Chargers Panthers – Syndication Server

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston has breakout performance

Quentin Johnston’s career day against the Panthers was a long time coming.

Johnston, the Chargers’ first-round pick last year, struggled in Year 1. His rookie campaign was littered with dropped passes and separation struggles.

After showing signs of improvement in the spring and summer, it carried over to live-game action.

Johnston had two touchdown catches, tying the amount he had in 2023.

His first score went for 29 yards on Los Angeles’ opening drive. With Jaycee Horn in coverage, Johnston made a great adjustment to the football, reaching out to reel it in.

In the second quarter, Johnston was left wide open in the back of the end zone in a busted coverage by Carolina.

Johnston finished the game as the leader in receptions and receiving yards with five catches for 51 yards.

After the game, Jim Harbaugh heaped high praise on Johnston.

“Maybe nobody more excited for than Quentin Johnston,” Harbaugh said. “Everybody on the team really likes Q, loves him, respects him. Probably most of all because he’s kind of been picked on by a lot of people.

“It doesn’t faze him, he just keeps doing him and he works on stuff he needs to get better at,” Harbaugh added. “Most important part, he doesn’t ever get the big head. Just keep doing you Q.”

For his performance, Johnston received a game ball from Harbaugh in the locker room.

“That’s a great feeling,” Johnston said about receiving the game ball. “At this level it’s an achievement, it’s not always easy having big games like that.

“I just have to take that into account, be proud of it for this moment and keep moving forward and take that on for the rest of the season,” Johnston added.

Game Balls: 5 standouts from Chargers’ Week 2 win over Panthers

Find out who the five standout performers were in Week 2.

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.

Chargers inactives: See who’s in and who’s out for Week 2 vs. Panthers

The Chargers announced seven inactive players ahead of Week 2.

The Chargers are about 90 minutes away from kicking off Week 2 against the Panthers.

Here is a look at their inactive players today:

QB Taylor Heinicke

RB Kimani Vidal

CB Tarheeb Still

S Alohi Gilman

OL Jordan McFadden

WR Brenden Rice

DL Justin Eboigbe

Heinicke is the emergency third quarterback.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Panthers in Week 2

Find out who the Chargers Wire staff is picking between Los Angeles and Carolina.

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers.

Who is going to come out victorious?

Here is a look at the predictions from each of our writers at Chargers Wire:

Gavino:

The Panthers are the worst team in the NFL and it was on display last Sunday in their loss to the Saints. They lacked offensive production and their defense was a dud. I expect Los Angeles to have success running the ball against Carolina, who surrendered 180 yards on the ground. Additionally, I am forecasting a couple of turnovers for L.A.

Chargers 24, Panthers 10

Alex K:

Los Angeles should be able to move the ball against a Panthers squad that struggled to stop the Saints’ offense last week. Expect a more consistent rushing attack with JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards against a Carolina defense missing defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Defensively, the Chargers’ aggressiveness will likely be enough to confuse Panthers quarterback Bryce Young into a turnover or two, setting up for a big Chargers win.

Chargers 31, Panthers 10

Spencer:

The Chargers shouldn’t have much problem handling business in this one. They should be able to control the line of scrimmage, particularly with Panthers star Derrick Brown out. Look for Justin Herbert to make more big-time throws this week, leading the Chargers to a 2-0 start to the season.

Chargers 24, Panthers 13

Chargers will stay on East Coast between Weeks 2-3

The Chargers are minimizing the amount of time on airplanes.

The Chargers will travel to Charlotte, NC, on Friday to play the Panthers this Sunday. However, once the game ends, they will not return to Los Angeles.

Jim Harbaugh will have the team stay there instead of taking multiple flights across the country in back-to-back weeks.

The Bolts are slated to face the Steelers in Pittsburgh, PA, in Week 3.

Harbaugh noted that the main factor was the 1 p.m. ET start of both games.

Harbaugh said that he is looking forward to the team bonding.

As a team on the West Coast, the Chargers typically accrue a lot of air miles. Their schedule will span 36 time-zone changes between coasts, and they will travel 26,803 miles overall, the most among teams in the NFL.

