Josh Palmer

Projecting Chargers’ offensive depth chart for Week 1 vs. Raiders

Projecting the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive depth chart ahead of their Week 1 contest with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chargers are just days away from opening the Jim Harbaugh era against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. After churning the bottom of the roster with an urgency rarely seen from the franchise, Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz have set the roster for Week 1.

A depth chart has yet to be released, however. Here’s a look at what it might look like on offense when it comes out, from starters to backups.

Quarterback

	Starter	Backup	Reserve
QB	Justin Herbert	Easton Stick	Taylor Heinicke

Herbert will start after returning from an injury to his plantar fascia earlier in training camp. While Stick struggled mightily this preseason, he’ll likely open the season as the primary backup while the newly acquire Heinicke gets up to speed with Greg Roman’s offensive scheme.

Running back

	Starter	Backup	Reserve	Reserve
RB	JK Dobbins	Gus Edwards	Kimani Vidal	Hassan Haskins

It wouldn’t be surprising if Dobbins and Edwards are listed as co-starters here, as both will get plenty of run with the starting offense. Dobbins will likely lead the team in rushing, with Edwards inserted in goal-line situations. Vidal, a sixth-round rookie, may see some situational work as well as the only back who played for the Chargers this preseason. Haskins is in a similar boat to Heinicke after arriving on waivers from Tennessee and will also be the backup returner.

Wide receiver

	Starter	Backup	Reserve
WR1	Josh Palmer	Brenden Rice	Simi Fehoko
WR2	Ladd McConkey	Quentin Johnston
WR3	DJ Chark Jr.	Derius Davis

It’ll be interesting to see who fills in for Chark if he can’t go on Sunday, as the veteran was not at practice on Monday. Rice has worked with the first team more often throughout training camp, but he was on the roster bubble along with Fehoko only a week ago. Johnston has made some strides in camp and may be given those opportunities earlier on. Palmer should be the primary option to start the season and McConkey will start in the slot. Davis will be the returner again this season and will get some work on gadget plays. Fehoko will primarily play special teams but had a strong preseason and may get some work on offense as a result.

Tight end

	Starter	Backup	Reserve
TE	Will Dissly	Hayden Hurst	Stone Smartt

Dissly and Hurst will both see ample time in Roman’s offense, which utilizes 12 personnel at a high rate. Both have the ability to serve as receiving and blocking options on any given play. Smartt took a big step forward as a blocker to win the TE3 job from Donald Parham Jr., who signed with the Broncos practice squad following cuts.

Offensive line

	Starter	Backup
LT	Rashawn Slater	Foster Sarell
LG	Zion Johnson	Jordan McFadden
C	Bradley Bozeman	Brenden Jaimes
RG	Trey Pipkins III	Jamaree Salyer
RT	Joe Alt

No surprises here, as the starting five has been set since the Chargers took Alt fifth overall in April. Pipkins will slide inside and start at right guard, pushing 2023 starter Salyer to the bench. Slater and Johnson will reprise their roles on the left side. Bozeman has experience in the Roman offense at center. Jaimes can play center or either guard spot. McFadden will see some run at fullback in jumbo packages while providing depth at guard. Sarell won the swing tackle job but also looked good at guard in the preseason – if a tackle goes down, we may see some shifting around rather than a direct Sarell substitution.

Chargers’ initial 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL season

The Chargers have finalized the full 53-man roster to start the 2024 season. Take a look at each player on the active roster.

The Chargers announced their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season, which kicks off against the Raiders next Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Los Angeles can still make additional roster moves via waiver claims and free-agent signings in the coming days. They’ll also begin constructing a 16-man practice squad.

Offense

Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

Running back (4): Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson, Kimani Vidal

Wide receiver (7): Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, D.J. Chark, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko, Brenden Rice

Tight end (3): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Stone Smartt

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins, Joe Alt, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Foster Sarell

Defense

Edge rusher (4): Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree

Interior defensive line (6): Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Teair Tart, Scott Matlock, Otito Ogbonnia, Justin Eboigbe

Linebacker (4): Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley, Troy Dye

Cornerback (6): Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart

Safety (5): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, JT Woods, Tony Jefferson

Specialists (3): K Cameron Dicker, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris

Which players we’re most excited to see in Chargers training camp

Highlighting the players we’re most excited to see in Chargers training camp.

