Tag: Chargers preseason

Dates, times set for Chargers’ 2024 preseason schedule

Find out when the Los Angeles Chargers will take the field in preparation for the 2024 regular season.

The NFL has finalized the dates and times for the Chargers’ 2024 preseason schedule.

The Chargers will open Week 1 on Sunday, Aug. 10, against the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. That is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. PT.

Los Angeles will then face off against the Rams in Week 2 on Sunday, Aug. 17, at 4:05 p.m. PT.

The Bolts’ preseason concludes on Sunday, Aug. 24, with a game against the Cowboys at 1 p.m. PT on the road at AT&T Stadium.

The Chargers open the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 8, at home against the Raiders at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Which Chargers UDFA is most likely to make the 53-man roster?

Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler predicts which undrafted free agent will make the Chargers’ 53-man roster.

The Chargers signed 20 free agents after the draft, one of which was former Florida State safety Akeem Dent.

Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler listed every team’s undrafted free agent most likely to make the 53-man roster, and he believes Dent has the best chance.

Here is what Fowler had to say:

The Los Angeles Chargers have always prioritized versatility. Florida State safety Akeem Dent fits that script to a T.

Dent has experience playing at all three levels with varying assignments, and he operates with the physicality and playmaking ability that defensive coordinators covet.

Dent amassed 16 pass breakups during his five-year tenure at Florida State, and he recorded more than 300 snaps in the box, at nickel, outside corner and free safety. That type of versatility often paves the way not only for an NFL roster spot, but actual snaps.

The Chargers addressed multiple positions in free agency and the draft with the exception of the safety group. They did re-sign Alohi Gilman to a two-year deal, but the depth is lacking.

Dent is an experienced player, having appeared in 54 games (40 starts). He is versatile, as he has seen playing time at cornerback, safety and nickel. His explosiveness and physicality would serve well on special teams, too.

Across four seasons, Dent totaled 187 tackles, 16 passes defended, five tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Chargers vs. 49ers preseason Week 3: How to watch, listen and stream online

Find out how to tune in to watch the Chargers take on the 49ers in the preseason finale.

The Chargers close out the preseason on Friday night.

Today, they kick it off in a bout against the 49ers.

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

Game Information

Los Angeles Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers

Friday, Aug. 25 — 7:00 p.m. PT

Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara, CA

Television

The game will be televised on NFL Network and on KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. Matt Smith and Daniel Jeremiah 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’ preseason finale vs. 49ers

With one final chance to prove themselves, the majority of the roster will be playing as if there’s no tomorrow.

The Chargers head to San Francisco for their lone preseason outside the confines of SoFi Stadium. With one final chance to prove themselves, most of the roster will be playing as if there’s no tomorrow.

With that in mind, here are a few matchups to watch against the 49ers.

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston reflects on first training camp

Cleaning up the drops will be a process, but Quentin Johnston will still have a sizable role for the Chargers.

Like any rookie, Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston’s first exposure to the NFL was filled with some teaching moments.

While he had his fair share of highlight catches throughout the summer, Johnston also experienced some dropped passes, which he had been criticized for coming out of college.

In the preseason opener, Johnston had a couple of drops. However, he bounced back with a three-catch performance on three targets for 37 yards against the Saints this past Sunday.

“A step better, for sure. First one, I felt like I was confident to a certain extent,” Johnston said. “But looked back at the tape and had a few drops. That was something that is unacceptable, especially at this level.

“So, I took that hard,” Johnston added. “The next week I went harder than I did the week before and came back and feel like I did much better.”

This will be a process for Johnston, but he is staying committed to improving that certain area day in and day out.

When the regular season starts, the Chargers will lean on quarterback Justin Herbert to link up with Johnston to create explosive plays with his speed and quickness in space, the reason why they drafted him in the first place.

“I feel like he trusts me, for sure. Obviously, still a work in progress,” Johnston said. “I’m still fairly new and haven’t been in a full-game situation with him but I feel like it’s up there.”

Chargers roster bubble: Which players helped their cause in preseason Week 2

Which Chargers helped themselves as a result of their performances in Week 2 vs. the Saints? Let’s take a look at who impressed.

There’s just one week until all NFL rosters must be cut down to 53 players by 4 PM ET next Tuesday.

Unlike previous seasons, the Chargers haven’t had to make more minor cuts before creating the final roster. Many players have gotten their chance to prove themselves in the preseason. Of course, the practice squad will also be formed in addition to their 53-man roster.

Which players helped themselves the most due to their performances in Week 2 against the Saints? With one preseason game left, let’s look at who impressed.

TE Stone Smartt

Smartt led the team in receptions with four for 32 yards. Smartt leaped in the air for an acrobatic catch on a slight overthrow from Easton Stick. Later in the game, he’d throw a block to get his quarterback into the end zone on a designed run.

