson is healthy when the regular season starts, he will start on the outside alongside Michael Davis. Ja’Sir Taylor or Asante Samuel Jr. will play in the slot, depending on the matchup, on a week-to-week basis.

Sights and sounds from Chargers training camp: Day 2

A quick roundup of the highlights from Day 2 of Chargers training camp.

The Chargers continued training camp on Thursday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, CA.

Training camp can be attended for free, but if you cannot be there, you will still be informed of the action throughout it all.

I will have training camp coverage with updates from practice below, courtesy of media members and fan posts.

Sights and sounds from Chargers training camp: Day 1

A quick roundup of the highlights from Day 1 of Chargers training camp.

The Chargers started training camp on Wednesday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, CA.

Training camp can be attended for free, but if you cannot be there, you will still be informed of the action throughout it all.

I will have training camp coverage with updates from practice below, courtesy of media members in attendance and fan posts.

What to watch for during Chargers 2023 training camp

Here are some of the biggest things to watch as Chargers training camp is a month away.

The Chargers are just one month out from training camp, and there’s been a lot of hype from the media and fans about what this team’s upcoming season could look like.

Here are some things to watch for if you’re heading out to Costa Mesa – or if you’re watching the stream of videos that will undoubtedly appear on Twitter this July.

More deep shots and 20+ yard passes from QB Justin Herbert

The Chargers closed portion of practice will be where the team continues to hammer out Kellen Moore’s new scheme. But in the open portions, we can expect to see Justin Herbert executing some more exciting plays and passes to new WR target Quentin Johnston as well as returning WRs Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer and Jalen Guyton. It is most likely that Herbert’s deep shots this season will go to his favorite deep targets, Williams and Guyton, over guys like Allen and Palmer. But the addition of Johnston will add more depth and yards after the catch to the scheme that the Bolts have been desperately missing over the past several seasons.

The return Joshua Palmer

Palmer has been sidelined this off-season with an injury and was unable to participate in minicamp. This triggered much speculation from media and fans about what his status could be for the season – if Johnston or Guyton would end up taking on heavier roles with Palmer’s growth potentially being stunted. Brandon Staley and the Chargers both assured Senior Writer Eric Smith that Palmer would still be a big part of their offense and add much-needed depth to the team. Palmer is expected to be a full participant in training camp this summer, so we’ll finally get to see just how Kellen Moore is planning to use him in the new scheme.

Cameron Dicker practicing as first-team kicker

Chargers kickers Dustin Hopkins and Cameron Dicker were facing off in minicamp this spring, competing for the starting kicker position on special teams. The Chargers officially named Cameron Dicker to the 53-man roster after minicamp came to its close. This bodes well for Cameron Dicker, but we will most likely still see Hopkins fighting for the position in the pre-season. If anything, the Chargers finally have more than one kicker to place their trust in when push comes to shove. Be on the watch for Dicker in training camp as he will be expected to have a near-perfect kicking streak when it matters most.

The Chargers cornerback room

A large question mark for the Bolts this off-season was the status of their cornerback corps. Since the return of JC Jackson this spring, that question mark has been somewhat lifted. With Jackson, Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr., Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, and Kemon Hall all named to the 53 man roster, the Chargers are opting to keep some extra depth in six players. This could be due to Jackson’s recovery process – a process that is going much quicker than many expected. Jackson’s injury is one of the worst to recover from, so it’s been incredible for fans and coaches to see just how much progress he has been making. So much so that he was in his helmet and running drills at minicamp. Jackson’s status at training camp will be something of note to watch. If the uncertainty around him remains then it would be likely that Davis would step into the No.  role after an explosive previous season. This will also be a great opportunity for second-year Taylor to show what he is capable of.

Projecting the Chargers’ running back depth chart in 2023

Projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers running back room will look like in the 2023 season.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be breaking down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Next up, I project what the running backs room will look like heading into the 2023 season.

