Bolts From The Blue
The Los Angeles Chargers enter their third preseason game on Saturday 2-0 and look to continue their dominant ways against the Los Angeles Rams. And while their preseason record won’t carry over, nor the record is indicative of anything (the 0-16 Lions were 4-0 in preseason; Ravens went 24-0 from 2015-2023), there are things valuable within the games to focus upon. Chief among them are the competitions that earn more involvement when the records matter.
There are three important competitions as the preseason creeps toward its end. The first and most important: a battle between two rookies.
Wide Receiver
Competitors: Tre Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Both Harris and Lambert-Smith were drafted with the hopes of revitalizing a receiver corps needing new talent to flourish as they parted ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in 2024. Coincidentally, both have since reunited with the Chargers after their one-year departures, though Williams retired on the first day of training camp, ushering in a reunion with Allen.
Nonetheless, the Chargers have a competition between the two upstarts. Though, it’s not been one to be consumed in the preseason so much as training camp.
K. Lambert-Smith: 24 snaps 2 targets, 2 receptions, 43 yards, 1 TD | 27 snaps, 2 targets, 0 receptions
T. Harris: 24 snaps 1 targets, 0 receptions | 24 snaps, 0 targets
The final two preseason games could tilt the favor in one player’s direction. Harris has the benefit of being a second-round selection. Lambert-Smith has the production — albeit minimal — from the Hall of Fame Game. But if one makes repeated plays down the stretch, it will solidify their early involvement for 2025.
Depth Cornerback
Competitors: Eric Rogers, Nikko Reed
Rogers and Reed have been the two best cornerbacks this preseason by all counts. And yet, they’re both contending for a roster spot due to the cornerback room featuring Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste and others. It would take injury or great fortune for both to make the roster, even after their impressive individual performances.
After the Chargers’ first preseason game, our own Michael Peterson had only Reed making the 53. Both are proving to be NFL caliber, but roster gymnastics can only stretch so far. Continue to watch these two contend to make the Chargers’ roster, or find their way elsewhere when cuts are revealed.
Depth Outside Linebacker / Special Teams
Competitors: Caleb Murphy, Kyle Kennard
Through two games, Caleb Murphy has flashed. No play more noteworthy than Murphy forcing a fumble on the opening play in the Hall of Fame Game against the Lions, which turned into a five-play scoring drive finalized with Trey Lance’s touchdown pass to tight end Will Dissly on 4th & Goal.
Murphy sits just outside the Top 10 in PFF’s pass rush grades among edge rushers this preseason (No. 11, 86.3). Meanwhile, Kennard, the Chargers’ fourth-round pick and 2024 SEC Defensive Player of the Year who racked up 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for the Gamecocks, has...