It’s probably still tough for Smartt to make the roster with Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, and Tre’ McKitty in front of him. On a pure merit basis, though, Smartt has been the most consistent tight end in preseason action, with Everett not playing. He’s starting to feel like a practice squad lock, even if he doesn’t make the active roster.

RT Zack Bailey

Bailey is a right tackle, as listed on the roster, but he’s been kicking inside this preseason for some reps at right guard. So far, so good. Bailey has easily been one of the best depth linemen through two games.

Bailey has 80+ PFF grades in both pass blocking and run blocking. The South Carolina product allowed just one pressure against the Saints.

Considering that the Austen Pleasants and Foster Sarell experience at the tackle spots hasn’t been much to write home about, I’ll be curious to see if Bailey gets some snaps at his natural position against the Niners on Friday.

CB Tiawan Mullen

Tiawan Mullen had a top-three Chargers’ coverage grade on PFF against the Saints. As far as the preseason goes, he’s been one of LA’s top performers in the secondary. He’s a relentless tackler despite his size.

In Sunday’s game, Mullen had a critical pass breakup on third down and was active as a special teams tackler. With the Chargers already loaded up in the secondary on the main roster, Mullen’s role on the team would primarily have to be on the practice squad. However, there’s an opportunity for him to get that chance, given Kemon Hall’s recent injury and surgery.

WR Keelan Doss

Doss has been the most steady Chargers’ depth wide receiver through two games. Many early preseason hype went to John Hightower in the receiver room as the potential breakout star to make the roster. But when the games have mattered, Doss has been the steadier performer.

Doss has six receptions for 81 yards in his first two preseason contests, 42 of which came against New Orleans on Sunday. The most impressive thing to me was how comfortable Doss looked being used in motion in the Kellen Moore offense. The Chargers did list him higher than Hightower originally on their unofficial depth chart, and it’s certainly played out that way to this point.

Making the roster will depend on the status of Jalen Guyton. Guyton is the sixth receiver if he comes off the PUP list before the season. But Doss is making a name for himself to clinch a practice squad spot or be the placeholder if Guyton is not ready by Week 1.

DT Christopher Hinton

Hinton is making a solid case to be the sixth defensive tackle on the final 53-man roster if tackle Otito Ogbonnia remains on the PUP list. On Sunday, Hinton had a sack, two pressures, and two run stops against New Orleans. He showed excellent hustle on his sack, in particular after knocking down a Saints lineman.

Hinton also played with a similar relentless motor in the first preseason game against the Rams. Assuming Ogbonnia is not ready to start the season, Hinton feels like a quiet lock to make the roster.

WR Terrell Bynum

An outstanding catch in triple coverage on 4th and 23 is certainly one way to endear yourself to both the coaching staff and Chargers fans:

Bynum is competing for one of the practice squad receiver spots, if anything, but he’s had a presence in camp. He and Hightower were both productive at the scrimmage, and he’s been consistent throughout the month.

Where Chargers can improve in their final preseason game

The Chargers need to clean some things up in the preseason finale against the 49ers.

The Chargers faced the Saints on Sunday and finished the game with their first pr-season loss, 22-17.

Here are some areas where Los Angeles can improve for the preseason finale this Friday against the 49ers:

Quarterback play

Easton Stick struggled heavily in Sunday night’s game, throwing inaccurate passes and interceptions all night. Stick also took sacks and folded under pressure as the game went on. The Chargers left Stick in the driver’s seat for the whole game instead of swapping him out for Max Duggan. This was most likely a test to see just how well the game could go if they played a single backup – and it didn’t go well. Stick threw for 233 yards, zero touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Only 21 of 41 attempts were complete, meaning Stick was only able to throw a completed pass 51% of the time. After this performance, it will be worth watching to see if Duggan will play the next game. If not, Stick will have to step it up, remain calm under pressure, and replicate a performance like in the preseason opener against the Rams.

Offensive Line

The offensive line crumbled around Stick all night, which didn’t help him navigate his shortcomings this game. Offensive tackles Foster Sorell and Austen Pleasants were the main culprits. When it comes to backup tackles on the Chargers, neither player is looking like a good option. Los Angeles will have to keep experimenting with offensive line depth in the next game if they give whoever is under center a chance at success.

Drops

The receiving targets struggled with drops all night, two of which came from last week’s star running back Elijah Dotson. Both drops were on the same drive and caused a massive loss of momentum on offense. This eventually led to Stick forcing a bad pass for an interception, which sealed the loss for the Bolts that night.

Tight end Donald Parham also dealt with drops, allowing Stone Smartt to make a great case for staying on the roster. Parham has had an uneven training camp and preseason, so he will have to step it up next game, or he will be in the hot seat come regular season.

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

Find out how to tune in to watch the Chargers take on the Saints in the second preseason game.

The Chargers continue their three-game preseason slate.

Today, they kick it off in a bout against the Saints at SoFi Stadium.

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

Game Information

Los Angeles Chargers vs. New Orleans Saints

Sunday, Aug. 20 — 4:00 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).