Today marks the first day of Chargers training camp at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA, where there will be plenty of action for the last couple of weeks.

While there are plenty of storylines to follow, we’re focusing on the players and the ones we’re most excited to see.

Here are Chargers Wire’s staff thoughts on who we want to see the most and why.

Gavino: CB Tarheeb Still

There will be a competition for the starting slot cornerback spot and Still will be in contention for it alongside third-year Ja’Sir Taylor. Luckily for the fifth-round pick out of Maryland, he’s already made a case after a strong showing in minicamp, where he deflected multiple passes and picked off Justin Herbert once. I expect Still to continue to make plays in camp and push Taylor for the job.

Alex: RB Kimani Vidal

Usually, getting excited about a sixth-round pick projected to be a third-stringer would be reserved for only the most deranged training camp viewer, but there’s a real shot that Vidal carves out a role in this offense. Greg Roman’s scheme has lent itself well to late-round or UDFA backs before, including presumed starter and former Raven Gus Edwards. Edwards has always been more of a committee back and JK Dobbins is coming off an Achilles tear. The momentum for Vidal could come steaming through the hole sooner than later, just as it did with Baltimore UDFA Keaton Mitchell a season ago.

Valentina: WR Joshua Palmer

Many question marks have surrounded the wide receiver position since Keenan Allen and Mike Williams left the team. Palmer is perfectly poised to take the lead. He has the most chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert and this is his opportunity to have a breakout season. Palmer has shown flashes of greatness, and if he can find consistency with those moments, he will be poised to lead the wide receiver crew this year.

Offensive storylines to follow as Chargers begin training camp

The top storylines to follow on the offensive side of the ball as Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers begin training camp.

On Wednesday, the Chargers will begin the process of building out their 53-man roster for the 2024 season as training camp begins at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA. Let’s highlight some top storylines on each side of the ball as it gets underway. We will begin with Greg Roman’s offense.

The rushing attack

Jim Harbaugh made it clear that the Chargers will be a physical offense that wears down defenses on the ground. Greg Roman comes with a run-heavy mindset. So this will be the first time we see it all come together. The backfield consists of newcomers Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins and Kimani Vidal, who join third-year Isaiah Spiller. What will the rep share look like between the backs? Is Dobbins, who has battled injuries the past few seasons, healthy? The offensive line has two new additions: Bradley Bozeman and Joe Alt. Bozeman replaces Corey Linsley. Alt will transition from left tackle to right tackle, while Trey Pipkins will kick inside to right guard. Can Zion Johnson improve? What will the blocking scheme look like? Will Dissly was signed to serve as the team’s inline blocker? What type of impact will he have?

Wide receiver room

Once a strength of the Chargers, the wide receiver room lacks top-end talent after the losses of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. How will the group shape up and who will step up as Justin Herbert’s top targets? Josh Palmer has the most experience in the group. Can he play to the level of a No. 1 wideout? Expectations are high for rookie Ladd McConkey. The team hopes Quentin Johnston can shake off his rough rookie campaign and contribute in Year 2. DJ Chark hasn’t had a productive season since 2019 with the Jaguars when he earned Pro Bowl honors. Will seventh-rounders Cornelius Johnson or Brenden Rice raise eyebrows?

Joe Alt’s transition to right tackle

Alt was selected with the No. 5 overall pick and will be the team’s starting right tackle. Will Alt’s transition be smooth? He should instantly help in the run game, but the focus will be on how Alt looks in pass protection. We will see how he fares in that department in one-on-ones against veterans Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

Tight end room

The Chargers added two new faces to the position room: Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst. As I mentioned earlier, Dissly will primarily make his money as a blocker in the run game. Hurst, on the other hand, should have an impact in the passing game. He was productive in OTAs. Can he continue to develop a rapport with Herbert? Donald Parham and Stone Smartt return. Parham has come on as a pass-catcher but has struggled to stay healthy. Can he stay on the field? Smartt has also flashed as a receiver. Will it be enough to earn a roster spot? Undrafted free agents Zach Heins and Luke Benson are intriguing players. Can one of them steal a spot?