Sebastian Joseph-Day describes Chargers’ offseason process with cogent cake analogy

Sebastian Joseph-Day broke down his offseason preparation with an excellent cake analogy.

Sebastian Joseph-Day has been a rock-solid contributor for the Chargers since signing with the team last year. A space eater in the middle of Los Angeles’ defense, Joseph-Day might not be the most widely recognized member of the roster, but his veteran presence plays a key role in keeping opposing offenses at bay.

Joseph-Day spoke to the media on Tuesday after practice, expounding on his preparation for the 2023 season. He gave reporters the broad strokes about his approach to preparation, specifically responding to a question about whether he “itches” for reps at practice.

Though he was unsure, he broke down his thought process in what could prove to be the best quote of the Chargers’ offseason.

“I mean, yes and no. The offseason is kind of like baking a cake,” the 300-pound lineman explained, mouth surely watered. “I know it’s a weird analogy, but you can’t skip one step. Each phase, at least with me and my training, you need to do this — you have to get the eggs, you have to [break] the yolk.

“It’s step-by-step. You have to put the baking soda in, you can’t take the cake out too soon. It’s step-by-step. The way I approach it, yeah, it would obviously but fun, but I’m year six in now. I really have a good schedule. I feel like a lot of vet guys have a good feel of how they ramp themselves up to make sure they’re peaking come August and July.”

Asked if he bakes many cakes after the cogent analogy landed with the press, Joseph-Day replied in the negative.

“No, but you know what? It just popped in my mind. After practice, I’m a little hungry, if you know what I’m saying.”

It is unclear if Joseph-Day secured himself some delectable baked goods after practice, but his explanation is sure to stick with fans like the glaze on a gateau.

QB Justin Herbert shines in first action in front Chargers fans at SoFi Stadium

Over 30,000 were in attendance to see the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Last year, the worldwide pandemic kept Chargers fans from experiencing at first hand quarterback Justin Herbert put together one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history.

At the team’s Fan Fest on Sunday, it marked the first time fans were able to witness the star signal-caller in person in Los Angeles’ new home, SoFi Stadium.

In front of over 30,000 in attendance, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year did not disappoint during the live-game situations that the coaching staff implemented.

Displaying incredible arm strength, talent and placement, Herbert connected with his array of weapons, which included touchdowns to wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and tight end Jared Cook.

Herbert also made sure to get the running backs, TE Donald Parham and WRs Jalen Guyton and Josh Palmer involved.

The team’s new and improved offensive line kept Herbert clean for the most part and Joe Lombardi’s play-calling had the offense churning all afternoon, even against Brandon Staley’s fearsome defense.

“It was a lot of fun,” Herbert said. We had a great time. It was just good to be back out there and, thank you to all of the fans that showed up and supported. It’s just good to be back to playing football. [Having the fans present] means everything to us, to see them line up and support us.”

It remains to be seen if the starters will play in the preseason opener against the Rams this Saturday but if they do, Herbert will be back in action at SoFi Stadium at 7:00 pm PT.

Updates to Chargers’ Corey Linsley, Kenneth Murray

The Chargers had a slight scare at practice on Sunday.

There was a couple of slight scares at SoFi Stadium during the Chargers training camp practice, as linebacker Kenneth Murray and center Corey Linsley both got banged up that had to be tended to by trainers.

Murray’s occurred when he was pushing tight end Jared Cook out of bounds. He appeared to roll his ankle and was walking gingerly afterwards. He remained on the sidelines the rest of practice.

Linsley, on the other hand, came up with a foot injury. He left the field with the team’s trainers and never returned to practice.

The good news is that both injuries are minor. Head coach Brandon Staley said they were pulled for precautionary reasons and that they would have likely played through it.

“We are being careful. If this is a ball game might be a different story,” Staley said.

Los Angeles does not practice on Monday, and it remains to be seen if they will on Tuesday.