EL SEGUNDO — In the final analysis, the Chargers resolved none of their many position battles in the wake of their 27-7 victory over the Texans in their preseason opener Thursday night in Houston. The competition was still very much alive when they returned to their practice facility Saturday morning.
“Pretty, pretty good,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said.
NFL teams have until Aug. 30 to set their initial 53-man rosters, and the Chargers have seven training camp practices, a scrimmage with the San Francisco 49ers and preseason games against the 49ers and Rams before they must make their personnel decisions before the deadline.
They are good problems to have.
If anything, several training camp battles heated up after Thursday’s victory over the Texans, a game the Chargers dominated offensively and defensively, no matter whether a handful of starters were on the field or whether there were second- and third-team players.
The makeup of the offensive line, especially who starts at left guard, has been one of the most intriguing storylines since free agency started in March, when Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz began to revamp the interior of the line with the signings of Kayode Awosika, Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange.
The Chargers’ youthful depth was on full display with rookies Travis Burke, Jake Slaughter and Logan Taylor starting at left tackle, center and right tackle, respectively. Branson Taylor, a left guard who is in his second NFL season, also started. Awosika was the only multi-year veteran to start.
Burke, in particular, and the line, in general, earned Harbaugh’s praise.
“I thought he gave great effort,” Harbaugh said of Burke, a fourth-round pick from the University of Memphis. “I thought there was great hustle. He played probably the most plays of anybody. I can’t think of anybody who played more plays than he did. The offensive line, as an entire group, did the things that they were coached to do. Creating a clean line of scrimmage and creating a clean pocket, for the most part, those were the objectives that were accomplished.”
One of the toughest questions the coaching staff faces before cutdown day is whether to keep nine offensive linemen on the roster, or as many as 11. The play of the offensive line also created a heightened awareness of the battle to be quarterback Justin Herbert’s backup.
Trey Lance, last season’s backup, started and played the first half plus one series to start the second, leading the Chargers to a 13-7 lead before yielding to DJ Uiagalelei, who directed two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, tossing a 3-yard scoring pass to rookie wide receiver Devonte Ross.
“I thought they did really well,” Harbaugh said. “The coaching, I thought, really, really showed up and (Lance and Uiagalelei) took that to the field, particularly the timing and the footwork, the things that were really worked on during the offseason by our quarterbacks. They put that on display really well. The quarterbacks were the most responsible for moving the team.”
Defensively, the Chargers gave up only a touchdown on the Texans’ first possession and limited Houston to 98 yards passing and 111 yards rushing. Although he played only nine plays early, rookie outside linebacker Akheem Mesidor made quite an impression on Harbaugh.
The Texans countered Mesidor’s pressure with quick throws from quarterback Davis Mills, a veteran backup to starter CJ Stroud.
“The ball was coming out quicker (from Mills), but he was still getting close,” Harbaugh said of Mesidor, a first-round pick from the University of Miami. “Yeah, it’s what we’ve been seeing (in training camp). You didn’t really get to see everything that he has, that he brings to the table.
“He graded 100% on snaps, on effort, on technique.”
EXTRA POINTS
Left tackle Rashawn Slater sat out Saturday for a fifth consecutive practice as he continues his recovery and rehabilitation from a knee injury that sidelined him for all of last season. Trey Pipkins III took his place in the offensive line alignment that blocked for Herbert in 11-on-11 drills. …
Harbaugh said beforehand that cornerback Tarheeb Still would be on the field after sitting out for four practices because of an injury. Still did not join his teammates for individual or team drills, however. Wide receiver Luke Grimm and outside linebacker Kyle Kennard also sat out. …
Running back Amar Johnson revealed that the Chargers’ offensive linemen gave him a hard time for getting caught from behind at the 1-yard line after a 55-yard catch and run from Uiagalelei in the fourth quarter. Johnson redeemed himself by scoring on a 1-yard run moments later.