Los Angeles Chargers news

Bills outlast Chargers 24-16 despite five Buffalo turnovers; LA falls to 0-3

Los Angeles led 13-10 entering the fourth quarter before Buffalo's defense took over; Justin Herbert threw a red-zone interception that was returned 41 yards.

Njoku and Kolar both headed to IR; Awosika and Tomlinson also out

Two tight ends and a starting guard are out, gutting the Chargers' offensive line and pass-catching depth heading into their 0-3 hole.

A depleted receiving corps and offensive line are compounding an 0-3 start.

Chargers Fall to Bills 24-16, Drop to 0-3 as O-Line Injuries Bite

A patchwork offensive line with a fourth-string left guard making his debut was exposed against Buffalo, though rookie S Genesis Smith forced a takeaway.

Chargers Entered Bills Game Down Both Starting Guards, Top Two Tight Ends

With four regulars unavailable, Los Angeles started a fourth-string left guard, directly explaining the winless start.

Offensive-line collapse (fourth-string LG starting) defining the 0-3 start

Chargers enter Buffalo game missing six players, including both healthy tight ends

Los Angeles will be without TEs David Njoku and Charlie Kolar (both on IR) plus two projected offensive-line starters, leaving Oronde Gadsden II as the only healthy tight end for the 0-2 Chargers' trip to Buffalo.

Chargers' own depth chart shows a scrambled O-line and tight-end room

The team's released depth chart lists two injured players as co-starters at tight end and shows an open competition at left guard between two currently hurt players, underscoring the roster's thin spots up front.

Harbaugh: Chargers offense still searching for 'rhythm' amid O-line shuffle

Coach Jim Harbaugh said the offense is still building timing and precision entering Week 3, citing a recent third-down execution issue as an example of the growing pains.

A scrambled O-line and a thin tight-end room leave the Chargers hunting a first win at Buffalo.

McDaniel working closely with Herbert to jump-start 0-2 Chargers offense

Los Angeles's offense ranks near the bottom of the league through two games, and the offensive coordinator says he and his quarterback regularly study film together ahead of Buffalo.

Chargers place TE David Njoku on IR, sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Los Angeles added a veteran receiver with two Super Bowl rings after losing a tight end to injured reserve.

Herbert and new OC McDaniel work to jump-start a bottom-ranked offense.

Chargers Discuss 0-2 Start After Loss to Raiders

Los Angeles fell to 0-2 after a 26-14 loss to Las Vegas, its second straight defeat. Cornerback Donte Jackson joined a local postgame broadcast to discuss the setback as the Chargers prepare to travel to Buffalo.

The Chargers look for their first win on the road at Buffalo.

Chargers CB Donte Jackson addresses second straight loss on postgame show

Los Angeles fell to 0-2 with a 26-14 loss to the Raiders at SoFi Stadium, its second straight loss by that exact score. Jackson discussed the team's response on NBC4's Postgame Live.

Consecutive 26-14 losses to open the season have the Chargers' locker room searching for answers.

Ladd McConkey questionable, Elijah Molden and Trey Pipkins out as Chargers host Raiders

McConkey (rib) is limited but questionable; Molden (hamstring) and Pipkins (knee) are out for LA's divisional home game against a 1-0 Raiders team.

Chargers release unofficial Week 2 depth chart with Herbert, Hampton atop the offense

Justin Herbert and Omarion Hampton lead the offense, with a tight-end competition between Charlie Kolar and new addition David Njoku.

McConkey's rib injury is the swing factor in a suddenly tight four-team AFC West.

Chargers' Ladd McConkey among five non-participants ahead of Raiders

McConkey (rib), DB Elijah Molden, DL Teair Tart and T Trey Pipkins III did not practice Wednesday as Los Angeles preps for its home opener.

Chargers release unofficial Week 2 depth chart under new OC Mike McDaniel

Trey Lance is listed as backup QB behind Justin Herbert; the left-guard competition between Kayode Awosika and Trey Pipkins III remains open.

Ladd McConkey's rib injury is the top watch item for the home opener vs. Las Vegas.

New OC Mike McDaniel's first full game plan comes into focus Sunday.