Announcers set for Chargers vs. Panthers Week 2 game

Find out who will be calling the Week 2 game between the Chargers and Panthers.

The Chargers will travel to Charlotte, NC, to meet the Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 10:00 a.m. PT.

The Week 2 game will be televised on CBS and Tom McCarthy and Jay Feely will have the call.

Los Angeles looks to improve to 2-0 after defeating the Raiders in a game in which the defense was stout throughout all four quarters. Their rushing offense, led by J.K. Dobbins, picked up the slack in the second half to help pull away with the win.

Carolina, on the other hand, is seeking its first win after being dominated by the Saints in Week 1, 47-10. Bryce Young tossed a pair of interceptions and the defense allowed New Orleans to score on every one of its first nine possessions of the game.

The last time the two teams met was in 2020. The Panthers won, 21-16. Carolina leads the overall series, 6-1-0.

Chargers dominated in the trenches in loss to Panthers

Both sides of the line for the Chargers were outmatched, and penalties were another killer.

The list of reasons why the Chargers lost to the Panthers can go on and on. But one of the areas that had a factor in Los Angeles’ loss was their inability to win the battle in the trenches.

L.A. has leaned heavily on their pass-rush the first two games of the seasons, and while they had a favorable matchup against a Carolina offensive line that has struggled in the past couple of weeks, they were unable to generate consistent pressure or push.

Star edge defender Joey Bosa, who acquired the clutch sack in the fourth quarter, was outperformed by tackle Taylor Moton for the majority of the game. Other than the sack, Bosa only finished with two quarterback pressures.

Bosa was hindered by an ongoing tricep issue, which could have been a reason for his lackluster performance. But regardless, the Panthers did a great job with their game-plan by double teaming him.

Opposite of Bosa was Uchenna Nwosu, who filled in for the injured Melvin Ingram. Nwosu showed promise in the starting role, leading the team in quarterback pressures with five. He also played a role in slowing the run on a few plays.

The interior defensive line was not much better. Defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Jerry Tillery only combined for one quarterback pressure, and both players struggled to hold their own against the run.

As a result, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had plenty of time to distribute the wealth. Bridgewater was efficient at attacking the middle of the field, where the rest of the team’s defenders hardly had any answer for wide receiver Robby Anderson and company.

On the other side of the ball, the Chargers offensive line was outmatched against a Panthers defensive line that had not posted a sack in the first two games of the season.

Edge defender Brian Burns forced a fumble on quarterback Justin Herbert in the first half. They kept pressuring the rookie quarterback and getting in his face anytime he dropped back.

The offensive line also lost tackle Bryan Bulaga to a back injury. They had already been without guard Trai Turner, who was inactive with a groin injury. Ryan Groy played the majority of the game at right guard in place of Trai Turner, and Trey Pipkins replaced Bulaga in the first half.

In total, Carolina produced 22 quarterback pressures, eight QB hits and sacked Herbert twice.

Luckily, Herbert’s pocket presence and mobility bailed the group out on a handful of occasions. But that’s not guaranteed moving forward, especially since they’re facing a Buccaneers defensive line that boasts Shaq Barrett and Ndamukong Suh next weekend.

Penalties on both lines were another thing that killed the Chargers.

Tillery was called for illegal-formation on a field goal attempt, which led to the Panthers lone touchdown. Bosa was dinged for neutral zone infraction/offsides in crucial moments. The Chargers had three red-zone penalties from offensive linemen.

Los Angeles will look to execute better and limit the mistakes on the lines this upcoming Sunday against the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers.

3 keys to victory for the Chargers in Week 3 vs. Panthers

The Los Angeles Chargers look to get back above .500.

The Los Angeles Chargers are looking to bounce back after last Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend against the Carolina Panthers.

Here are Los Angeles’ keys to victory over Carolina on Sunday:

Take advantage of suspect defense

Led by rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers will have a favorable matchup against a Panthers defense that has allowed 32.5 points per game through the first two games of the season.

Los Angeles has established themselves as one of the better teams at running the football, averaging 169 yards per game, which ranks No. 6 in the NFL. Meanwhile, Carolina’s defense has allowed six rushing scores already.