For better or for worse: Evaluating Chargers offense ahead of training camp

A quick rundown of each position on offense and whether the Chargers are better, worse or neutral at that spot.

The Chargers lost some key starters from last season but added a few in correspondence via free agency and the draft.

But how do they compare from the end of the 2023 regular season to now?

Let’s break it down by position, starting with the offense.

Quarterback

Offseason moves: Re-signed Easton Stick.

Summary: The Chargers are locked in with Justin Herbert. Herbert is coming off a down year, as he was hit with injuries to both hands, with his throwing hand being season-ending. Another year, another offense for Herbert, marking his fourth in five seasons in the league. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman want to run the football, so it’ll be enticing to see how they design this offense to accomplish that and allow Herbert to flourish as a passer. They brought back Stick to serve as Herbert’s backup. Stick was the backup with zero experience as a starter until last season when Herbert was sidelined with his finger injury. Stick went on to start the final four games and finished with 1,129 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 144 rushing yards and a score on 27 carries.

Verdict: Same

Running Back

Offseason moves: Lost Austin Ekeler (signed with the Commanders). Signed Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins (previously with the Ravens). Drafted Kimani Vidal (sixth-round pick)

Summary: After playing with the Chargers for seven seasons, Ekeler departed and eventually reunited with former head coach Anthony Lynn, who is now Washington’s running backs coach. With the vision of the offense pounding the rock and wearing defenses on the ground, Los Angeles went out and got guys familiar with Roman’s gap/power scheme. Edwards is coming off a year where he set career highs in rushing yards (810) and touchdowns (13). Dobbins has struggled to stay healthy, but his most productive season came under Roman in 2020 when he rushed for 805 yards, nine scores and 6.0 yards per carry. Vidal was productive at Troy, rushing for 1,661 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns on 295 carries.

Verdict: Better

Wide Receiver

Offseason moves: Traded Keenan Allen (Bears). Lost Mike Williams (signed with the Jets). Drafted Ladd McConkey (second round), Cornelius Johnson and Brenden Rice (seventh round). Signed D.J. Chark (previously with the Panthers).

Summary: Once a strength of the Chargers, now the wide receiver room lacks top-end talent after the losses of Allen and Williams. Joshua Palmer has the most experience in the group, and he is expected to take a big step in his contract year. McConkey, who Los Angeles traded up for to get in Round 2, is expected to be a significant contributor in his rookie season. He and Herbert have already started to develop a rapport. The team is hopeful that Quentin Johnston can shake off his rough rookie campaign and provide the offense with a legitimate yards-after-the-catch threat. Chark hasn’t had a productive season since 2019 with the Jaguars when he earned Pro Bowl honors. He offers elite speed to serve as a vertical threat. Johnson and Rice will compete for roster spots.

Verdict: Worse

Tight End

Offseason moves: Lost Gerald Everett (signed with the Bears). Signed Will Dissly (previously with the Seahawks) and Hayden Hurst (previously with the Panthers).

Summary: In two seasons as a Charger, Everett was vital in the passing game with his yards-after-the-catch ability and clutchness on money downs. They found their replacement for Everett with Hurst, who played under Roman for two seasons in Baltimore. Hurst offers the upside as a receiver but can also block. In a new offense where blocking tight ends are integral, they signed one of the best in that department in Dissly. The offense hasn’t had a good blocking tight end since 2020. Parham returns for another season and should be reliable in the red zone with his 6-foot-8 frame.

