Tag: Zion Johnson

Chargers’ Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa unlikely to play vs. Chiefs

Keenan Allen has missed the last three games.

At his media availability of Wednesday, Chargers interim head coach Giff Smith was asked about Joey Bosa and Keenan Allen’s potential participation in Week 18.

While he didn’t write off their chances of playing entirely, he indicated that either suiting up is unlikely. Smith said the chances of Allen and Bosa playing are “slim.”

Smith said that Allen nor Bosa has “progressed” in their comeback efforts as they’ve expected. Allen has dealt with a heel injury since the team’s first loss to the Broncos. Bosa has missed more time after suffering a foot injury against the Packers. The Chargers activated his 21-day practice window two weeks ago, but it seems that we won’t see Bosa be formally activated for play.

With the Chargers being put in a tough spot following the season-ending injury to Justin Herbert, it always seemed unlikely that either Allen or Bosa would return without a potential playoff appearance on the line. The firings of Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco paired with the Bolts’ formal elimination from playoff contention effectively ensured that would be the case.

Smith was also asked about Kenneth Murray (shoulder) and Zion Johnson (neck) after both players missed last week’s game at Denver. He indicated that they’ll have a likelier chance to play depending on how both progress in their recoveries throughout the week. Per the Chargers’ official injury report, Johnson and Murray did not practice today. Jordan McFadden and Nick Niemann started in their respective places against Denver.

Finally, Joshua Palmer is working his way back from his concussion after missing the Denver game in Week 17 as well. Smith indicated that he is “progressing” through the protocol. Palmer was limited in practice today.

Film room: Breaking down Chargers’ dominant run game vs. Dolphins

Dissecting one of the best overall team rushing performances in team history.

While it may not have been the 1-0 start the Chargers were hoping for, Los Angeles had one of the best overall team rushing performances in team history. In fact, their 66.7% success rate is tied for the seventh-best rushing performance in the league over the past decade.

How did offensive coordinator Kellen Moore scheme it up?

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

Here’s how we project the Chargers depth chart to look for the start of the regular season.

The Chargers are just days away from their season opener against the Dolphins

The positions are set after finalizing their 53-man roster, but the team has yet to release the official depth chart.

So let’s dive into how the offensive side of the ball could shape up heading into the 2023 season, highlighting who is likely to start and serve as depth pieces behind them.

Quarterback

Starter Backup Reserve
QB Justin Herbert Easton Stick

The Chargers elected to roster two quarterbacks instead of three, as they have frequently done in the past.

Running back

Starter Backup Reserve Reserve
RB Austin Ekeler Joshua Kelley Isaiah Spiller Elijah Dotson

Kelley will get most of the carries behind Ekeler to start the season. He earned every bit of the backup job, flashing when he was on the field last year and during the summer. Spiller had a great training camp and preseason, too. He will be playing more snaps as the season progresses. Dotson will likely be an inactive player on game days.

Starter Backup
WR1 Keenan Allen Quentin Johnston
WR2 Mike Williams Derius Davis
WR3 Josh Palmer

Allen and Williams will be the top two receivers, while Palmer gets the majority of the snaps as the third receiver early on. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will draw up plays for Johnston to take advantage of yards-after-the-catch skills. Davis will primarily serve as the return specialist, with some gadget plays and to keep the defense honest with his speed here and there.

Tight end

Starter Backup Reserve Reserve
TE Gerald Everett Donald Parham Tre’ McKitty Stone Smartt

Nothing surprising here. Everett will be the featured tight end, with primarily receiving responsibilities. Parham is another option as a receiver and should have blocking duties, as he was one of the best in that department before dealing with his respective injuries. McKitty will strictly be a blocker, but he will need to show improvement in this area after underwhelming during the summer. Smartt will be a core special teamer, but he deserves offensive snaps after proving to be the best tight end during training camp and preseason.

Offensive line

Starter Backup Reserve
LT Rashawn Slater Foster Sarell
LG Zion Johnson Brenden Jaimes
C Corey Linsley Will Clapp
RG Jamaree Salyer Jordan McFadden
RT Trey Pipkins

The starting five have been set in stone for quite some time, so there aren’t any changes here. Sarell will be the primary swing tackle, meaning he will slide in at the left or right tackle should an injury occur to Slater or Pipkins. McFadden is the swing guard. Clapp is the swing center. Jaimes can play all interior spots.

Chargers OT Rashawn Slater ready to roll after season-ending injury

The Chargers will benefit immensely from the return of their star left tackle.

After one of the best rookie seasons by an offensive tackle, Rashawn Slater was set for a sensational sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, it was cut short by a torn biceps injury that he suffered in Week 3 against the Jaguars.

Slater missed 15 games in total, including the playoff.

Ten months later, fully healthy, Slater is ready to roll and return to his dominant ways. But now

“I definitely want to be like the best version of myself,” Slater said. “I think I’ve improved as a player since then, just in the way that I see the game and in my technique. I definitely think there was a lot to improve upon that year.

“I don’t anticipate taking any steps back, that’s for sure,” Slater added. “The nice thing about this is that it healed up really well, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Slater, the No. 13 overall selection of the 2021 NFL draft, allowed only 26 pressures and four sacks on 752 pass-block snaps while imposing will in the run game in Year 1. He was named a Pro Bowler and earned Second-Team All-Pro.

