Chargers review: Stingy defense leads way in win over Saints

INGLEWOOD — Quarterback Trey Lance gave credit where credit was due after the Chargers’ 27-13 exhibition victory Sunday over the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. He praised the defense for making his life easier. Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next for the Chargers:

DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS

Outside linebacker Caleb Murphy continued to state his case for a spot on the Chargers’ 53-man roster. He was credited with sacking Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler twice, forcing a fumble that teammate Justin Eboigble recovered at the New Orleans 33-yard line.

Murphy later said he had three sacks, but the point was clear no matter how many it said he had in the final stats. He was a troublesome player for the opposition for the second consecutive game, and he continued a pattern established from the opening minutes of training camp.

“I’m really happy for his success,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said of the play of Murphy, who spent last season on the practice squad. “I could see it coming. Humility prevents me from saying I predicted that. The facts are that I did predict that he was going to have a big game.”

Harbaugh said he predicted it during a pregame speech to the Chargers.

Cornerback Eric Rogers was another player who elevated his play against the Saints, intercepting two passes and returning one 55 yards for a touchdown that gave the Chargers what certainly appeared to be a commanding 17-3 lead with 9:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Rogers’ game ended with him down and injured with an apparent leg injury while on the kickoff team in the game’s final moments, however. He needed assistance reaching the sideline and then the locker room. He used a set of crutches to get around the locker room after the game.

Harbaugh said he didn’t have an update on Rogers’ injury.

Of his interception and return for a touchdown, Harbaugh said of Rogers, “That was as good as I’ve ever seen. It was as good a play as you could make. The break on the ball, the avoidance of the receiver, the catch, completing the catch to the ground and then getting back up, and he was rolling.”

BACKUP QB BATTLE

Lance defeated the Saints with his feet after beating the Detroit Lions during the Chargers’ 34-7 victory July 31 in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, with his arm. He rushed for a team-leading 48 yards on seven carries Sunday, including a 5-yard sprint around the left end for a touchdown with 1:38 left in the half.

In his first game, Lance completed 13 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. He completed 7 of 14 passes for 55 yards against the Saints, replacing an ineffective Taylor Heinicke after a scoreless first quarter. Heinicke completed 1 of 5 passes for 8 yards.

So, does that put Lance ahead of Heinicke in the backup battle beyond starter Justin Herbert?

Harbaugh wouldn’t say.

“I’ll talk about a first-string quarterback competition, but I’m not going to talk about a second-string quarterback competition,” Harbaugh said.

O-LINE ADDITION

The Chargers placed left tackle Rashawn Slater on injured reserve after he tore his left patellar tendon during a drill in practice Thursday. They signed well-traveled tackle David Sharpe in order to bolster their depth. Sharpe has played with the Raiders, Texans, Commanders, Ravens and Panthers.

WHAT COMES NEXT

The Chargers-Rams joint practice scheduled for Wednesday was canceled. The Chargers have four exhibition games, one more than the usual three. A joint practice between the teams last year was extremely physical, resulting in an injury to Rams standout wide receiver Puka Nacua.

The Rams will play host to the Chargers in an exhibition game Saturday at SoFi Stadium, the second of three for the Rams and the third of four for the Chargers. Their fourth and final exhibition game will be Aug. 23 against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.