While the offense can win solely on the ground, they will have the opportunity to exploit a young secondary.

If L.A. can create some big plays early and often with their plethora of play-makers, they should be able to control the clock the rest of the way out with handing the ball off to running backs Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley.

Pressure, pressure, pressure

The defensive line has been the bright spot for the Chargers, as they are second in the league in quarterback pressures. It was evident last Sunday when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was suffocated through the first three quarters, struggling to connect with his pass-catchers.

Los Angeles needs to keep the heat turned on against QB Teddy Bridgewater. They will face a Carolina offensive line, which features former Chargers offensive linemen Russell Okung and Michael Schofield, that has allowed six sacks in the first two games of the season.

The line will be without edge defender Melvin Ingram, who was placed on the injured reserve. But they will have the ascending outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu in place of Ingram.

Limit explosive plays

The Chargers’ pass-rush has been key to their defensive success, but they’ve been victims of giving up big plays at crucial moments. Last weekend, they allowed a game-changing 54-yard touchdown to Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

The Panthers will be without their best offensive player, running back Christian McCaffrey, who was used religiously both in the running and passing game. However, Carolina still has a weapon that is bound to make a big play at any given moment.

Wide receiver Robby Anderson, who was signed this past offseason, has recorded back-to-back 100-yard receiving games with his new team. The Panthers also have a couple of other players that can make an impact, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel.

Pounding the rock can lead to Week 3 victory for Chargers

The Chargers have had a lot of success on the ground through the first two games of the season.

The Chargers have ran the ball more than they have compared to recent seasons.

The tandem of running backs Austin Ekeler and rookie Joshua Kelley has thrived in the first two weeks of the season, averaging 169 yards per game, which ranks sixth in the NFL.

Ekeler has touched the football 30 times for 235 yards while Kelley has touched the ball 37 times for 173 yards and one touchdown.

Going into their Week 3 matchup with the Panthers, Los Angeles has the opportunity to pick up the win by relying on the ground game.

Carolina allowed 93 yards and three touchdowns to Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and 103 yards and two scores to Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette.

The Panthers defense has allowed six touchdowns so far in two games this season.

After seeing how well rookie quarterback Justin Herbert played and knowing that Carolina doesn’t have that talented of a secondary, the Chargers could resort to the air.

But the team could get on the board early and often with a balanced approach, and force the Panthers to slow L.A. from running the clock out.

If you’re fantasy owners of either Ekeler and/or Kelley, they’re must starts this weekend.

What the Panthers are saying about Chargers QB Justin Herbert

Panthers coaches and a player had high praise for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

It’s official.

Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert will make his second straight start this Sunday against the Panthers. It was announced that Herbert would start after Tyrod Taylor was ruled out “indefinitely.”

Herbert’s surprise start raised some eyebrows, as the first-round pick passed for 311 yards and two total touchdowns in the overtime loss to the Chiefs last Sunday.

After seeing his performance against the defending Super Bowl champions, Carolina knows not to take Herbert lightly this weekend.

Coach Matt Rhule called Herbert “a special young talent.”

“Justin is a really, really smart guy just from the draft process, has a great arm, can run 4.5, he’s a great athlete, big powerful guy. You watch him in his first start and he goes and plays at a really high level so he’s a special young talent and is a person I have a lot of respect for.”

Taken one pick after Los Angeles, rookie defensive tackle Derrick Brown reiterated what Rhule said, calling Herbert “a very talented guy.”

Brown’s familiar with Herbert because their two former programs, Auburn and Oregon, played each other last year.

What might the Panthers’ defensive game plan look like? Putting the pressure on Herbert.

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow, who said the team was considering drafting Herbert in the 2020 NFL Draft, said that the Chiefs did not blitz him hardly at all last weekend.

“A lot of people don’t blitz this team and they’ve had some issues when they do blitz. They have a lot of screens that can bother you. You look at Kansas City last week, Herbert is in there and they blitzed hardly at all and normally they pressure. Each week is a little different in your approach in when you blitz, so we’ll have to see what their game plan is,” Snow said.