Tag: Rashawn Slater

Chargers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive, defensive performers through first 4 games

Looking at Pro Football Focus’ top five Chargers players on both sides of the ball at the bye week.

Which Chargers players have impressed the most so far this season?

That said, here are the best performers on both sides of the ball, according to Pro Football Focus’ player grades.

Note: To be more accurate, this is based on players who have played at least 40% of the snaps on offense (228) and defense (234).

Top 5 Offense

OT Rashawn Slater — 81.7

WR Ladd McConkey — 80.2

OT Joe Alt — 77.0

OL Zion Johnson — 70.6

TE Will Dissly — 69.2

Top 5 Defense

EDGE Khalil Mack — 89.8

CB Kristian Fulton — 82.5

S Elijah Molden — 82.4

DL Poona Ford — 73.1

CB Ja’Sir Taylor — 72.9

Top 5 burning questions Chargers must answer after Week 5 bye

The Chargers have some things to fix during the Week 5 bye. In the meantime, Jim Harbaugh has some questions to answer about his team.

The Chargers have a lot to figure out during their Week 5, something that Jim Harbaugh acknowledged after the team’s loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. The first-year head coach mentioned that they would use the bye week as a time for improvement rather than rest.

There are a lot of questions to be answered, particularly after they have lost the last two games.

How healthy will Justin Herbert for the rest of 2024?

The truth is, no one may know the true answer to this question. He’s played through several injuries in his career, but this season, it’s limited him more than ever. It forced him to leave the team’s Week 3 contest, but he was able to return and start in Week 4.

The early season bye week specifically helps Herbert in a big way and will hopefully help heal him up. Without a fully healthy Herbert, the upside of this offense is significantly limited. He’s thrown for just 578 yards on the season, which is on pace to be the worst statistical season in his career by a wide margin.

Will the interior offensive line hold back the team’s running game?

We know just how elite the Chargers’ tackle duo is, but the interior part of the line remains a concern. Specifically, center Bradley Bozeman has been less than stellar through four weeks. The team’s running game has slowed down significantly in the last two games, albeit each of which came against elite defenses.

Still, Jim Harbaugh’s squad needs to return to their ways in that aspect of the game. The right guard spot with Trey Pipkins III has been an issue as well, which has led to opposing defensive lines exposing the Chargers. If things don’t improve, Los Angeles will have to find reinforcements at these spots along the line.

Will anyone step up in the tight end room?

The easy answer to this would be no. Based on the opening few weeks, there’s nothing that would suggest that this will change. It was seen as a weakness of this team before the season, and the two veterans that were signed this offseason haven’t provided much of a spark. Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst have combined for just 15 catches and 144 yards without a touchdown.

Can they make the playoffs with an underwhelming cast of weapons?

This was arguably the most significant question heading into the season, and the first few weeks didn’t answer much. Quentin Johnston has shown some improvements, but the offense remains underwhelming overall.

That’s been due to a few different factors, but the Chargers lack top-end talent at the wide receiver and tight end positions. Rookie Ladd McConkey leads the team in catches (15) and receiving yards (176). The team lacks a true No. 1 wideout, which should be the top priority for general manager Joe Hortiz next offseason.

Who will continue to build off the first four weeks of season?

Through the first month of the season, a few players have stood out in impressive fashion for the Chargers. Most notably, guys like J.K. Dobbins, Quentin Johnston, Daiyan Henley, and Kristian Fulton have been the most surprising standouts.

They have all shown vast improvements from last season, which has helped the team be more competitive than some may have thought they would be. Coach Harbaugh will need more of the same from these guys if the team wants to make a run at the playoffs.

Jim Harbaugh takes blame for Chargers’ penalties in loss to Chiefs

Penalties hindered the Chargers in their 17-10 loss to the Chiefs.

Penalties hindered the Chargers in their 17-10 loss to the Chiefs.

Los Angeles committed nine total penalties during the game, including seven on offense.

“When it’s one guy, one guy, one guy, each has their one … that’s where we can improve,” Jim Harbaugh said. “That’s operation, that’s mechanics, that just needs to tighten up.

“I think when it shows up is one guy has one error, those add up,” Harbaugh added. “I take responsibility, just penalties in general. Keep training, keep working, keep coaching.”

Due to the penalties, the Bolts were behind the sticks on nearly every drive, which made it extremely difficult to generate anything on that side of the ball.

L.A. was without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt due to their injuries. As a result, it wasn’t only challenging to keep pressure off Justin Herbert, but it was also challenging to keep everything in sync pre-snap.

“We were definitely trying to have some cadence variations so they couldn’t get off on the snap and that’s the fix… just needs more honing, more practice, more work,” Harbaugh said.

The Chargers will look to tighten that up during their bye week.

Social media reacts to Chargers’ loss to Chiefs

Here is how the general population reacted to the Chargers’ loss to the Chiefs.

The Chargers lost to the Chiefs in a low-scoring affair.

The Bolts are now 2-2.

Here’s how social media reacted to the Week 4 game:

Chargers OT Joe Alt downgraded to ‘doubtful’ for Week 4 game vs. Chiefs

The Chargers will be without both of their starting offensive tackles.

The Chargers will be without both of their starting offensive tackles on Sunday when they face the Chiefs.

Joe Alt has been downgraded to doubtful after being listed as questionable on the final injury report.

Alt is dealing with a knee injury that he sustained in the fourth quarter of the Week 3 game against the Steelers.

Rashawn Slater had been ruled out with a pectoral injury.

In other roster related news, linebacker Blake Lynch and offensive lineman Sam Mustipher were elevated from practice squad.

Mustipher was at right guard in practice this past week, which could indicate that he will start there while Trey Pipkins kicks out to right tackle.

Jamaree Salyer is likely to start at left tackle in place of Slater.

