Chargers WR Joshua Palmer sounds off on fight that led to ejection

Joshua Palmer said that he thought Raiders defenders were getting frustrated by the physicality of the receivers’ blocking.

Joshua Palmer and Jack Jones were ejected late in the fourth quarter of the Chargers’ win over the Raiders on Sunday.

Multiple players got into a fight following a two-point conversion attempt with 3:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, Palmer and Jones being the notable players involved.

Ladd McConkey was blocking Epps, and Palmer went to help. The two got into a fight in the back of the end zone. While attempting to break them up, other fights ensued, including between Quentin Johnston and Maxx Crosby.

After the game, Palmer told ESPN’s Kris Rhim and other reporters that he “got punched a lot,” including once by Jones earlier in the contest.

“They came and started throwing punches, but we’re not going to be punching bags,” Palmer said. “So we had to defend ourselves.”

Palmer said that he thought Raiders defenders were getting frustrated by the physicality of the receivers’ blocking.

“It’s not personal. There’s no bad blood,” Palmer added. “UFC guys beat up each other for a living, then they go back and shake hands. Especially in football, it’s nothing like that. But it’s not personal at all. We just do our job as hard as we can. We’re not trying to hurt anybody”

Jim Harbaugh said the team didn’t talk about the fight after the game.

“Just trying to get our guys back, get ’em separated, keep the rest of the guys coming,” Harbaugh said. “I just tried to break it up.”

Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Raiders in season opener

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ 22-10 win over the Raiders.

The Chargers kicked off the Jim Harbaugh era in the win column, defeating the Raiders by the score of 22-10.

Here’s our recap of the Bolts’ victory in the season opener.

It was over when…

Ladd McConkey found the end zone to put the Chargers up two scores with less than four minutes remaining in the game.

Highlight of the game

The Chargers’ first touchdown of the season

https://twitter.com/chargers/status/1832905940326322325?s=46

Notable number

Jim Harbaugh improved to 5-0 as a head coach in season openers.

3 stars of the game

  1. RB J.K. Dobbins: After battling injuries throughout his NFL career, Dobbins dispelled those concerns with a monstrous performance in his first game as a Charger. He finished the game with 135 yards and a touchdown on ten carries, with long runs of 46 and 61 yards.
  2. EDGE Joey Bosa: Bosa’s past two seasons were shortened by injuries. But as we know, he is a force to be reckoned with when he’s on the field. And that he was, as Bosa made a few high-effort plays, including a forced fumble and a sack.
  3. EDGE Khalil Mack: Mack had a career year in 2023, and the veteran picked up where he left off. He amassed two sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection that led to an interception by Poona Ford that sealed the game.

Quick hits

  • The offense experienced growing pains in the first half of the game. They failed to surpass 100 yards of total offense, averaging just 3.6 yards per play. Five penalties were committed. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards combined for 12 rushing yards on eight carries. The offensive line wasn’t gelling. Wide receivers weren’t getting open.
  • In the second half, things changed as the unit started to find a rhythm. The offensive line improved in pass protection and run blocking, eventually leading to their success on the ground. The Chargers finished with 158 rushing yards in the final two quarters.
  • The lack of talent in the wide receiver room was evident as players struggled to separate. McConkey led the group with five catches for 39 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Quentin Johnston showed some juice after the catch but had a dropped pass. Joshua Palmer only had two receptions for 15 yards. Palmer was eventually ejected after getting into a scuffle with Marcus Epps.
  • The offense only converted on third down four times on 15 attempts.
  • Justin Herbert finished the game 17-of-26 passing for 144 yards and a touchdown. Herbert was sacked just once.
  • Jesse Minter’s defense was tremendous. His group forced three turnovers and had four sacks. They also limited the Raiders to 3.2 yards per carry. The interior defensive line owned the line of scrimmage, the pass rush consistently got to Gardner Minshew, and defenders rallied to the football and made plays in the open field.
  • Cameron Dicker made all three field-goal attempts, with a long of 53 yards.
  • JK Scott did not have his best day. On seven punts, Scott only got one inside the Raiders’ 20-yard line and two went for touchbacks.

What’s next?

The Chargers are on the road to take on the Panthers (0-1) next Sunday, Sept. 15, at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Chargers inactives: See who’s in and who’s out for Week 1 vs. Raiders

The Chargers ruled out six players.

The Chargers are about 90 minutes away from opening up the 2024 regular season against the Raiders.

Here is a look at their inactive players today:

QB Taylor Heinicke
CB Tarheeb Still
RB Kimani Vidal
OL Jordan McFadden
WR Brenden Rice
DL Justin Eboigbe

Heinicke is the emergency third quarterback.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 1 with Raiders Wire

Answers to a few burning questions about the Raiders ahead of their matchup with the Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders are about to duke it out in a divisional showdown on Sunday afternoon.

