Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler tied for second on the team with 51 receptions in 2023, while his primary backup last season -- Joshua Kelley -- is a free agent. The Chargers brought in Gus Edwards in free agency, but Edwards has just 30 catches over 69 career NFL regular-season games and will likely be ticketed for the early-down work that Ekeler and Kelley and shared. The cap-strapped Chargers are unlikely to dip back into the free-agent market at running back, though they could bolster their backfield during the 2024 NFL Draft. In the meantime, however, Spiller profiles as the top candidate to handle passing-down work. He's demonstrated good hands, albeit on a small sample size, catching all nine of his targets for 47 yards since the Chargers selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

James was flagged for unnecessary roughness and then handed a one-game suspension that was upheld on appeal this week. However, Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that he wasn't upset with James, adding that Freiermuth changing course during the play caused James to eventually have contact with the tight end's head. Harbaugh also stated that James -- whose seven unnecessary roughness penalties since he entered the league in 2018 are the second most in that span -- has made a concerted effort to avoid any further issues and even reached out to officials on his own this past summer to get a better understanding of the current rules.

Herbert participated in 7-on-7 drills Wednesday and said his ankle felt good following the workout. The quarterback hadn't been able to practice last Wednesday after he originally suffered the injury in Week 3, so his ability to get on the field in some capacity seemingly bodes well for his chances of being ready to play this Sunday against the Chiefs.

While the X-ray results are good news for Herbert's long-term health, the Chargers may elect to sit him in Week 4 anyway. Per Rapoport, both the team's starting offensive tackles, Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt, are also injured, and if Herbert's mobility is impaired, he could be a sitting duck in the pocket against Chris Jones, George Karlaftis and the rest of Kansas City's pass rush. The Chargers are also on bye in Week 5, so sitting Herbert now would give him two full weeks to heal up. If he is held out of the lineup this Sunday, Taylor Heinicke would likely be the next man up for Los Angeles under center, with the more mobile Easton Stick also an option.

James was given his fifth unnecessary roughness penalty in his last 18 games for a shot to the head of Pittsburgh's Pat Freiermuth in the Chargers' loss to the Steelers on Sunday. He'll miss Los Angeles' game against Kansas City and leave the Chargers without one of their top defensive playmakers against their AFC West rivals.

Herbert and Johnston connected for two touchdown passes in Week 2 against the Panthers and added another one Sunday against the Steelers before Herbert aggravated his high-ankle sprain and exited in the second half. While Johnston's off to a surprisingly strong start after a forgettable rookie season, maintaining that momentum will be tough against Kansas City's stingy secondary, especially if Herbert's unavailable.

Heinicke entered in relief after Herbert got hurt in the second half, suggesting that the former Falcons quarterback has leapfrogged Easton Stick on the depth chart as Herbert's top backup. Heinicke has made 29 NFL starts, but he would be fighting an uphill battle against the reigning Super Bowl champs, especially with the Chargers banged up on the offensive line.

Bosa entered Sunday's game at Pittsburgh dealing with an injury to his hip.

Herbert suffered the ankle injury Week 2 against the Panthers, and though he never missed a snap and X-rays conducted Monday came back negative, the talented quarterback missed Wednesday's practice. Harbaugh said Wednesday that he still felt Herbert was more likely than not to play against Pittsburgh, but he acknowledged he would likely go with Stick over Heinicke if matters changed.

Herbert suffered the injury against the Panthers in Week 2, but head coach Jim Harbaugh labeled the veteran quarterback as "working through" the issue. The injury caused Herbert to miss Wednesday's practice, but X-rays conducted Monday came back negative, and Harbaugh said a meeting with the signal-caller Tuesday night went well.

Herbert re-aggravated an ankle injury in the Chargers' 20-10 loss to the Steelers last Sunday after being sacked by linebacker Elandon Roberts midway through the third quarter and was replaced by Tyler Heinicke. X-rays were reportedly negative. Herbert was uncertain to play in this matchup of 2-0 teams after having his ankle rolled up on in Los Angeles' 26-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers last Sunday.

Palmer was questionable heading into Week 2 due to a knee injury, but ended up playing in Los Angeles' 26-3 win at Carolina. He caught two passes for 19 yards in that one, giving him four receptions for 34 through two games. Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey have been Justin Herbert's top targets this season making Palmer less fantasy-relevant.