Chargers rule out three players for Week 4 vs. Chiefs, including Rashawn Slater

The Chargers will be without key players on both sides of the ball when they host the Chiefs this Sunday.

The Chargers held one last practice on Friday in preparation for their Week 4 game against the Chiefs.

Afterward, three players were ruled out ahead of the matchup.

Los Angeles has ruled out offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (pectoral), edge defender Joey Bosa (hip) and linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring) for Sunday’s game.

Additionally, quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle), tackle Joe Alt (knee), wide receiver Derius Davis (hamstring), and cornerbacks Kristian Fulton (knee), Deane Leonard (hamstring) and Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) are questionable.

With Slater sidelined, the Chargers could start Jamaree Salyer or Foster Sarell at left tackle. If Alt can’t go, Trey Pipkins could move from right guard to right tackle.

Regarding Herbert, who was a limited participant in practice all week, Harbaugh said he felt better today than he did last Friday.

Herbert was able to do 7-on-7 and participate in team drills. Harbaugh added that he was able to do more in practice this week than last week.

“Listed as questionable, we’ll see,” he said.

Chargers stock watch: Who’s up, who’s down after Week 3 loss to Steelers

Here are the Chargers players who saw their stock rise and fall the most in Week 3.

We are nearly a month into the Chargers campaign already. The team is 2-1 through the first three weeks, perhaps a better spot than some expected them to be in.

Coming off their first loss of the season, Los Angeles now has to face the Chiefs. Heading into Week 4, check out who saw their stock rise and fall against the Steelers this past weekend.

Stock up: WR Ladd McConkey

McConkey finished the game with six targets, double as many as anyone else on the team. He produced three catches for 44 yards, which tied Quentin Johnston for the most in Week 3. We’re nearly a month through the season and it’s clear that those two are the Chargers’ primary targets at the wide receiver position. As the season progresses, look for the rookie McConkey to get more comfortable in the offense.

Stock down: C Bradley Bozeman

While the offensive line has been exceptional for the most part, Bozeman has been the lone exception. He’s been one of the worst centers in football in 2024, which has come as a slight surprise. The seventh-year veteran has played every snap, but the center position is an area of concern for Los Angeles. He has played some difficult interior defensive fronts so far this season, but if his performance doesn’t improve, the Chargers will need to find reinforcements elsewhere.

Stock up: OG Zion Johnson

In a game that saw the Chargers lose each of its offensive tackles, Johnson was phenomenal on the inside. He did pretty well against one of the best defensive lines in all of football. PFF gave him a 68.1 overall grade for the game, which was fourth-best on the team. The Chargers have completely rebuilt this team in the trenches, and it’s looking like Johnson will be a main part of that for the long term.

Stock down: RB J.K. Dobbins

It was the Chargers’ toughest matchup of the year, so it was expected that Dobbins’ numbers would come back down to earth. Still, he was largely ineffective on the day against a team he usually thrives against. Injuries hurt the Chargers offensively, particularly along the offensive line. Dobbins averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on Sunday for 44 yards on the ground. On the positive side of things, he did register a season-high three catches for 10 yards. Dobbins out-snapped Gus Edwards by a wide margin, indicating he’s the clear starter moving forward. We’ll see how Dobbins does in Week 4 against another stout defense in the Chiefs.

Stock up: CB Kristian Fulton

It’s the second straight week in which Fulton has made this list. He continues to boost his stock with exceptional play, as he was the team’s second-highest graded player in Week 3, according to PFF. In fact, they have had Fulton as the third-best cornerback in all of football for three weeks. He’s becoming quite a story for Los Angeles, and they will need more of that stellar play moving forward.

Chargers likely to be without starting offensive tackles in Week 4 vs. Chiefs

Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt both sustained injuries in the Week 3 loss to the Steelers.

The Chargers will likely be without their starting offensive tackles when they face the Chiefs in Week 4.

Joe Alt suffered an MCL sprain in the Week 3 loss to the Steelers. As a result, he is expected to miss some time.

Alt exited the game in the fourth quarter and limped off the field before being tended to by trainers.

The team will reassess Alt during their bye week.

Additionally, Rashawn Slater sustained a pectoral strain in the third quarter, keeping him sidelined for the remainder of this past Sunday’s game.

It’s only been weeks into the regular season, but Alt and Slater have already proven to be one of the top tackle tandems in the league.

It remains to be seen who will be playing quarterback, as Justin Herbert’s status is up after aggravating his high ankle sprain in Week 3. But no matter who is under center, the absences of Slater and Alt would be crucial.

Social media reacts to Chargers’ loss to Steelers

Here is how the general population reacted to the Chargers’ loss to the Steelers.

The Chargers lost to the Steelers in a game that saw them lose a few key players to injuries.

The Bolts are now 2-1.

Here’s how social media reacted to the Week 3 game:

3 Chargers Pro Bowl starters injured in loss to Steelers including QB Justin Herbert

Bigger than the loss to the Steelers could be the loss of three key Chargers players.

Sometimes you just have to feel for an organization. Even from the perspective of a rival. I mean, come on, all teams and fans want their team to win and their rivals to lose. But not because of injuries. And every year it seems like the Chargers get snakebit by injuries.

After being relatively healthy the first couple games this season, including a season opening win over the Raiders, in one game the Chargers saw several key Pro Bowl starters leave the game and not return, with their status for the rest of the season in doubt.

First and foremost, Justin Herbert left the game in the third quarter. He was seen limping badly on the sideline.

The Chargers also lost Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater to injury along with top pick rookie right tackle Joe Alt. And late in the game lost Pro Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa as well.

It was a 10-10. tie when they were all out of the game. After which the Steelers pulled away to win it 20-10.

Just brutal to see great players go out like this. Especially all in one game.