Chargers training camp: 16 observations as action returns to the team facility

COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers held their 17th practice of training camp Tuesday. They returned to their team facility, Hoag Performance Center, after three weeks of practicing down the road at Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex. They will hold a second practice at Hoag on Wednesday, and that will be the final practice of training camp before their preseason finale Friday night at the San Francisco 49ers.

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The Chargers were not in pads Tuesday. There’s a lot to get to, so we will hop right into some quick-hitting observations.

#Chargers back at Hoag. Two more open practices today and tomorrow before they lock us out for the regular season. Last two training camp reports of the summer coming your way.

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) August 22, 2023

1. Quarterback Justin Herbert threw two interceptions in team drills. The first came in seven-on-seven and was not his fault. Herbert was looking for rookie receiver Quentin Johnston on an in-breaking route. Johnston slipped and fell. Asante Samuel Jr. was in coverage. Samuel picked it off for his fifth interception of training camp. Herbert threw his second interception in 11-on-11 drills during a live move-the-ball period. The first-team offense had moved into opposing territory. On a second-and-10 from the plus-25-yard line, Herbert tried to fit a fastball into a tight window over the middle to Keenan Allen. Safety JT Woods jumped the route and intercepted the pass for his first interception of camp.

2. Woods had a solid preseason game Sunday night. Aside from one poor angle on a screen play in the second quarter, Woods tackled well. He looked connected in coverage and had two pass breakups. It seems as though Woods has turned a corner over the second half of training camp. He is stringing days together. Now he must carry this consistency into the regular season. He will have a prominent role as the second safety when Derwin James Jr. moves around in sub packages.

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3. Receiver Mike Williams had one of his most productive practices of training camp. He had four receptions, all from Herbert. Two of those were contested catches against Michael Davis. Another was an explosive reception over the middle on an over route off play action. Herbert delivered a well-placed ball on this play with enough air on it to clear Woods, who was playing underneath Williams. Williams also made a one-handed catch along the sideline off play action for a short gain. Williams has been relatively quiet in camp, but he looks to be rounding into form at the right time.

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4. “Inconsistent” is probably the best word to describe Johnston’s performance through camp. On top of the slip on Herbert’s first interception, Johnston had a bad drop on the opening play to the two-minute drill. He was wide open on a shallow out route. Herbert hit him in stride. But Johnston could not make the grab — something that has become a regular occurrence for the rookie in camp.

Johnston had eight drops in his final season at TCU. This was the biggest weakness in his scouting report as he prepared for the NFL Draft. And some of those concerns are materializing in camp. On the final play of seven-on-seven, Herbert threw a dime down the sideline to Johnston. Cornerback Deane Leonard was in tight coverage. Still, Johnston should have made the play. He let that one through his hands as well. Johnston did have four catches in the practice. He had a strong contested catch over the middle off play action in the move-the-ball period, beating Davis. And in the two-minute drill, the Chargers went right back to him after the drop. Herbert hit Johnston on a shallow cross. He made that catch. Johnston has the capacity to catch the ball more consistently. He needs to work on that part of his game. Johnston did not work on the Jugs machine after practice. Allen, Williams and tight end Gerald Everett all caught extra balls.

Here is what offensive coordinator Kellen Moore had to say on Johnston after practice: “For any guy, it’s a process. He made some tremendous catches today. He made some tremendous contested catches. We will continue to build off of those. There will be mistakes, just like with any player. He will continue to work on it. We feel really fortunate to have him here, and he will definitely have a role for us as the season starts.”

5. While Johnston goes through his ups and downs, Joshua Palmer continues to make regular plays. He had the best play of the day for the offense during the 11-on-11 move-the-ball period. On a second-and-8, Herbert stepped up to avoid pressure off the edge from Khalil Mack. Palmer was one-on-one with Samuel downfield on a post route. Herbert threw a bomb, and Palmer fought off Samuel to make the catch for a 50-yard gain. Palmer has been one of the offense’s most consistent performers in camp.

6. Safeties Alohi Gilman and Mark Webb Jr. and linebackers Nick Niemann and Amen Ogbongbemiga were all back in practice. This was a big development for Webb, who suffered a groin injury during one-on-one drills in the first joint practice with the New Orleans Saints last week. Webb sat out Sunday’s preseason game against New Orleans. But he was back in team drills Tuesday. Webb’s first two NFL seasons were derailed by injuries. He missed time in his rookie training camp with a hamstring injury. Later that year, he landed on injured reserve with a knee injury after playing in only seven regular-season games. He needed surgery. Webb then missed time in the 2022 training camp with a calf injury. He did not make the 53-man roster. Webb seems to have avoided a worst-case scenario with this groin injury. He was rotating in at safety with the first team, as Gilman was limited in his snaps. Gilman is coming off a knee contusion that kept him out of joint practices last week.

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7. Center Corey Linsley was absent from practice for a personal matter.

8. Tight end Donald Parham and linebacker Blake Lynch missed practice with injuries.

9. Cornerback J.C. Jackson participated in seven-on-seven drills but not 11-on-11s. It was a lighter day after Jackson worked into seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills for the two joint practices with the Saints last week.

10. Defensive lineman Austin Johnson worked back into team drills for the first time since being activated off the physically unable to perform list last week.

11. Zack Bailey kicked out to right tackle with the second-team offensive line. Austen Pleasants moved from right tackle to right guard. Bailey had been playing primarily right guard with the second-team offensive line through training camp and the preseason.

12. Receiver Jalen Guyton, who remains on the PUP list as he works his way back from ACL surgery, made an appearance on the practice field. He was working off to the side with trainers. He had not been on the rehab field for any of the practices at Hammett.

13. Cameron Dicker was the only kicker participating in the field goal period. He made all four of his kicks, from 30, 33, 38 and 40 yards. Dustin Hopkins was in sneakers and did not practice. Hopkins made two kicks — a 25-yard field goal and an extra point — in Sunday’s preseason loss to the Saints.

14. Third-string quarterback Max Duggan got some extra work in team drills after not playing in Sunday’s preseason game. For instance, Easton Stick and the second-string offense did not get a two-minute drive. Duggan and the third-string offense got the drive instead. Duggan’s drive ended on the second play when his pass was tipped. Rookie linebacker Nathan East came down with a diving interception on the deflected ball.

15. The Chargers’ first-team offense had two false start penalties during their two-minute drive.

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16. The Chargers signed linebacker Tae Crowder and waived offensive lineman Andrew Trainer with an injury designation. This is likely a move to ensure the Chargers have enough linebacker depth to make it through Friday’s game. Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray Jr. have not played in the preseason. Niemann and Ogbongbemiga missed Sunday’s game with injuries. And now Lynch is injured.

(Top photo of Mark Webb Jr. and Keelan Doss at training camp on July 26: Kirby Lee / USA Today)

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