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J.K. Dobbins runs wild in his Chargers debut

J.K. Dobbins provided the offensive spark.

J.K. Dobbins’ professional career hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows.

In 2021, Dobbins tore his ACL in the preseason. In 2022, he played just eight games due to knee injuries. Last season, Dobbins suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1.

Dobbins left the Ravens and joined the Chargers for a fresh start and to dispel the injury concerns. And in his debut in the powder blues, the 25-year-old running back looked like he returned to form.

Dobbins rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown on ten carries.

“Thank you to my O-line, they blocked really well for me,” Dobbins said, per the team’s official website. “Thank you to all my teammates for blocking for me and thank you to the defense for having our backs in the first half.”

Dobbins’ first big run went for 46 yards early in the third quarter. Bradley Bozeman and Rashawn Slater sealed their blocks. Zion Johnson got to the second level and took away the linebacker. Dobbins broke a tackle along the way before being tackled.

A couple of offensive possessions later, Dobbins found the end zone from 12 yards out for the Chargers’ first touchdown of the season.

“[Divine] Deablo hit my leg as I came through the whole and we always preach keep your legs up,” Dobbins said about his touchdown run. “That’s what I did, went back to my training and it was a touchdown.”

Later in the fourth quarter, Dobbins broke loose for a 61-yard gain. He found a hole between Slater and Johnson. It was all open grass before being brought down. A few plays later, the Chargers scored the game-sealing touchdown.

Despite the strong performance, Dobbins knows that it’s just one game and has to keep working to build off it.

“It felt good, it felt really good. But now, I’m going to get ready for next week,” Dobbins said. “I’m the type of guy that cool had a good game, go back to the drawing board and let’s get better.”

“Like I keep saying, I got to get in shape. I got to finish those runs like I used to, and I will. I’m going to make sure I fix it so I can do what I’m capable of doing,” he added.

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

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.
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.
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.

Staff predictions for Chargers vs. Raiders in Week 1

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

The Los Angeles Chargers kick off Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Who is going to come out victorious?

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

Gavino:

The Chargers begin the new era under Jim Harbaugh against their division rival, the Raiders. After months of hearing about the 63-21 loss from last season, Los Angeles comes out motivated to silence that crowd. I think we see a well-rounded performance from the offense, with Justin Herbert throwing for two touchdowns and the rushing attack of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins to combine for over 100 yards. Defensively, Jesse Minter’s group will rattle Gardner Minshew.

Chargers 24, Raiders 14

Alex K:

Los Angeles should be able to contain a Las Vegas offense led by Gardner Minshew thanks to a strong pass rush, but the Raiders may find some chunk plays to Davante Adams with Asante Samuel Jr. a late add to the injury report. Offensively, a revamped run game under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman should keep the Chargers on schedule while Justin Herbert spreads the ball around.

Chargers 23, Raiders 13

Spencer:

The first game of the Jim Harbaugh era will set the tone for the rest of the season. In the last matchup between these two teams, the Raiders put up 63 points in a blowout. While the Chargers have the far superior quarterback, the Raiders have better playmakers around the field. We’ll see how healthy Justin Herbert is, along with the new-look wide receiver room. Due to those uncertain circumstances, the Raiders will sneak away with a Week 1 victory.

Raiders 21, Chargers 20

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.

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.

3 key matchups to watch as Chargers face Raiders in Week 1

Breaking down key matchups to watch for in the Chargers’ opener against the Raiders.

The Chargers’ 2024 regular season kicks off with a home matchup against the Raiders this Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Here are three matchups to keep an eye on in Week 1:

Chargers OT Joe Alt vs. Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby

Alt, the No. 5 overall pick, gets his first “Welcome to the NFL” moment facing one of the league’s premiere edge rushers. Crosby racked up a career-high 14.5 sacks in the 2023 season. Meanwhile, Alt only allowed four sacks during his college career (38 games).

Alt had weeks of reps against Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack during training camp, which should have helped him prepare for his test against Crosby this weekend.

“There can’t be a bigger test right out of the gate,” Jim Harbaugh said on Alt facing Crosby. “Joe’s prepared for it. I can’t wait to watch him compete, starting out against a premiere edge player in this game — in the history of the game, really.”

Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr. vs. Raiders WR Davante Adams

In last year’s meeting, Samuel fared well against Adams, allowing five catches on eight targets for just 35 yards. Against the Raiders in 2023, Samuel had three passes defended and an interception.

Samuel must maintain that high level of play against Adams, who has historically been a terror to the Chargers. In five games against Los Angeles, Adams has totaled 41 catches for 535 yards and four touchdowns.

Chargers RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins vs. Raiders front seven

Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are going to run the football, and they will rely on their offseason additions, Edwards and Dobbins, for their success. Edwards is coming off an 11-touchdown campaign, and Dobbins is just looking to stay healthy. When he’s on the field, Dobbins is a threat to opposing defenses. Additionally, the Chargers offensive line looks the best it has in years.

The Raiders are equipped to slow down Los Angeles’ ground game, and it starts up front. Along with being a prolific pass rusher, Crosby is a great run defender. Las Vegas bolstered the defensive line with the free agency signing of Christian Wilkins, who should aid in that department. Furthermore, Robert Spillane was one of the best run-defending linebackers last season.

Other matchups to watch

Chargers EDGEs Joey Bosa & Khalil Mack vs. Raiders OTs Kolton Miller & Thayer Munford

Chargers interior offensive line vs. Raiders DT Christian Wilkins

Chargers WRs Joshua Palmer & Ladd McConkey vs. Raiders CBs Jack Jones & Nate Hobbs

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.

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.