Palmer opened the week with two limited practices, but he was downgraded to a DNP on Friday, which doesn't bode well for his chances of playing Sunday. Davis didn't have a target in Week 1 against the Raiders, but he did rush for nine yards on two carries, and the 2023 fourth-round pick could be thrust into an extended role in the Chargers' offense should Palmer be sidelined.

Palmer was downgraded to a DNP in Friday's practice, which puts his availability for Week 2 in jeopardy. Ladd McConkey had a strong outing in his NFL debut, but that may lead the Panthers' secondary to hone in on the rookie, which would open the field for Johnston in the passing game. Johnston tallied three catches on five targets for 38 yards in the Chargers' Week 1 win over the Raiders.

A fight between the two teams led to ejections for Palmer and Las Vegas cornerback Jack Jones, but neither player is likely to get anything more than a fine from the league. Palmer caught two of four passes for only 15 yards in the Chargers' opener before being tossed, but he should be available for a Week 2 clash with the Panthers.

Palmer didn't make a good first impression for new coach Jim Harbaugh, getting into a fight with Jack Jones after rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey scored what amounted to a game-sealing touchdown for the Chargers. Prior to his ejection, Palmer had only two catches for 15 yards. Palmer could be slipping behind McConkey and Quentin Johnston in the wide receiver pecking order, and Palmer's lack of discipline down the stretch Sunday won't earn him any favors.

Johnston, a 2023 first-round pick, had a quiet rookie campaign even when veterans Mike Williams and Keenan Allen missed time due to injury, with Johnston finishing the season with 38 catches on 67 targets for 431 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Justin Herbert provided plenty of praise for Johnston on Wednesday, with the former saying "[Johnston's] one of those guys you have to find ways to get him the ball, and when you do, special things happen," per Rhim. Johnston will form a wide receiver trio with Joshua Palmer and rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey to begin the regular season.

McConkey worked with the first-team offense consistently during training camp, and the rookie second-rounder heads into Week 1 as the No. 2 wideout on the Chargers' depth chart behind Joshua Palmer and ahead of 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston. McConkey has impressed teammates and coaches on and off the field during the offseason, and the Georgia product could see heavy usage in the offense right out of the gate.

All things considered, this is a disappointing development for Edwards, who initially profiled as the likely top running back for the Chargers given the uncertainty over Dobbins' health. Dobbins appears to have worked all the way back from an Achilles tear suffered in Week 1 of last season, leading to a platoon in the Chargers' backfield heading into the regular season.

Dobbins has fully recovered from the Achilles tear he suffered in Week 1 of last season with the Ravens and is ready to play a prominent role in the Chargers' backfield. Edwards is better suited for inside runs and goal-line work, but Dobbins' superior speed and hands could earn the 25-year-old running back a prominent role out of the gate.

The second-year wideout is long on upside but short on consistently manifesting it going into his second season, and he's seen the Chargers' offensive mindset transition to more of a ground-based attack with the arrivals of head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman this offseason. However, Herbert, who's been displaying a strong connection with Johnston since the former jumped back into practice following a foot injury, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the talented wideout.

Chark, the only current Chargers receiver who has a 1,000-yard season on his NFL resume, missed practices Monday and Wednesday due to the issue. The speedster's career has been stuck in neutral for the last three seasons partly due to injuries, but when healthy, he's expected to add a veteran downfield dimension to the Chargers' revamped air attack this season.

Herbert spent two weeks in a walking boot this summer, but he apparently feels 100 percent heading into a Week 1 matchup against the Raiders. The talented quarterback said he won't be wearing any special kind of cleat or sole on the foot to open the season and is confident the problem is now behind him for good.

The deal includes $12.5 million guaranteed according to Rhim's ESPN colleague Adam Schefter. It's a well-earned payday for the fourth-year kicker, who knocked home 31 of 33 field-goal attempts, including seven of nine from 50-plus yards, and all 35 extra-point tries in 2023 across 17 regular-season games. Dicker initially played 10 regular-season games with the Chargers in 2022 and then beat out veteran Dustin Hopkins for the placekicking job during the 2023 preseason.

Bosa returned to practice Tuesday wearing a protective club around his left hand and revealed the details of the injury. Bosa is not expected to miss any regular-season games, but he confirmed he planned to wear the club for at least several games in the early part of the season.

Herbert was back at practice Monday and participated in team drills for the first time since August 1. He was initially expected to miss all of training camp, so he is trending in a positive direction. Nevertheless, Herbert likely won't be as mobile as usual when the regular season begins, and he has had little time to get acclimated to new coach Jim Harbaugh's offensive scheme, setting the stage for a sluggish start to the campaign.