Chargers stumble 26-14 to Cardinals in season opener

A blocked fourth-quarter punt and a late Justin Herbert interception turned a two-point game into a home-opening loss; Ladd McConkey left with a chest injury after a five-catch, 82-yard start.

A blocked punt and a late interception turned a two-point game into a home-opening loss for Jim Harbaugh's Chargers.

Ladd McConkey's chest-injury status is one to track before the Week 2 home date with Las Vegas.

Tuli Tuipulotu questionable, Deane Leonard ruled out for Chargers' opener vs. Cardinals

The Chargers host Arizona as Week 1 favorites at SoFi Stadium under new play-caller Mike McDaniel, with a questionable OLB and a ruled-out DB as the swing injury notes.

Chargers name Kayode Awosika starting left guard for Week 1

Awosika beat out a five-man competition to win the job in his first season with the Bolts, as the offensive line also deals with Tyler Biadasz's season-ending ACL injury.

Kayode Awosika's left-guard win reshapes an O-line already missing Tyler Biadasz for the season.

Tuli Tuipulotu's hip is a game-time watch for the Chargers' home opener against Arizona.

Tuli Tuipulotu questionable, Deane Leonard out for Chargers' season opener

Tuipulotu (hip) is questionable after three limited practices; CB Deane Leonard (abdomen) is ruled out. Everyone else is cleared for Sunday vs. Arizona.

Slater and Alt reunite on Chargers' line for first time since January 2025

Both tackles play together for the first time since the Bolts' January 2025 playoff loss; the interior line is entirely new (Awosika-Slaughter-Strange).

Rookie Jake Slaughter set for NFL debut at center against Cardinals

The draft's top center prospect moved from left guard to center after Tyler Biadasz's mid-August ACL injury.

Denzel Perryman's IR stint opens linebacker battle next to Henley

Perryman is out at least four games; Del'Shawn Phillips, Troy Dye and Marlowe Wax are competing to start next to Daiyan Henley.

Cardinals' Trey McBride looms as toughest test for Chargers defense

McBride leads all TEs over the past three seasons in targets, catches, yards and first downs; LA's defense flagged him as the top defensive priority.

Slater and Alt reuniting on the line could unlock the Chargers' passing attack.

Watch how Jake Slaughter handles his first NFL start at center under pressure.

The linebacker spot next to Henley stays unsettled until Perryman returns from IR.

Torrance gets its own Chargers mural as South Bay fandom grows ahead of Week 1

Muralist Robert Vargas unveiled a new Chargers-themed mural in Torrance days before Sunday's SoFi Stadium home opener vs. Arizona, a civic marker of the team's South Bay footprint.

South Bay community engagement around the Chargers' SoFi home opener.

Chargers' center picture reshaped after Tyler Biadasz leg injury in camp

Biadasz was carted off with a left-leg injury in an Aug. 18 joint practice with San Francisco; rookie 2nd-rounder Jake Slaughter has since taken over center reps.

New Chargers mural unveiled in Torrance ahead of kickoff

Muralist Robert Vargas unveiled a new Chargers-themed mural in the South Bay community of Torrance on Sept. 8.

A center-room shakeup after Tyler Biadasz's camp injury puts rookie Jake Slaughter's readiness in focus.

Chargers' center job still unsettled after Tyler Biadasz's camp injury

A free-agent addition to protect Justin Herbert is still working back from a leg injury, leaving the interior line question open heading toward the opener.

Herbert's protection is unsettled again — a rookie may open at center after Biadasz's camp injury.

Chargers re-sign P JK Scott, place LB Denzel Perryman on IR

Los Angeles kept its longtime punter (a league-leading 93.1% field-goal-hold rate over four seasons) while placing veteran linebacker Perryman on injured reserve.

Chargers place LG battler Branson Taylor, FB/DL Scott Matlock on IR to open the season

Both are Designated for Return, sidelining Taylor after a strong preseason left-guard competition (85.0 PFF pass-block grade) for a minimum of four games.

Branson Taylor's IR placement reopens the left-guard competition just before Week 1.

Rookie Jake Slaughter steps in at center after Tyler Biadasz's season-ending ACL injury

Free-agent addition Biadasz tore his left ACL in an August joint practice with San Francisco; HC Jim Harbaugh said a 2026 return 'doesn't look promising.' Second-round rookie Jake Slaughter has taken over at center.

