Tag: Chargers vs. Rams

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

Find out how to tune in to watch the Chargers take on the Rams.

The Chargers continue their three-game preseason slate.

On Saturday, they face off against the Rams at SoFi Stadium.

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

Game Information

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams

Saturday, Aug. 17 — 4:00 p.m. PT

SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA

Television

The game will be televised on KCBS-TV in Los Angeles and Orange County. Noah Eagle and Dan Fouts will have the call.

Radio

ALT FM-98.7 (English broadcast)

FM 105.5/94.3 (Spanish broadcast)

Streaming

FuboTV (try it for free).

Chargers preseason: 1 player to watch at each position on offense vs. Rams

There are some roster bubble players on the offensive side of the ball trying to make their case.

The Chargers are getting closer to having to trim their roster to 53 players ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Raiders.

With a handful of starting jobs already locked up, the next two preseason games, including this weekend’s contest against the Rams, will be all about guys on the roster bubble vying for their spots.

That said, here is one offensive player to watch at each position ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

QB: Luis Perez

While Justin Herbert has been sidelined with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot, the offense has struggled during training camp. A lot of it has to do with quarterback play. Easton Stick, who was re-signed to serve as Herbert’s backup, has not done himself any favors with his performances.

Perez, on the other hand, was signed just a week ago, and he has flashed enough to the point where he could push Stick for the job if he keeps stacking good days. The former XFL star led all quarterbacks in passing last weekend with 61 yards.

RB: Kimani Vidal

Heading into training camp, everyone thought it was a near guarantee that Vidal would be a part of the rotation. But now, Vidal finds himself on the roster bubble. In the preseason opener, he suited up for warmups but did not dress for the game. He had been nursing an injury the week leading up to the contest, which likely led to him not playing.

Vidal is a talented back with great vision, contact balance, burst and upside in the passing game. But he must display that in live-game action to try to beat out Isaiah Spiller, who currently has the leg up due to his special teams skills.

WR: Ladd McConkey

Like Vidal, McConkey did not play against the Seahawks, as he had also been dealing with an injury. However, McConkey has been a full participant in practices this week, which points to him making his preseason debut against Seattle.

I don’t know how much he will play, but I’m looking forward to seeing what he showed in college at Georgia and over the past couple of months, with his elite route running, good speed and the ability to create with the football in his hands.

TE: Donald Parham

Parham was seen as the third tight end coming into the summer, but now he finds himself on the roster bubble. The reason is that he hasn’t participated much this summer due to an injury, which has been a concern with Parham.

After missing several practices, Parham had a great day on Tuesday, showing the impact he can make in the passing game. He will not only have to stay healthy and continue to be a reliable target but also show improvement as a blocker.

OL: Foster Sarell

There’s been a battle for the swing tackle spot between Sarell and Alex Leatherwood. And as it stands, Sarell has the leg up. Leatherwood is coming off a poor performance, as he allowed six quarterback pressures. Meanwhile, Sarell had a solid showing and exemplified position flexibility by playing some guard. I’m watching for how he performs along the interior again.

“That’s what he’s aiming for,” Greg Roman said on Sarell playing guard against the Seahawks. “He has a big opportunity. Position flexibility up front is huge. The more he can show that, the better. He’s taken that on in an excited fashion.”

How Chargers rookies fared in preseason debut

Evaluating Los Angeles Chargers rookies after first week of 2024 NFL preseason.

The preseason is meant to evaluate players, and for a handful of them, this past week marked their first time playing in an NFL game. This included the Chargers’ draft picks in their loss to the Seahawks on Saturday.

Los Angeles was headlined by first-round pick offensive tackle Joe Alt, who had a solid performance. Alt played 21 snaps and only allowed one quarterback pressure. He showed good finesse in pass protection and power and movement skills in the run game to clear some lanes.

“It felt great,” Alt said, per the team’s official website. “It’s always good to get your first live play under your belt with the group you have the most experience with. It was good to be out there will all of them.”

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey and linebacker Junior Colson did not play as they’ve been working through some injuries.

Defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe played 30 snaps. Eboigbe didn’t have much of an impact, logging just one assisted tackle. The rookie out of Alabama has flashed at training camp, however, especially against the run.

Cornerback Tarheeb Still, who has been a summer standout, continued to make his case for the starting nickel spot. Still posted two pass breakups. But along with his cover skills, he flashed as a blitzer.

CB Cam Hart did not play.

Running back Kimani Vidal was in uniform for warmups, but was not suited up for the game.

Wide receiver Brenden Rice played the second-most snaps. He was targeted three times but failed to record a reception. A large part of that was due to inefficient quarterback play. There were many instances of Rice running great routes and being open. He had an aDOT (average depth of target) of 15.3.

WR Cornelius Johnson was on the field for just eight snaps.

Where Chargers can improve in their 2nd preseason game

Despite the win over the Rams, there are still some things that Chargers players can improve on.

The Chargers kicked off the preseason with a 34-17 victory over the Rams. Despite the win, there are still some things that players can improve on, as their time to make impressions on the coaching staff is dwindling.

Here are the things I observed from Saturday that Los Angeles needs to improve.

How Chargers’ rookies fared in preseason debut

Evaluating Los Angeles Chargers rookies after first week of 2023 NFL preseason.

The preseason is meant to evaluate players, and for a handful of them, this past week marked their first time playing in an NFL game, including the Chargers with their seven draft picks in their win over the Rams on Saturday.

Los Angeles was headlined by first-round pick wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who had an uneven performance. He was targeted early but couldn’t hang onto two passes, including one deep down the right sideline. Johnston was knocked in the draft process for his hands, which is clearly still a work in progress. But right before the half, Johnston came back in the game and hauled in a pass for an 8-yard touchdown, beating Rams defensive back Richard LeCounte from the slot with a smooth route.