Before the matchup, Raiders Wire managing editor Levi Damien spoke with us about Los Angeles’ opponent.

What did Tom Telesco do to improve the roster this offseason?

Biggest move was to sign Chrisitan Wilkins. Upgrading the interior defensive line was a top priority. Gardner Minshew isn’t going to blow the doors off anything, but he is an upgrade over Aidan O’Connell, albeit a slight one. Not the franchise QB they needed, but it’s something.

What can we expect from Gardner Minshew, the journeyman?

He will matriculate the ball down the field and should do well utilizing the two tight end sets the Raiders plan to deploy a good portion of the time. He will also create some plays with his legs. That’s something you just don’t get from Aidan O’Connell. Mostly Minshew is the type of quarterback who may not win a lot of games for you, but he also won’t lose them for you. And with the defense being the strength of this team, that could be all the Raiders want from him.

What area/position of the Raiders could determine the outcome of this game?

If the Raiders win, it would be on the strength of their pass rush. Both getting to Justin Herbert for sacks and helping set up their opportunistic secondary to get turnovers out of it. And that task just became considerably more difficult with the loss of Malcolm Koonce to a knee injury. The Raiders will be asking backups Tyree Wilson and Janarius Robinson to step up and fill the void at EDGE opposite Maxx Crosby. If they lose, it will most likely be because they can’t sustain and finish enough drives on offense.

Who is an under-the-radar Raider that Chargers fans should know about?

Tre Tucker has really come up as a receiver. He had Lasik eye surgery in the offseason and it has made a new player out of him. The difference is striking. From a player who didn’t track passes well, and didn’t look like a natural hands catcher, to making several incredible catches in preseason I had never seen him make as a rookie last season. For some perspective, he was drafted for his 4.2 speed. Now he’s got hands to go with it. Watch out for him.

What’s your prediction for the game?

I have the Chargers winning this one. The honeymoon period is in full swing with Harbaugh and his team, especially his young QB. Herbert is elite and Harbaugh won’t squander it. They will play like believers while Harbaugh will break out some things the Raiders won’t see coming.

Chargers rule out WR DJ Chark for Week 1 game vs. Raiders

The Chargers will be without one of their starting wide receivers.

The Chargers on Friday ruled out wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. for their Week 1 game against the Raiders on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

Chark, who is dealing with a hip injury, did not participate in practice this week.

With Chark sidelined, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston should see increased reps. Brenden Rice and Simi Fehoko could also get playing time.

Also on the injury report were cornerbacks Tarheeb Still (hip) and Asante Samuel Jr. (shoulder). They are questionable.

Quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) and wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee) are good to go for the season opener.

5 Raiders players to watch vs. Chargers

There are a few Raiders players that the Chargers will need to keep an eye on if they want to start 1-0.

The Chargers and Raiders will start their respective seasons with a divisional tilt in Los Angeles. 

There are a few Raiders players that the Chargers will need to keep an eye on if they want to start 1-0.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew was recently named the Raiders’ Week 1 starter over Aiden O’Connell. The sixth-year veteran has 37 career starts under his belt, and his level of play will be the main difference-maker in this opener. He has the weapons to succeed, and this contest against the Chargers defense will be his first test of the season.

Brock Bowers

Bowers was the consensus top tight end in this year’s draft, and rightfully so. In three collegiate seasons, the No. 13 overall pick had 2,538 receiving yards and 31 total touchdowns.  He’s been nursing a foot injury, which has forced him to be limited in practice throughout the week. Assuming he’s active in Week 1, the Chargers must account for him at all times, particularly in the red zone.

Zamir White

With Josh Jacobs gone, the Raiders’ No. 1 running back job now belongs to White. In his start against the Chargers last season, he tallied 69 rushing yards and a touchdown. Los Angeles’ defense allowed the second-most receiving yards to tailbacks in 2023, which will be something to watch in this Week 1 matchup.

Christian Wilkins

The former Dolphins star landed in Las Vegas back in March. His presence in the middle should only make things easier for edge rusher Maxx Crosby, which should cause concerns for the Chargers in Week 1. In 2022, Wilkins wreaked havoc against the Bolts with six tackles and a sack.

Jack Jones

Jones is the Raiders’ top cornerback and had an interception in the late-season blowout in 2023. Without a true No. 1 wideout for Los Angeles, Jones could be in for a big day.

Chargers WR DJ Chark misses second straight practice ahead of Week 1 vs. Raiders

DJ Chark is trending towards not being available this weekend against the Raiders.

The Chargers continued their preparation on Thursday for their season opener against the Raiders.

For the second consecutive day, wide receiver DJ Chark was not on the practice field. Chark is dealing with a hip injury.

Chark was signed this offseason to supply the offense with speed and someone who can stretch the field vertically.

If Chark can’t go this weekend, second-year wideout Quentin Johnston will likely see more playing time.

