EL SEGUNDO — Wide receiver Keenan Allen walked onto the practice field Thursday and waved in acknowledgement of the cheers of Chargers fans who were glad to see him back in uniform after a season away with the Chicago Bears, a reunion that gives quarterback Justin Herbert another reliable target.
Allen then caught a pass from Herbert during individual drills and the fans cheered again. He then caught a pass from backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke and they cheered again. And so it went during Allen’s first practice since signing a one-season, $8.52-million contract this week.
In many ways, it seemed as if he hadn’t been away. After all, he looked very much like the seasoned veteran who spent 11 of his 12 seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, starting with a record-breaking rookie season in 2013 that led to six selections to the Pro Bowl in his tenure.
In fact, much had changed since the Chargers traded him to the Bears in a cost-saving move March 14, 2024. Allen’s practice Thursday was his first with Jim Harbaugh as coach and Greg Roman as offensive coordinator. Herbert was one familiar face, of course, but others were new.
Asked if he missed Herbert, Allen said without pausing, “Absolutely.”
Asked if he had something to prove in his return, he said, “Absolutely.”
Of the Chargers’ youthful collection of wide receivers, including Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston and rookies Tre’ Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Allen said, “Hey, the young guys are much better than what I’m used to seeing in training camp this early. You know, the technique, the way they’re getting downfield, the way they’re approaching coverages, I think they’re looking great.”
Allen set Chargers rookie records with 71 receptions and 1,046 receiving yards in 2013. He topped 1,000 yards receiving in five additional seasons. He had 108 catches for 1,243 yards during the 2023 season, his last with the Chargers, who were caught in a significant salary cap crunch.
General manager Joe Hortiz traded Allen to the Bears, released wide receiver Mike Williams and negotiated salary cuts with outside linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in order to get under the cap. Williams re-signed with the Chargers, but he then retired July 17, on the eve of camp.
Bosa was cut this past offseason and signed with the Buffalo Bills; Mack re-signed for a 12th NFL season.
Last season, McConkey broke Allen’s rookie records with 82 catches and 1,149 receiving yards. Allen wasted zero time in pointing out to reporters that McConkey played 16 games during the 2024 season, one more than Allen did for the then-San Diego Chargers in 2013.
“Oh, it was great,” Allen said of McConkey’s play in breaking Allen’s rookie receiving records, something he monitored from afar while playing with the Bears. “He had a little bit more games. No, it was great. He’s a great player. He’s elusive, fast. He made a lot of great plays.”
EXTRA POINTS
Linebacker Denzel Perryman returned to practice after he was released from custody Monday after his arrest on felony weapons charges following a traffic stop Aug. 1. … Cornerback Donte Jackson twisted his ankle during a drill and was sidelined late in practice. … Offensive lineman Branson Taylor, a rookie, and running back Jaret Patterson also were sidelined by injuries during practice.