As Slater prepares to return to live-game action, he’s benefited from going up against the dynamic duo of edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in training camp as the team is now in pads.

“I take away a lot from those like. Joey and Khalil, they’re so smart in the way they play off of O-linemen,” Slater said. “Every training camp it’s like, if you have just one little mistake in your technique here, they’re going to find a way to exploit that. They really keep you honest.”

“The margin for error is so small, I think it really teaches you quickly what you’re doing wrong and what you need to fix because once they see something, it’s over,” Slater added. “They take advantage of it so well.”

Slater will be a key cog in what is arguably the most complete offensive line that the Chargers have had in many years.

Jamaree Salyer, who started in place of Slater last season, will be the starter at right guard, while Zion Johnson moves over to left guard. They also return center Corey Linsley and right tackle Trey Pipkins, who re-signed on a three-year deal.

Ranking the AFC West by interior offensive linemen

How do the teams in the AFC West stack up along the interior offensive line

We move inside to take a look at how the AFC West stacks up on the offensive line. Who are the top maulers and who is lagging behind. Let’s rank them 1-4.

Predicting the Chargers’ starting offense before training camp

Here are our picks for the Chargers’ starting lineup on offense ahead of training camp.

Training camp is usually when teams begin finalizing their depth charts. This year, however, it seems as though the Chargers have largely set their starting lineups before players even report to camp.

Let’s run through the starters, beginning with the offense.

Projecting the Chargers’ offensive line depth chart in 2023

Projecting the nine players to make up the offensive line room to open the 2023 season.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to training camp, I will be breaking down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Next up, I project what the offensive line room will look like heading into the 2023 season.

3 Chargers poised to have breakout seasons in 2023

Highlighting three Chargers players who could be positioned to break out during the 2023 season.

Every season, there are players who break out onto the scene who may not have been dominant the season before, whether they had limited snaps, dealt with an injury, or just improved as a player in the offseason.

It’s no different for a few Chargers players poised to have breakout campaigns and help the team with genuine Super Bowl hopes this upcoming season.

Kellen Moore says left side of offensive line will be a strength for Chargers in 2023

Kellen Moore was particularly bullish on the left side of the Chargers’ offensive line.

The Chargers are on the rise at their organized team activities, and one thing that has drawn attention is the offensive line, particularly the left side.

In an interview after practice on Wednesday, a reporter asked about the strength of his front five, and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore wasted no time in telling the media about the unit’s potential.

I think we’re building this left side that is going to have some tremendous strength behind it. Those guys’ ability to use strengths — the right side, as well — to kind of solidify these positions, to get these guys working together. I think that’s one of the biggest things with offensive line is that it’s five guys that have to be in sync. The more those guys spend time together, I think, is critical. We’re really excited about the way it’s laying out.

Star left tackle Rashawn Slater is back after missing nearly the entire 2022 season with a torn biceps.

“I love it. I’m so excited to be back,” Slater said. “I feel like we’ve all — it’s a young group, but now we had last year, especially with Zion and Jamaree.”

Slater had a dominant rookie season en route to being named to the Pro Bowl and earning Second-Team All-Pro honors.

After playing next to Matt Feiler in his first season, Slater will play next to second-year Zion Johnson, who is making the switch from right guard to left guard.

Johnson, the 2022 first-round pick, experienced some growing pains but he still flashed dominance, especially as a run blocker.

With the guys up front, the Chargers’ coaching staff won’t be content with anything short of excellence from the team’s offensive line in 2023. And if Moore’s comments are any indication, fans should be optimistic about this group’s trajectory.

PFF projects Chargers breakout player for 2023 season

PFF went through all 32 teams and named a breakout candidate from each one.

Every season, there are players who break out onto the scene who may not have been dominant the season before, whether they had limited snaps, dealt with an injury, or just improved as a player in the offseason.

Pro Football Focus’ Zoltan Buday went through all 32 teams and named a breakout candidate from each one. For the Chargers, Buday pegged second-year guard Zion Johnson as his.

Johnson is another second-year player who struggled a bit early in his rookie season, but he showed plenty of promising signs as the season went on to make Chargers fans excited about a potential leap in Year 2. Even though he ranked just 39th in PFF grade among guards on the season, his 70.8 grade over the last seven weeks of the regular season was good for 12th best at his position. Also, his 73.5 run-blocking grade over that span ranked fifth among guards.

Selected No. 17 overall out of Boston College in the 2022 NFL draft, Johnson was thrown into the fire in his first season, filling in as the team’s starting right guard from the get-go.

He appeared in every game, playing 100% of the offensive snaps, except for Week 11 against the Raiders when he came off the field for 11% of the snaps due to a shoulder issue that he experienced.

Johnson experienced rookie growing pains, particularly in pass protection, as he was tasked to go up against elite competition. However, he was steadily strong as a run blocker alongside Trey Pipkins.

Johnson is expected to move from right to left guard, the spot he played in college, where he will play next to the young and talented tackle Rashawn Slater, which should only benefit his play.