The Chargers believe Johnston is at his best with the ball in his hands after the catch, and new offensive coordinator Greg Roman intends to draw up plays that put the second-year wideout in those situations. Johnston has also been playing hard in camp as he looks to erase the disappointment of his 431-yard rookie season. The Chargers parted ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the offseason, creating the opportunity for some combination of Johnston, Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark and 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey to step up. McConkey is currently sidelined by a lower-body injury.

It wasn't exactly a high bar to clear in a game the Chargers lost 16-3, but Perez's 61 passing yards were more than Max Duggan's 41 or starter Easton Stick's 31, and Stick also had an interception. With the Chargers scrambling to have a viable replacement available should Justin Herbert's foot injury linger into the regular season, Perez could put himself in the backup conversation if he continues to outplay Stick, Duggan and Casey Bauman.

The Chargers cut Mike Williams and traded away Keenan Allen this offseason, leaving their wide receiver room relatively barren. Palmer will look to fill that void and did step up to catch 72 balls for 769 yards in the 2022 regular season, making him the team's most proven receiver in recent years. Ladd McConkey, the team's second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, could eventually challenge Palmer, but for now, the rookie is competing for a role of his own.

The Chargers are optimistic Herbert will recover in time to play Week 1, but even if that's the case, McConkey will miss out on valuable practice reps alongside the starting quarterback during training camp. McConkey had reportedly been building a strong rapport with Herbert prior to the quarterback's injury, and the rookie wide receiver out of Georgia looked poised to begin his career as one of Herbert's favorite targets. The 2024 second-round draft pick's ceiling would be far lower with Stick, who hasn't thrown for more than 258 yards in an NFL game.

Stick finished last season as the Chargers' starter with Herbert sidelined due to a finger injury, but that was naturally under the previous coaching regime. However, even with Jim Harbaugh now at the helm in Los Angeles, Stick's experience, modest as it is, still trumps that of fellow backups Max Duggan and Casey Bauman and figures to therefore give him first crack at serving as Herbert's fill-in for at least two weeks. Stick completed 63.8 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and one interception while adding 144 rushing yards and another score over his five total regular-season appearances in 2023.

Herbert is expected to wear a walking boot during his recovery period, but for the moment, he's fully expected to be ready to play against the Raiders in Week 1. Before sitting out the final four games of the regular season in 2023, Herbert had recorded 62 consecutive starts. Easton Stick, who took over for Herbert in the final month last season and has appeared in six career regular-season games overall, is likely poised to take first-team reps while Herbert sits out.

Dobbins has achieved his goal of being ready for training camp, having completed his recovery from a torn Achilles' tendon suffered in Week 1 of last season. He has a lengthy injury history, including a torn ACL along with the aforementioned Achilles tear, but Dobbins has been effective when healthy, boasting a career average of 5.8 yards per carry on 234 regular-season rushing attempts. If Dobbins manages to stave off injuries in 2024, he'll have a chance to carve out a sizable role in a Chargers backfield that includes former Ravens teammate Gus Edwards and rookie sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal.

Davis, whom the Chargers took in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, finished his rookie year with 385 punt return yards and one touchdown, which earned him a spot on the Second-Team All-Pro roster as a return specialist. Popper relays that Davis' performance last season, coupled with the return of special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken, should make the TCU product a lock to make the Chargers' roster following training camp. Davis is unlikely to see an expanded role in the passing game, given he's behind Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, Quentin Johnston and 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey on the depth chart.

Selected 21st overall by the Chargers in the 2023 NFL Draft, Johnston didn't have the same impact in his first year in the league as fellow rookie wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers and Jordan Addison. Despite seeing more snaps and targets after Mike Williams and Keenan Allen went down with injuries, Johnston finished the 2023 regular season with just 38 catches on 67 targets for 431 yards and two touchdowns across 17 games. Popper has Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark and 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey as the three receivers in 11 personnel packages, meaning Johnston will need to show out during training camp to carve out a consistent role in the Chargers' offense.

Parham is regarded as a below-average blocker, which could cost him playing time relative to offseason additions Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst. Additionally, undrafted rookie Zach Heins could earn playing time with his blocking skills if he makes the team. Parham also sat out team drills in spring practices -- presumably due to an injury -- so he hasn't gotten a chance to impress the new coaching staff on the field.