Chargers agree to extension with safety Derwin James Jr.

Los Angeles agreed to terms on a multi-year extension with five-time Pro Bowl safety Derwin James Jr.; specific contract terms were not confirmed in the source consulted.

Rookie center Slaughter must hold the line after Biadasz's late ACL tear.

Chargers re-sign P JK Scott a day after cutting him, round out 16-man practice squad

LA released then re-signed punter JK Scott on a corresponding move that placed LB Denzel Perryman on IR.

Chargers place Scott Matlock, Branson Taylor on IR-Designated to Return in final cutdown

FB/DL Scott Matlock and G/T Branson Taylor both ticketed for a possible mid-season return via IR-DFR designations.

Chargers cut then immediately re-signed punter JK Scott in a corresponding IR move.

Matlock and Taylor ticketed for possible mid-season returns via IR-DFR designations.

Center Tyler Biadasz's knee injury opens door for rookie Jake Slaughter

Biadasz, signed in March after starting 31 games for Washington, was carted off during joint practice with San Francisco and is expected to miss extended time, leaving second-round rookie Jake Slaughter as the presumptive Week 1 starting center for Justin Herbert's offense.

Rookie Jake Slaughter's center reps growing after Tyler Biadasz's camp-ending knee injury.

Chargers announce official 53-man roster

Los Angeles enters the season with Justin Herbert atop the depth chart, Trey Lance as backup, and an Omarion Hampton/Najee Harris backfield after a 1-2 preseason.

Chargers set 53-man roster, trade for OT Deculus, waive 2025 draft pick

Los Angeles waived OG Branson Taylor, a 2025 sixth-round pick, along with several other camp bodies, traded a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder to Houston for OT Austin Deculus, and kept only two quarterbacks with RB Najee Harris on NFI.

Herbert-to-Johnston strike highlights 20-18 preseason finale loss to Rams

Justin Herbert connected with Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard touchdown in a 20-18 finale loss to the Rams; coach Jim Harbaugh called it a better showing than the prior week and said roster discussions would continue into Sunday.

Chargers' reported 53-man roster keeps two QBs, seven cornerbacks

A reported roster construction keeps only Justin Herbert and Trey Lance at quarterback and seven cornerbacks alongside five safeties, with the full edge rotation of Mack, Tuipulotu, Dupree, Kennard and Murphy intact.

Cross-attribution confirmed clean: desk encountered only Chargers-subject coverage of the Chargers-Rams finale; no Rams-subject content was used.

Rookie Jake Slaughter thrust into center competition after Tyler Biadasz injury

Biadasz, a marquee free-agent addition, was carted off during an Aug. 18 joint practice with San Francisco. Coach Jim Harbaugh singled out rookies Jake Slaughter and Travis Burke as players who've shown Week-1-starter ability at center; QB Justin Herbert said the injury's severity was unknown at the time.

Cross-attribution vs. LAR confirmed clean -- no Rams-subject content proposed.

No news this cycle -- a tooling gap, not a quiet week: boltsfromtheblue.com and audacy.com article-level fetches returned empty bodies on every attempt despite current, on-topic headlines (a 49ers preseason-finale recap, a Justin Herbert start announcement) appearing in search results. Cross-attribution vs. LAR confirmed clean.

No proposals this cycle — a tooling gap, not a quiet week: search results showed current on-topic boltsfromtheblue.com/audacy.com headlines (a 49ers preseason-finale recap, a Justin Herbert start announcement) but every individual-article fetch returned empty or a JS-required placeholder.

Chargers lose starting center Tyler Biadasz for the season with ACL tear

Biadasz, signed this offseason as the presumptive starting center, suffered ACL and additional left-knee damage in an Aug. 18 joint practice and is out for the year, per a national injury roundup.

Chargers fall to 49ers 41-17; Junior Colson pick-six a bright spot

Backups played almost the entire game — Justin Herbert took one series — and the Chargers were outgained 321-229. LB Junior Colson had a third-quarter pick-six. Note: this result is not yet reflected in the ESPN record endpoint used for this unit's spine fact.

