In their only 2025 home preseason game, at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, the Los Angeles Chargers defense again came through, causing three turnovers and adding a terrific goal line stand in an impressive 27-13 win over the New Orleans last Sunday, August 10. The win moved the Chargers to 2-0 for the 2025 preseason.
The Charger’s defense was led by rookie Eric Rogers, an undrafted free agent cornerback out of Rutgers and third-year linebacker Caleb Murphy, who played his college football at Ferris State in Big Rapids, Michigan. Rogers had the defensive play of the game, a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter, one that amazed Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
“The first thing that pops into my mind is just the whole team,” Harbaugh said. “They just played with a lot of ‘want-to’ – ‘want to’ and I’m thrilled with that. The guys that stood out, I mean, it’s got to start with Eric Rogers. Those two interceptions and the one PBU on third down – but the pick-six he made, that was as good a play as I’d ever seen. That’s as good of a play as you could make. The break on the ball, the avoid of the receiver, the catch, completing the catch to the ground and then getting back up and he was rolling. Quite a day, quite a big day by him – really incredible.” Rogers had a pair of interceptions in the game.
For the second consecutive game, Murphy set up the Chargers first score of the game with a forced fumble, a strip sack of Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler which was recovered by defensive end Justin Eboigbe at the Saints 33-yard line. This led to a Cameron Dicker 44-yard field goal giving the Chargers a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter, a lead the Chargers never gave back.
Murphy had a pair of sacks, while linebacker Marlowe Wax had nine solo tackles and a sack. Harbaugh said of the possibility of Murphy making the 53-man roster, “Yeah, he’s making a good case, a really good case. He’s been making it in practice as well. I’m really happy for his success.”
The Chargers are winning the turnover battle through the first two games, 8-1. The one turnover by the Chargers occurred in the Saints game when Nyheim Miller-Hines muffed a punt at the Chargers 11-yard line, which was recovered at the Chargers 17-yard line. With a 4th-and-1 at the Chargers one-yard line, defensive tackle Scott Matlock and linebacker Troy Dye dropped Saints running back Kendre Miller for a three-yard loss.
The Chargers struggled offensively early under quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who completed just 1 of 5 passes for 8 yards. Quarterback Trey Lance came in and gave the offense some life, leading the offense on a 14 play, 85-yard drive culminating in a five-yard touchdown run by Lance to give the Chargers a 9-0 lead late in the second quarter.
Lance led he Chargers with 48 yards rushing in the game, and for the second consecutive preseason game, Lance played well, making plays with his arm and legs and looking like the second-best quarterback on the roster, although Harbaugh said, “I’ll talk about first string quarterback competition, but we’re not going to talk about second string quarterback competition.”
Obviously, Justin Herbert is the starting quarterback for the Chargers, so there is no discussion regarding the first-string quarterback. But Harbaugh has been pleased with the play of Lance, and of undrafted rookie free agent DJ Uiagalelei, who completed a 49-yard-deep pass to wide receiver Dalevon Campbell, setting up a nifty 11-yard touchdown run to the outside by Raheim Sanders, an undrafted 230-pound rookie running back out of South Carolina.
“Some key third downs and that just allows you to move the chains (and) get a new set of downs,” Harbaugh said. “Again, I thought he (Lance) played really good, good presence and poised and in control and you just make the right decisions. You make the right decisions, that’s really what it comes down to and not everybody can do it.”
Harbaugh was effusive in his praise of the effort he is getting from the players on his roster. “I love guys that play like they want to be on this team, they want to show that they belong and then that’s the way they practice and that’s the way they go out and play in the game, that warms the cockles of the heart.”
The Chargers lost All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater for the season to a torn patellar tendon in his left knee earlier in the week at practice. It was a gut punch for the Chargers, but fortunately they have right tackle Joe Alt, who will slide over to left tackle for the 2025 season. Alt was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft and would start for a number of teams at left tackle. Trey Pipkins, with over 3,000 snaps at right tackle in the NFL, will become the starter at right tackle.
The Chargers added veteran offensive tackle David Sharpe, a former fourth round pick, and they also have Jamaree Salyer, who started 14 games at left tackle in 2022 for an injured Slater, including the playoff game at Jacksonville against the Jaguars.
The good news was the addition of wide receiver Keenan Allen, who spent his first 11 seasons with the Chargers before being traded to the Chicago Bears in 2024 for a fourth-round draft pick. Allen is the Chargers all-time leader in receptions (904) and receiving yards (10,530) among Chargers wide receivers. He is a six-time pro bowl receiver.
Allen signed a one-year contract for $8.52 million last week. His addition to the roster will add veteran experience and depth to the Chargers young receiving corps. The competition at wide receiver, running back, and cornerback has been fierce in training camp.
The Chargers will be back in action at SoFi Stadium this Saturday, August 16, against the Los Angeles Rams. The Chargers will be the visiting team for this cross-town rivalry game. The game will begin at 4:00 p.m. locally and will be televised on CBS Channel 2. This will be a huge game for the players on both the Chargers and Rams roster that are battling to make the 53-man roster, with the cutdown from 90 to 53 on August 26.
The Chargers announced on Thursday morning that all offensive starters will play on Saturday night for a series or two. The Chargers also announced that all defensive starters would play on Saturday, with the exception of safety Derwin James Jr. and linebacker Khalil Mack.
“It’s important to see a pass rush and get a feel for getting the ball out and just seeing a game before you actually play [in the regular season],” Herbert said. For Herbert, it will be his first-ever preseason appearance in his six seasons with the Chargers. Harbaugh added, “The guys want to play, and they want the first series of the season not to be the first series of the season.” In other words, the Chargers want to be ready for the Kansas City Chiefs in the opening game in Brazil on Friday, September 5, with the game starting at 5:00 pm locally and televised on YouTube.