Verdict: Better

Offensive line

Offseason moves: Lost Corey Linsley (likely to retire). Drafted Joe Alt (first round)

Summary: The Chargers felt the loss of Linsley throughout last season when he was sidelined with his heart issue. Filling Linsley’s void was arguably the most critical offseason move. They did so with Bozeman, who has seven years of starting experience and is familiar with Roman’s scheme, having played under him for four seasons. Los Angeles struck gold with Rashawn Slater. They hope they do the same with Joe Alt, who will start opposite Slater. Alt should make a difference in the run game from Day 1. Now it’s just a matter of how he holds up against NFL pass rushers. With Alt sliding in at right tackle, Trey Pipkins will move inside to right guard. Despite never playing the position, Pipkins has the athleticism, length and football IQ to make the transition seamless.

Verdict: Slightly better

Chargers offensive depth chart projection ahead of training camp

Our very early prediction for who will make the Chargers’ 53-man roster on the offensive side of the ball

The Chargers begin training camp in a few weeks to prepare for the start of the 2024 season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.

There, roster spots will be won and lost at The Bolt, the team’s brand new training facility in El Segundo, CA.

That said, here is my very early prediction for who will make the 53-man roster on the offensive side of the ball.

Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

Misses the cut: Max Duggan, Casey Bauman

Running back (4): Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Kimani Vidal, Ben Mason (FB)

Misses the cut: Isaiah Spiller, Elijah Dotson, Jaret Patterson

Wide receiver (6): Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, D.J. Chark, Derius Davis, Brenden Rice

Misses the cut: Cornelius Johnson, Simi Fehoko, Jaelen Gill, Leon Johnson, Jaylen Johnson, Praise Olatoke

Tight end (3): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Donald Parham Jr.

Misses the cut: Stone Smartt, Zach Heins, Luke Benson

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins, Joe Alt, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Alex Leatherwood

Misses the cut: Foster Sarell, Karsen Barnhart, Brent Liang, Willis Patrick, Tyler McLellan, Bucky Williams

Projecting the Chargers’ wide receiver depth chart in 2024

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver room will look like entering the 2024 season.

Over the next few weeks ahead of training camp, I will continue to break down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Next, I project what the wide receiver room will look like heading into the 2024 season.

Palmer, the 2021 third-round pick, has 143 career catches for 1,703 yards and nine touchdowns. He stepped up when Keenan Allen and Mike Williams dealt with injuries in 2022, tallying 72 receptions for 769 yards and three scores across 16 games. Last season, he had a career-high 58.1 yards per game but was sidelined six games by a knee injury. Palmer routinely creates separation for himself and makes big grabs down the field, something that he will need to continue this season as the offense looks to balance the pass and what is supposed to be a dominant run game. This is the final year of Palmer’s rookie deal, so it’s vital that he stays healthy and produces enough to get an extension next offseason.

Ladd McConkey

McConkey was the Chargers’ second-round pick in this year’s draft. Despite being a rookie, I think he will quickly work his way to becoming Justin Herbert’s top target. McConkey is arguably the best separator in the group. Like Keenan Allen, who was Herbert’s safety blanket, he got the ball a lot because he consistently made himself open. The chemistry has already begun being built as the two constantly linked up during OTAs this summer.

Quentin Johnston

After being selected in the first round in last year’s draft, Johnston struggled in his rookie season. Johnston finished with 38 catches on 67 targets for 431 yards and two touchdowns. His issues stemmed from struggling to create separation and catching the football, something he dealt with during his college career at TCU. Despite an uninspiring Year 1 from Johnston, he and others, including general manager Joe Hortiz, believe he is due for a breakout season.

D.J. Chark

Chark was a post-draft signing. He was signed because he offers elite speed to serve as a vertical threat, allowing Herbert to use his bazooka-like arm to push the football down the field to him. The 27-year-old has appeared in 69 career games and has 212 receptions for 3,069 yards and 23 touchdowns. His best season came in 2019 with the Jaguars, when he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Derius Davis

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft, Davis finished his sensational rookie season as a special teams ace with 24 returned punts for 385 total yards, second-most in the NFL. Davis’ punt return average of 16.0 ranked first in the league, and he was one of eight players to return a punt for a touchdown, which came in Week 9 against the Jets on Monday Night Football. Davis will still have to fight for a roster spot, but I believe his services for special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken will keep him in Los Angeles.