Cornerback Tarheeb Still was a limited participant for the second straight day. Still is also dealing with a hip issue.

In other injury-related news, quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) and wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee) were full participants. Herbert was added to the report because the league advised the team to add him.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 1 opponent: Raiders

Here are some important things to know about the Raiders ahead of the Week 1 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers will open up the 2024 regular season at SoFi Stadium against the Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 1 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

Got the promotion

After the 2023 season, the Raiders removed the interim tag from Antonio Pierce’s title and promoted him to full-time head coach. Pierce served as Las Vegas’ linebackers coach before taking on the interim role after former head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. He led them to a 5-4 record.

The man under center

The Raiders had a quarterback battle during the summer between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, and Minshew prevailed. This offseason, Minshew signed a two-year, $25 million contract, marking the fourth team he’s played on. Over five seasons with the Jaguars, Eagles and Colts, Minshew has started 37 games, posting a 15-22 record. He has faced the Chargers twice in his career and is 0-2 against them.

Big fish landed

Former Chargers general manager and current Raiders GM Tom Telesco’s biggest offseason move was acquiring Christian Wilkins. Wilkins, the top defensive tackle on the market, signed to a four-year, $110 million contract. Wilkins is coming off a season in which he amassed career highs in sacks (nine), quarterback pressures (61), and quarterback hits (23). Along with being a prolific interior pass rusher, he’s just as impactful against the run.

Other offseason additions

Telesco’s other moves in the offseason came mainly on the offensive side of the ball, with running back Alexander Mattison, guard Cody Whitehair and rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Center Andre James re-signed to a two-year deal. They will all be key pieces for Luke Getsy, who will enter his first season as Raiders offensive coordinator. Getsy previously served in the same role for the Bears.

Look out for…

Edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Crosby has asserted himself as one of the top defensive players in the league. He finished last season with a career-high 14.5 sacks. Rookie offensive tackle Joe Alt should get a heavy dose of Crosby this game, so it will be interesting to see how he fares.

Announcers set for Chargers vs. Raiders Week 1 game

Find out who will be calling the Week 1 game between the Chargers and Raiders.

The Chargers will kick off the 2024 regular season against the Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1:05 p.m. PT.

The AFC West divisional bout will be televised on CBS and Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will have the call.

Los Angeles looks to turn things around under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has a proven track record of winning at all of his coaching stops in college and the NFL.

Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman seek to enforce a physical brand of football, and it starts with establishing the run. Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins will handle the backfield duties.

Justin Herbert will be without Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but he’s proven to be one of the premier players at his position, throwing to lesser-known names. Joshua Palmer headlines the wide receiver room, with Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and DJ Chark making up the rest.

After finishing as one of the worst defenses in the league, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will look to turn things around. Minter will have Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Asante Samuel Jr., Derwin James and Alohi Gilman at his disposal. Poona Ford, Kristian Fulton and Denzel Perryman are the notable new additions.

Chargers’ unofficial depth chart heading into Week 1 vs. Raiders

Here is a look at the Los Angeles Chargers’ current unofficial depth chart.

The Chargers reconstructed their coaching staff and roster this offseason. Now, it’s time to take the field.

With five days until the Bolts’ first game of the 2024 regular season, here is a look at the team’s unofficial depth chart going into Week 1.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Starter: Justin Herbert

Backups: Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke

Running back

Starter: J.K. Dobbins OR Gus Edwards

Backups: Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins

Fullback

Starter: Scott Matlock

Backups: None

Wide receiver

Starters: Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark OR Quentin Johnston

Backups: Derius Davis, Ladd McConkey, Simi Fehoko and Brenden Rice

Tight end

Starter: Hayden Hurst OR Will Dissly

Backups: Stone Smartt

Offensive tackles

Starters: Rashawn Slater (LT) and Joe Alt (RT)

Backups: Foster Sarell (LT and RT)

Interior offensive linemen

Starters: Zion Johnson (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C) and Trey Pipkins III (RG)

Backups: Jordan McFadden (LG), Brenden Jaimes (C) and Jamaree Salyer (RG)


DEFENSE

Interior defensive linemen

Starters: Morgan Fox, Poona Ford and Otito Ogbonnia

Backups: Scott Matlock, Teair Tart and Justin Eboigbe

Edge rusher

Starters: Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack

Backups: Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu

Inside linebacker

Starters: Denzel Perryman and Daiyan Henley

Backups: Troy Dye and Junior Colson

Cornerback

Starters: Asante Samuel, Jr. and Kristian Fulton

Backups: Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart

Safety

Starters: Derwin James, Jr. and Alohi Gilman

Backups: AJ Finley and Elijah Molden


SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker

Cameron Dicker

Punter

JK Scott

Long snapper

Josh Harris

Kick returner

Starter: Derius Davis

Backups: Ladd McConkey

Punt returner

Starter: Derius Davis

Backups: Ladd McConkey