By Daniel Popper
Jul 28, 2024
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and rookie receiver Ladd McConkey were a touch out of sync in Friday’s practice. They failed to connect on two pass attempts downfield that would have gone for chunk gains. The first throw was just out of reach for McConkey down the seam. On the second throw, McConkey slowed his route.
On Saturday, the pairing rediscovered a rhythm. McConkey had his best practice of training camp so far. He caught four Herbert passes, including a touchdown.
McConkey’s first catch came on the opening series of 11-on-11. He beat off coverage with a sharp slant route and was wide open over the middle of the field. Herbert hit him in stride.
In the next period, Herbert moved the starting offense into the red zone against the starting defense. On first down, a Quentin Johnston bubble screen went for no gain. Herbert then threw incomplete on second down when he and receiver Joshua Palmer were not on the same page. That set up a third-and-10 from the 18-yard line.
Herbert took the shotgun snap and dropped back. The coverage was tight. Herbert escaped the pocket to his left to buy time.
McConkey’s initial route was shut down by slot cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor. But McConkey did a nice job of finding an open space to the middle of the field in the scramble drill. McConkey put his hand in the air as Herbert reset, and the quarterback saw him streaking open.
Herbert floated a pass to the back of the end zone. It sailed just over the outstretched hand of safety Alohi Gilman, who leaped to make a play on the ball. McConkey hauled it in for the touchdown.
In the next 11-on-11 period, McConkey continued to show off his hands and route running.
Herbert and the starting offense faced a third-and-5. McConkey aligned in the slot and ran a comeback route to the sticks. As he turned, Herbert fired low and to McConkey’s outside shoulder, away from Taylor. McConkey made the sliding catch for the first down. On the ensuing snap, McConkey beat Taylor again, this time winning cleanly on an out route.
“He’s been off to a really good start,” coach Jim Harbaugh said of McConkey. “Really, really excellent route runner. We knew that, and he’s been really good, really dialed in right from the beginning. Just how quick he gets up to full speed. I don’t know how many steps it is, but it’s pretty fast, pretty quick — three, five, six steps and he’s up to full speed.”
My big question with this receiver group: Who can Herbert rely on to win consistently against both man and zone in key situations? In previous seasons, that was Keenan Allen, one of the best third- and fourth-down receivers in the league.
It is still very early, but McConkey has the skill set to win in those same situations. He has two third-down conversion receptions already in camp. His route running really comes to life out of the slot, when he has a two-way go and can use his short-area quickness to create separation.
Harbaugh did not divulge much regarding injuries on Saturday, his first time speaking to the media since the opening day of camp, and that is likely foreshadowing how the new head coach will deal with injury questions moving forward.
Starting left tackle Rashawn Slater left Friday’s practice with an injury. He was not on the field for Saturday’s practice.
On Friday, Slater walked off the field and into the facility with trainers. He came back out to the field briefly with his helmet on. He chatted with Chargers director of player health, wellness and performance Marco Zucconi. Then Slater went back inside. He did not return. After Slater re-entered the facility, Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz both walked over to Zucconi, and the three talked for the remainder of the period.
When asked Saturday for an update on Slater, Harbaugh said the Chargers are “ramping the starters up.” It was clear Slater had sustained some sort of injury, though. A follow-up question was asked.
“I’m not going to categorize what it is or what is not,” Harbaugh said. “You’re going to see quite a bit of that as we go through this first stage.”
So the plan was for Slater to leave Friday’s practice prematurely and then also sit out Saturday’s practice?
“He said, ‘Hey, I got something here. I want to keep playing but I need to take a look at it,’” Harbaugh said of Slater. “No, we’re going to take you out, and move you into the weight room and do some work there.”
Harbaugh added: “Abundance of caution. I know you haven’t heard that term since the pandemic, but it applies to this stage that we’re in right now.”
We got there eventually. Slater tweaked something. He was pulled from practice for precautionary reasons. Unclear why seven questions were needed to generate a tangible response.
When asked if he could share where Slater’s injury is, Harbaugh said, “No.”
“Just he’s working through something,” Harbaugh added.
Tight end Donald Parham Jr. did not practice Saturday, either.
“He’s working through something,” Harbaugh said.
Parham also did not practice in the spring. Is it related to what he was dealing with during organized team activities and minicamp?
“He’s working through something,” Harbaugh said.
Running back Gus Edwards has not yet participated in team drills this camp.
“He’s working through something,” Harbaugh said.
Edge rusher Joey Bosa, running back J.K. Dobbins and linebacker Denzel Perryman did not participate in team drills Saturday. They were all suited up for practice and went through individual drills.
“The backups, they’re going to get a little more volume, and then the most volume is going to go to the guys that are fighting for a spot to make the football team,” Harbaugh said. “So we’ve got it tiered. Marco and (executive director of player performance) Ben Herbert are in charge running the show there. They’re great at what they do, and we got full and complete confidence that they will get our guys ready — get them enough volume but get them the right amount of volume. We talked about it the other day, the glide theory is in full effect.”
News and notes
• With Perryman sitting out team drills, Troy Dye was next to Daiyan Henley at inside linebacker with the first-team defense. Nick Niemann also rotated in.
• AJ Finley and JT Woods continue to rotate as the third safety when Derwin James Jr. moves to positions closer to the line of scrimmage. Finley made the first splash play of the competition in Saturday’s practice. Herbert tried to connect with Johnston on a post route. Finley showed solid awareness and broke on the route from a deep position, breaking it up in the end zone.
“There’s some competition for that third spot,” Harbaugh said of the battle at safety. “AJ, JT Woods. We’ll see. We don’t know who the best players are right now. We just got four days of training camp practice. But excited about the guys, and the waters are pretty hot, warm of competition at that spot.”
• Rookie receiver Brenden Rice caught a 35-yard touchdown from Easton Stick in 11-on-11. It was his second go-ball reception in as many days. Rookie safety Thomas Harper was in good position, rotating over the top from the hashmark. He timed his jump well but could not get a hand on the throw. Rice made a good catch in the end zone through traffic.
• The first-team punt unit: Taylor and cornerback Deane Leonard at gunner; running back Isaiah Spiller; Dye; Niemann; edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu; tight end Stone Smartt; Henley; edge rusher Chris Rumph II; long snapper Josh Harris; and punter JK Scott.
• Herbert’s best throw of the day came on a corner route to tight end Will Dissly. Dye was in tight coverage, trailing Dissly. Herbert’s pass went just over Dye’s shoulder. Pinpoint accuracy.
• Rookie tight end Luke Benson had four catches in Saturday’s practice.
• The Chargers have their first padded practice of camp on Monday. Sunday is an off day.
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