Brenden Rice

Now this is where it gets interesting. A few players will be fighting for what I think will be the last spot at this position (because I don’t think they roster seven). In what will likely be a tight battle between seventh-round picks Rice and Cornelius Johnson, I give the nod to the former USC product. No, this does not have to do with the fact that he is the son of a retired Hall of Famer, but he is more complete receiver than Johnson. Rice is a big receiver with strong hands and has a good sense of route running to be a complementary piece along the boundary. Furthermore, he is a willing as a blocker in space. It’s tough keeping Johnson off this projection, but I think they will be able to stash him on the practice squad.

Justin Herbert on Chargers’ new-look wide receiver room: ‘That receiver group is special’

Justin Herbert specifically highlighted Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.

As Chargers mandatory minicamp concluded Thursday, Justin Herbert took the podium and fielded questions for about 25 minutes.

One of the things Herbert touched on was the wide receivers. That’s a new-look room that no longer has Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, who were Herbert’s two primary targets for his first few seasons in the league.

“They are two of the best to ever do it. Two great teammates, friends, competitors. It’s tough to replace guys like that because there’s not many like them,” Herbert said.

Even though the seasoned veterans are gone, Herbert is confident in the wideouts currently on the roster.

“But I feel comfortable with the group we have here that have stepped up and done a great job picking up this offense and going out there and competing.

“I know we don’t have pads on or anything, but I love the way they attack the day of practice, weights, tape, film,” Herbert added. “That receiver group is special, and I’m looking forward to throwing them the ball.”

One of Herbert’s newest targets is Ladd McConkey, who he’s already building a rapport with.

“He’s just picked up the offense so easily, it’s like he’s been a four- or five-year vet,” Herbert said. “He understands the game, understands leverages, a smart player.

“And he’s very athletic. He’s one of those guys who is able to beat man coverage and finds the soft spot in zones,” Herbert added. “I’m really looking forward to getting him the ball.”

Quentin Johnston was also asked about. While he had a rough rookie season, Herbert sees Johnston working hard to improve his game and take a step in Year 2.

“He’s been incredible,” Herbert said. “He’s one of those guys that I’m going to get the ball to as much as possible.”

PFF projects Chargers’ starting lineup for 2024 season

Here is who they believe will be starting come Week 1 for the Los Angeles Chargers.

We are still months away from the start of the 2024 regular season.

While fans wait, predictions will continue to roll out until September. In this case, Pro Football Focus projected the starting lineup for all 32 teams in the NFL.

For the Chargers, here’s how it came about:

Offense

QB: Justin Herbert

RB: Gus Edwards

RB: J.K. Dobbins

WR: Quentin Johnston

WR: Joshua Palmer

WR: Ladd McConkey

TE: Will Dissly

LT: Rashawn Slater

LG: Zion Johnson

C: Bradley Bozeman

RG: Jamaree Salyer

RT: Joe Alt

Defense

DL: Morgan Fox

DL Poona Ford

EDGE: Joey Bosa

EDGE: Khalil Mack

EDGE: Tuli Tuipulotu

LB: Denzel Perryman

LB: Nick Niemann

CB: Asante Samuel Jr.

CB: Kristian Fulton

CB: Ja’Sir Taylor

S: Derwin James

S: Alohi Gilman

Takeaways

The offensive skill players are correct for the most part, but I see the top three wide receivers being Joshua Palmer, Ladd McConkey and DJ Chark, who beats out Quentin Johnston for the spot. Chark offers more experience and just an overall better skillset.
Dissly will predominantly serve as a blocking tight end, while Hayden Hurst should be the pass catcher.
I believe four spots are filled along the offensive line, with that being left tackle, left guard, center and right tackle. It will be a battle for the starting right guard spot between Salyer, Trey Pipkins and Brenden Jaimes. Undrafted free agent Willis Patrick is a name to watch out for, too.
The interior defensive line and edge defender positions are correct. Bud Dupree will serve as a situational rusher and in pressure packages.
Niemann’s listing as the starting linebacker next to Perryman is questionable. Third-round pick Junior Colson has the edge for the spot, given his familiarity with Jesse Minter’s defense.
Samuel and Fulton will be the starters on the outside, but Taylor and rookie Tarheeb Still are likely to battle for the starting slot spot.