Heins has been participating in the Chargers' offseason program after joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State. The 6-foot-6, 259-pound tight end excels as a blocker, and new head coach Jim Harbaugh has a penchant for focusing on the run. As such, Heins has a chance to carve out a role in a tight-end room that has one strong blocker in Will Dissly and three underwhelming blockers in Hayden Hurst, Donald Parham and Stone Smartt.

Veteran center Bradley Bozeman is the source of the report of Herbert's quick command of his fourth offensive system in five years, remarking that the prolific quarterback already looks like he's been in the scheme "for 10 years." Bozeman serves as a good frame of reference, considering he already has three years in Roman's offense under his belt from their mutual time with the Ravens and has had an up-close look at Herbert's grasp of the system during OTAs and minicamp.

McConkey has a chance to emerge as Herbert's go-to wide receiver out of the gate, as the Chargers parted ways with veterans Keenan Allen and Mike Williams before drafting McConkey 34th overall out of Georgia. The rookie has impressed on and off the field, standing out with quickness and precise route running in practice while building chemistry with Herbert by attending a Zach Bryan concert together.

Palmer referred to Allen and Williams as his "two best friends" and noted it was "definitely different" not having either out there with him during offseason workouts. Palmer added that he looked up to both players professionally, but that he's moving forward and is seeing a mostly young wide receiver room begin to take shape as training camp approaches.

Colson played for new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and Reuter cites the linebacker's familiarity with the boss's expectations and system as part of the reason why Colson landed in Los Angeles. Reuter notes Colson, who racked up 257 total stops in three college seasons, should be able to clog up running lanes and use his speed to force running backs outside, and he envisions the rookie cracking the 100-tackle threshold right out of the gate in his NFL career.

Rhim notes that while offensive linemen evaluations are always a challenging proposition in OTAs and minicamps due to the absence of pads, Harbaugh clearly feels his top pick is ready to handle first-team duties from Day 1. Alt lined up mostly at right tackle during offseason on-field work, and Rhim adds that's likely where he'll slot in during his rookie year.

Jefferson was still involved with the NFL last season, working as a scouting department intern with the Ravens following a May 2023 retirement announcement. The identity of the team that's coaxed the veteran safety out of retirement isn't entirely surprising -- current Los Angeles general manager Joe Hortiz was the Ravens' director of player personnel during Jefferson's internship in Baltimore, and current Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was Jefferson's defensive backs coach with the Ravens from 2017-19.

Palmer spent six weeks on injured reserve due to a knee sprain he sustained in Week 8 against Chicago. Before that, he stepped into the second wide receiver role vacated by Mike Williams -- who tore his ACL in Week 3 -- and saw four-plus targets in six-straight contests from quarterback Justin Herbert. With Williams and Keenan Allen gone, Filice believes that Palmer should command plenty of targets from Herbert as the leader of a wide receiver corps consisting of 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston, 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey and veteran DJ Chark.

With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams now off the roster, the battle for the top spot in the Chargers' wide receiver room seems to be wide open. Incumbent Joshua Palmer would be miscast in that role, and Patra implies McConkey, whom Los Angeles selected out of Georgia in the second round of April's draft, could be the best candidate for the top role despite the fact he's a rookie and profiles as a slot receiver.

Johnston struggled as a rookie after being drafted 21st overall in 2023, posting only 431 receiving yards. Nonetheless, he has an opportunity to carve out a major role in his second NFL season, as the Chargers parted ways with veteran wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Hortiz's endorsement is notable since he wasn't the GM that drafted Johnson, but it appears the new regime also has a high opinion of the former TCU wide receiver.

Rosenthal believes Gus Edwards will begin the season atop the Chargers' running back depth chart while the team takes a cautious approach with Dobbins. Though Dobbins said in April that he's fully recovered from the torn Achilles he suffered in the first week of the 2023 season, that was his second season-ending injury in three years, as he also tore his ACL in 2021. Once fully up to speed, Dobbins has a chance to take over as the lead back in a familiar scheme run by former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

Rosenthal mentions that the Chargers referred to Edwards as a "bell cow" when they signed him in free agency, and Edwards likely won't require much of an acclimation period with his new team since the Chargers also brought in offensive coordinator Greg Roman, under whom Edwards played with the Ravens. Fellow former Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins will likely be brought along slowly in his recovery from a torn Achilles, while rookie sixth-round draft pick Kimani Vidal is unlikely to challenge Edwards for the starting role right away.