“It was alright,” Johnston said about his debut. “Not the best start, it was kind of rough but I bounced back with it at the end with the touchdown.

“At the end of the day, I’m not satisfied,” Johnston added. “Hopefully I’ll come back next week and do better.”

Edge defender Tuli Tuipulotu brought some pressure early on the Rams’ first drive. Tuipulotu displayed high effort, acceleration and closing speed to cover ground and bring down quarterback Brett Rypien, who barely managed to get the pass off. Tuipulotu also looked good at defending the run, setting some firm edges.

Linebacker Daiyan Henley made some key plays on defense and special teams. Henley, the former defensive back and wide receiver, recorded a pass deflection and was always around the football against the run. He wore the green dot and called the plays in the second half. On Derius Davis’ 81-yard punt return touchdown, Henley made a vital block to open up a big hole for him.

Davis, the Chargers’ fourth-round pick, showed why they drafted him: to be their return specialist, with his 81-yard punt return for a score, making it look effortless with his speed and quickness. He also had two catches on two targets for 21 yards.

Jordan McFadden logged all of his snaps at left guard. McFadden was dinged for holding a couple of times, including on running back Isaiah Spiller’s 70+ yard touchdown, which negated it. Aside from that, he performed well, making some key blocks in the run game and looking comfortable out in space as a puller. In pass protection, McFadden was credited for one pressure on 21 pass-blocking snaps.

Defensive tackle Scott Matlock made his presence known with a rush where he got pressure on Stetson Bennett, showcasing his athleticism for a man of his size and up-field urgency to force him out of the pocket, leading to an incompletion. Matlock was also stout at taking on blocks at the point of attack in the run game.

Quarterback Max Duggan took over in the second half following a solid performance from Easton Stick. There wasn’t much to write home about Duggan on Saturday. He completed two of three passes for 19 yards and added a 19-yard run.

5 takeaways from Chargers’ 34-17 preseason win over Rams

Here’s what stood out from the Chargers’ preseason victory over the Rams.

The Chargers started their preseason with a victory in the Battle for LA, beating the Rams 34-17.

It was our first look at the latest version of the Bolts, featuring a new offense helmed by Kellen Moore and a revamped defense with Derrick Ansley at the helm.

What stood out? Here are my takeaways:

Highlight: Chargers WR Quentin Johnston catches first touchdown of NFL preseason

Quentin Johnston has his first touchdown catch as an NFL player.

Quentin Johnston has his first touchdown catch as an NFL player.

After an inauspicious start with three drops in the first two drives, the Chargers put Johnston back in the game in the red zone with time winding down in the first half.

You can probably guess what happened next: a target in the red zone, which the rookie converted for his first NFL touchdown.

Los Angeles will hope that positive note, which should be the end of Johnston’s game against the Rams, puts the first-round pick back on the right track.

Highlight: Chargers WR Derius Davis with a spectacular punt return TD vs. Rams

Plays like that are what tempted the Chargers to select Derius Davis.

While Quentin Johnston may not have had the NFL debut Chargers fans were expecting, his college teammate Derius Davis made an early impression.

Midway through the second quarter, Davis took a Rams punt at his own 19, taking a moment to analyze the coverage before bursting through a hole and outrunning the defense for an 81-yard return touchdown.

Plays like that are what tempted LA to select Davis in the fourth round in April.

Which Chargers players are you most excited to watch in preseason opener vs. Rams?

The Chargers Wire crew listed the players that they’re most excited to watch on Saturday as Los Angeles’ roster evaluation continues.

The Chargers have been hard at work at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, CA, the past few weeks fighting for roster spots, and now it’s time to transition to live-game action, where they will open up their three-game preseason slate against the Rams.

The crew at Chargers Wire listed the players that they’re most excited to watch on Saturday as Los Angeles’ roster evaluation continues.

Chargers’ running game gets rolling at right time

The Chargers’ running game showed some life in the victory over the Rams.

As the playoffs inch closer, the Chargers need to be sharp in all three phases of the game, and one area, in particular, is the offense which requires a balanced approach.

It had been the running game that was lackluster for most of the season. However, last Sunday, in the victory over the Rams, the Bolts broke through by running wild.

Los Angeles produced 192 yards on 31 attempts with two scores on Sunday, which was the second-highest rushing total of the season. 

“We knew we were capable. We were just trying to get back to it, which is not easy. Simple, but not easy,” running back Austin Ekeler said. 

“And then, guess what? We’re going to have to do it again. That’s going to start to, I guess, gives us that confidence, ‘OK, we’re starting to run the ball a little bit more.’ Give [Offensive Coordinator] Joe [Lombardi] that confidence in the run game to call more runs if we are able to continue to establish ourselves.”

Ekeler rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Not only was his 72-yard touchdown run the longest of his career, but it was also the boost the ground game needed, as the offense had struggled to get blocking efficiency on the edge from tight ends and receivers.

“I think we have one more game with the Broncos coming up where it’s like, ‘Alright, let’s dominate the run game again.’ Then I think that opens up the playbook for us a lot more and makes us a little bit more of a dynamic offense when we are going into the first round of the playoffs,” Ekeler added. 

“Definitely trying to get that going because we know that Justin [Herbert] is going to come out there and do his thing. It’s like, ‘Okay, is the run game going to show up today or not?’ So, we have to make sure we are out there doing that.”

Even without Ekeler’s big touchdown, the Chargers would have averaged four yards per carry on Sunday. A balanced offense is a winning offense, and the Bolts are looking sharp enough through the air and on the ground to make a legitimate run in the playoffs. 

“I do think that it was the hardest we have played, [Sunday] on offense. I thought we finished our plays, run and pass, but particularly in the run game,” head coach Brandon Staley said.