Sanjay Lal talks about Chargers’ wide receiver room

Sanjay Lal said this is the youngest wide receiver room he’s coached.

Wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal had his first media availability on Tuesday since being hired on Jim Harbaugh’s staff. He first pointed out the attention to detail that the new Chargers’ head coach brings to the table.

What I have noticed is that he’s super detailed on certain things. He could be listening to an install meeting and maybe the QBs drop is just off a little bit. He’ll stop the whole thing and say, ‘No, this is how you do it.’ He’d get up and demonstrate it. Or, he’ll make a point on a shallow-cross. We’re a yard away from the hash. Our landmark is the hash. We’ll stop the meeting. We won’t be pressed for time. He’ll walk up there and say, ‘Okay, Sanjay, where do you want him to stop?’ We’ll actually stop, go into the minutiae, detail it and then move on. Very unique that way where, sometimes in football, you’re so pressed for time — we have to get this meeting done in this time. We’ll just stop it and make sure it’s right and that everyone understands.

Lal went on to discuss his new wide receiver room. He noted that he’s throwing a lot at them from a technique standpoint each day that they’re doing well with. He also agreed with a reporter’s assertion that this was “most likely” the youngest group he’s coached in the NFL.

He described rookie Ladd McConkey as very sudden out of his breaks with his route running.

He understands the game. He’s a detailed, precise person. When you teach him a new route, he’s going to master it. If you have to hit it at 13 yards, I’m trusting that he will hit it at 13 yards. The more players like that you have on your team, it just makes your offense more crisp.

With DJ Chark, Lal noted his veteran presence and “vertical threat” nature on offense. Interestingly, Lal also mentioned his punt return ability.

Perhaps most noteworthy regarding the individual receivers were his comments on Josh Palmer. Lal said that they’ve only had him “sporadically” as he recovers from his 2023 knee injury. On the positive side, though, the Lal claimed Tuesday was Palmer’s biggest reps workload at practice so far.

The comments that may get the most attention were his thoughts on Quentin Johnston.

Very impressive. He’s got a lot of juice. He almost bounds when he runs. Working on his body positioning is one of the biggest things that we’ve done. He’s really improved some of his stop-type of routes, like keeping his shoulders over his feet longer and not looking early. That’s a big jump he’s made so far.

Lal was also asked about Johnston’s 2023 campaign and whether it was worth it to look to the past in improving the young receiver’s future.

I’ve studied everything. One, I studied him for the draft. I was in Seattle and we drafted [Seahawks WR] Jaxon [Smith-Njigba]. We had the first receiver off the board. I watched that whole group very closely. I don’t look back in the sense that, I don’t know how he was coached, good or bad. Why is he doing this? Why did he miss this? Why did he make that? I don’t know the context. To take a player back to that, especially if it’s a negative, I don’t see any purpose going forward. I see that this can be improved. I know the drills to improve it. I’m going to implement those. I don’t need the context. That’s what I mean about no going back.

We’ll move forward because you don’t need to watch it to know it wasn’t right if it wasn’t right. This is the way we do it. This is the correct way to do it in all of the situations, whether it be a release, top of route, a catch, the junction point between him and the defender on a go-ball. Here’s the way to do it. Here’s empirical evidence, I’ll show you [Seahawks WR] DK [Metcalf] doing it. I’ll show you [former Colts WR] T.Y. [Hilton] doing it. Here’s how to do it. Let’s work to perfect that and move forward. We don’t need to say, ‘Oh, look what you did before.’ It doesn’t matter. Let’s do it this way.

At the end of his presser, Lal briefly noted that he has “open dialogue” with Justin Herbert regarding film, open practices, and new route concepts.