USC's Brenden Rice unsurprisingly has a very involved dad in Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who was incensed by his son's fall in the draft. Brenden noted his father told him "we're going to take this to a different level" after the former was the 32nd out of 35 receivers selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Disappointment about where he was picked aside, Brenden insists he's focused on the positives of joining a team where he'll have Justin Herbert as his quarterback and a chance to make an immediate impact due to the team's dearth of wide receiver depth and explosive players.

Allen averaged 10.2 targets over the previous four years with Herbert, but the veteran wide receiver is now in Chicago. Between the departures of Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett, the Chargers lost four players responsible for 55 percent of the team's targets over the past two seasons. McConkey, whom the Chargers drafted 34th overall in 2024 out of Georgia, has a skill set reminiscent of Allen's. Even with the Chargers likely to run the ball more under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, McConkey still has an opportunity to emerge as the top target for one of the NFL's best young quarterbacks once Herbert recovers from a fractured right index finger.

Palmer, who just completed his third NFL season, still sits atop the offseason depth chart for the time being, but Chark figures to absorb his fair share of targets if he's healthy. Palmer also has plenty of younger competition in 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston, 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey and 2024 fourth-round pick Derius Davis, so there's no guarantee he's still the de facto No. 1 receiver role by the time Week 1 rolls around.

Dobbins met with the media for the first time since signing with the Chargers and said he expects to be ready for training camp, though he added the caveat that the team's training staff will control the pace of his return to the field. Los Angeles selected Kimani Vidal in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. adding some extra competition to the running back depth chart, but if Dobbins is cleared in time be ready for Week 1, he should lead the backfield alongside Gus Edwards.

The Chargers set the tone by selecting Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt with the fifth overall pick, then followed that up by taking versatile wide receiver Ladd McConkey out of Georgia early in the second round. The Bolts wrapped up their Day 3 picks with Troy running back Kimani Vidal and wide receivers Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson out of USC and Michigan, respectively. With Herbert's blindside protected by Alt and young skill players to plug in the holes left by Ekeler, Allen and Williams, the Chargers are putting their franchise quarterback in a position to succeed in 2024 and beyond.

Rhim relays the information from ESPN colleague Adam Schefter, who confirmed that the Chargers had quickly turned down both requests when they were made. Los Angeles general manager Joe Hortiz confirmed Thursday there indeed had been inquires at the NFL Combine but declined to specify which teams made them, adding "that is never an option" in reference to the possibility of trading the 2020 first-round pick.

Edwards inked a two-year deal with Los Angeles on March 11, and he'll now be joined by Dobbins, his teammate in Baltimore over the last four campaigns. Both players should have a relatively brief acclimation curve given they'll be operating in a system run by their one-time coordinator with the Ravens, Greg Roman. Provided Dobbins is fully recovered from the Achilles tear that ended his 2023 campaign in Week 1, Edwards could operate as a complementary option to the former.

Dobbins agreed to terms with the Chargers earlier in the week, and he's now officially in the fold and reunited with a couple of one-time Ravens colleagues. Dobbins will join Baltimore backfield mate Gus Edwards in Los Angeles, and both will be playing in an offense coordinated by Greg Roman, who had the same role with the Ravens during the first three seasons of Dobbins' career.

"I had the concussion and for a week after it was a little touch-and-go, but I went to the Mayo Clinic down in Jacksonville, got a second opinion, got full clear bill of health," Hurst said. "The only reason I sat out as long as I did was just, from the front office, there was really no point. They were 2-15, or 2-13 at the time, so there was really no point in rushing back." The veteran tight end signed with the Chargers after being released by Carolina in March, and he could compete for the starting job vacated by Gerald Everett when he left in free agency.

Ekeler tied for second on the team with 51 receptions in 2023, while his primary backup last season -- Joshua Kelley -- is a free agent. The Chargers brought in Gus Edwards in free agency, but Edwards has just 30 catches over 69 career NFL regular-season games and will likely be ticketed for the early-down work that Ekeler and Kelley and shared. The cap-strapped Chargers are unlikely to dip back into the free-agent market at running back, though they could bolster their backfield during the 2024 NFL Draft. In the meantime, however, Spiller profiles as the top candidate to handle passing-down work. He's demonstrated good hands, albeit on a small sample size, catching all nine of his targets for 47 yards since the Chargers selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.