Chargers' camp battles heating up at RB2, left guard, CB2 and third safety

Trey Lance is locked in as QB2 over DJ Uiagalelei; RB2 is a Keaton Mitchell-vs-Kimani Vidal battle behind Omarion Hampton; the left guard job remains a three-way competition OC Mike McDaniel called a 'tournament.'

Chargers roster-bubble battles at RB2, OL and secondary

49ers rout Chargers 41-17 in preseason Week 2; Herbert plays one series

Justin Herbert played only the Chargers' first series before giving way to Trey Lance; Los Angeles committed seven penalties in the loss. NOTE: ESPN's preseason record endpoint still shows LAC at 1-0 (1 game played) as of this payload's spine facts — see publish package conflicts section.

Biadasz injury escalates to possible season-ending ACL damage; Slaughter now starting center

HC Jim Harbaugh said the team is gathering imaging and second opinions on center Tyler Biadasz's knee; rookie Jake Slaughter has taken over as starter.

Chargers confirm center Tyler Biadasz has a torn ACL, out indefinitely

The club's own update (Biadasz 'gathering additional opinions') was followed by national reporting confirming ACL damage from the joint practice injury vs. San Francisco. GM Joe Hortiz has second-round rookie Jake Slaughter as the in-house contingency at center.

Chargers center Tyler Biadasz faces potential long-term absence after knee injury vs. 49ers

Biadasz, the Bolts' big free-agent addition this spring, was hurt in a joint practice with San Francisco. Second-round rookie Jake Slaughter is taking over center reps as LA (1-0 in the preseason) preps to host the 49ers.

Chargers defense dominates Saturday practice as team preps for joint session, preseason clash with 49ers

With the left guard battle still unsettled and Rashawn Slater sidelined, the defense's continued dominance in camp -- and the approaching joint practice and preseason game against San Francisco -- set up the next big evaluation window for Jim Harbaugh's starting lineup before roster cuts. Defensive tackle Teair Tart, plus Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Akheem Mesidor, Nadame Tucker, Justin Eboigbe and newly added Andre Carter each had plays that would have resulted in sacks during Saturday's practice Trey Lance threw an interception to safety Elijah Molden after the offense had driven into the red zone with Justin Herbert Rookie Jake Slaughter started at left guard with Kayode Awosika rotating in and Branson Taylor working with the second team; the competition is expected to resolve within the next week per Harbaugh and OC Mike McDaniel The Chargers hold a joint practice with the San Franc

Chargers defense dominates Saturday practice as team preps for joint session, preseason clash with 49ers

Left guard battle still unsettled as Slaughter and Awosika rotate on Day 13

Rookie Jake Slaughter took first-team reps at left guard with veteran Kayode Awosika rotating in during a 90-minute padded session. The rest of the top line was Trey Pipkins III, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange and Joe Alt.

Rashawn Slater sits out a fourth straight practice

Slater, returning from a torn patellar tendon that ended his 2025 season, missed Saturday's session. Jim Harbaugh said he is working through something and that he is not worried about it.

Harbaugh praises Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei after the preseason opener

Lance went 12-of-20 for 164 yards with an interception and 27 rushing yards against Houston; Uiagalelei went 6-of-9 for 120 yards and a touchdown over the final four drives. Lance has taken the majority of camp reps behind Justin Herbert.

Left guard the last unsettled spot on a rebuilt offensive line

Rashawn Slater's patellar tendon recovery against the Week 1 clock

Backup quarterback order behind Herbert

Joint practice with San Francisco on Tuesday

Chargers rout Texans 27-7 in preseason opener as Amar Johnson scores twice

Cameron Dicker hit field goals of 34 and 48 yards. RB Amar Johnson scored on runs of 7 and 1 yards after a 55-yard catch-and-run. Rookie LB Lander Barton recovered a fumble.

Harbaugh praises offensive line flexibility and both quarterbacks after Texans win

The offense totaled 379 yards and 23 first downs. Second-round pick Jake Slaughter played center for one series then left guard for six more.

Undrafted defenders Genesis Smith, Avery Smith and Jameer Carter flash against Houston

Rookie S Genesis Smith broke up a pass and nearly intercepted one; UDFA NT Jameer Carter had the team's lone first-half sack.

Jake Slaughter's versatility on the offensive line

Undrafted defenders pressing for roster spots