7 Chargers players to watch vs. Saints in preseason Week 2

Players who flashed in Week 1 will be looking to continue their momentum on Sunday.

The Chargers are still currently scheduled to play their second preseason game against the Saints on Sunday despite potential concerns with Hurricane Hilary.

Joint practices seem to have gone well for both teams. Players who flashed in preseason Week 1 will be looking to continue their momentum on Sunday while others will be looking to get their first quality reps up on the scorecard.

S JT Woods

Woods had a good week during joint practices with the Saints. Woods recorded multiple PBUs and even got an interception in the two-day meet between the squads.

Woods didn’t have a bad game against the Rams last week either. He had no missed tackles on the day and gave a clean performance on the field for the most part. There have been signs of improvement. But Woods committed an egregious penalty after he hit Ben Skowronek in the helmet after a 3rd down stop near the goal line. Stetson Bennett would go on to throw a touchdown to Puka Nacua just a few plays later.

Derwin James obviously won’t play in this game and Alohi Gilman is currently dealing with a knee contusion. This would be a great opportunity for the Baylor product to put an authoritative stamp on the 3rd safety role if he’s able to turn in a solid performance. He’s shown improvement in his tackling and in coverage so far.

K Dustin Hopkins

Hopkins has struggled to stay on the field during this preseason and training camp period. Before Hopkins returned to practice this week, Cameron Dicker handled all of the kicking duties in the Chargers’ Week 1 preseason win.

Hopkins returned to practice but wasn’t as efficient as Dicker by any stretch. He also missed a 48-yarder short. Clearly, his injury isn’t behind him and Staley seemed rather uncertain that he would even play on Sunday at yesterday’s presser.

If Hopkins wants any chance of making this team, preserving his trade value, or landing somewhere else after he’s waived, it’s now or never for 2023.

DT CJ Okoye

CJ Okoye’s sack was that was seen around the world. He’s been a star this week after his big play, appearing in a Chargers’ media availability session and “The Rich Eisen Show”.

Okoye is such a raw prospect in that he’s still learning techniques and football basics, but his development curve seems to be going well up to this point. He’ll be a free spot for the Chargers on the practice squad this year with the International Player Program.

Considering the Chargers’ need to keep their top defensive tackles healthy throughout the rest of the month, Okoye should get some decent mileage this week. He could see an even larger snap count next week as the Chargers wind down the preseason in San Francisco.

WR John Hightower

Hightower suffered a minor injury last week in practice that caused him to have to sit out the Rams’ game. Assuming the game is played Sunday, this will be Hightower’s first chance to do some damage this preseason.

Hightower burst onto the scene early in training camp with a number of touchdowns and big catches. Staley has talked quite a bit about his performances and the overall depth of the receiver room. When asked about keeping five or six wide receivers yesterday, the Chargers’ head coach did say that this wide receiver room is the deepest they’ve had since he’s been with the team.

Jalen Guyton is still on the PUP list and there wasn’t a non-53-man roster receiver who really made his presence felt last week. WR6 is still out there for the taking and Hightower will be able to play Sunday.

RB Elijah Dotson

Dotson finds himself in the driver’s seat for RB4 if the team does indeed decide to go in that direction on the roster. If not, he’ll likely at the very least have earned a practice squad spot when the time comes.

However, that’s contingent on Dotson staying healthy and finishing out the preseason strong. He doesn’t need to have nearly 100 yards and two touchdowns every week, but the team will still need him to back his Week 1 performance up.

The Chargers waived former 2021 draft pick Larry Rountree earlier in the week. The door is wide open if Dotson wants to run through it.

CB Cam Brown

Brown’s preseason debut did not include flashy highlight reel material, but he kept it simple and efficient. Brown had three tackles, two pass breakups and a run stop while also contributing on special teams.

Kemon Hall was waived earlier in the week with an injury designation after he had surgery. Hall contributed quite a bit on special teams as a practice squad member and rostered player over the years with the Chargers.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that Brown will be the next man up, but he’s certainly competing for a practice squad role. Of note, the Chargers signed Matt Hankins earlier this week at cornerback as well.

EDGE Carlo Kemp

Kemp flashed last week against the Rams with five quality pass rush pressures. His speed and bend on the outside were certainly more than most expected to see.

Another good effort from Kemp could earn him some more potential practice squad consideration.

NFL monitoring Chargers vs. Saints status as Hurricane Hilary approaches

The NFL is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Hilary’s forecast.

The Chargers are set to host the Saints in a preseason game on Sunday, but the NFL is monitoring the situation with Hurricane Hilary as it approaches the West Coast.

“We continue to monitor the weather and will (update the situation) if anything changes,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Friday, per NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan.

There are no plans to cancel or move the game as of now.

The storm has intensified to Category 4, and Southern California is under a tropical storm watch for the first time ever. No tropical storm has made landfall in So Cal since Sept. 25, 1939, according to the National Weather Service.

Kickoff is slated for 4:05 pm PT at SoFi Stadium.