Senior Writer
The Bolts are on their bye week.
We took a look at the first four games of the season and also peeked ahead to the rest of the 2023 slate.
Here’s what Jeff Miller (Los Angeles Times), Joe Reedy (The Associated Press) and Eric Smith (Chargers.com) had to say ahead of Week 5:
Miller:<\/strong> Underwhelming. I thought the Chargers would be considerably better on defense – especially against the pass – and almost immune to offensive droughts like the one they just produced against Las Vegas. Now with consecutive wins over two 1-3 teams, it shouldn’t take long to figure out where this team is heading with Dallas and Kansas City (on the road) coming up right after the break.
Reedy:<\/strong> Rollercoaster. If there is one thing about Chargers football, it definitely isn’t over early. Considering how the first two games went, the win at Minnesota definitely provided momentum.
Smith:<\/strong> Intense. All four of the Chargers games have been decided by seven points or less, and all four have come down to the final play(s) in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Bolts couldn’t get it done against Miami and Tennessee but rebounded with back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Las Vegas. The Chargers remain a talented team, but given how tough the upcoming schedule is, perhaps we should expect the close games to continue.
Miller:<\/strong> Can a rookie be MVP? Because I might say Tuli Tuipulotu. Or maybe Kenneth Murray, Jr., but I already talked about the defense’s performance. How about going completely outside the box and saying Rashawn Slater? Yes, the left tackle has been rock solid plus some in his return after missing so much of last season because of injury.
Reedy:<\/strong> I would say Keenan Allen. He did have the franchise record 18-catch game at Minnesota but he has been consistent throughout the season along with getting more opportunities to make catches on intermediate routes. His TD at Tennessee so far is the catch of the season.
Smith:<\/strong> All of those above names are worthy picks, but I’m going with the guy who just set a Chargers single-game franchise record with 6.0 sacks. Khalil Mack had been close the first three games but put a signature stamp on Week 4 by bringing down Aidan O’Connell a half-dozen times. We might not see that happen again for a few years. Mack’s overall game has been key for a defense that has been banged up a bit in the first month of the season.
Check out the best photos from Khalil Mack’s franchise-record six sack performance against the Raiders that earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 4 of the 2023 season. The effort included a pair of strip-sacks, which tied a team record and also marked the first six-sack performance by any defender in the NFL since 2017 and just the sixth since sacks began being tracked in 1982.
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Khalil Mack named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Miller:<\/strong> I wasn’t sure how the J.C. Jackson situation would unfold, but the end was stunningly swift. I mean, he went from admirably working his way back from a significant injury that has cut short careers to being inactive then unused then cast aside. It was an 11-day implosion that also included him publicly questioning coach Brandon Staley’s decisions plus dealing with a legal matter. Not a soul on Earth would have predicted this two weeks ago.
Reedy:<\/strong> How quickly Tuli Tuipulotu has made an impact on the pass rush. The second-round pick has been able to use his speed to his advantage.
Smith:<\/strong> I’m going to agree with Joe here and go with Tuipulotu. Chargers coaches raved about him this offseason and said he was a pretty polished player coming out of USC. But I don’t think anyone expected this, as Tuipulotu’s play could land him in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation by the end of the season. With Joey Bosa being limited in two games and out for another, Tuipulotu has given the Chargers a jolt off the edge they didn’t have a season ago.
Miller:<\/strong> The pass defense must improve or the Chargers aren’t going anywhere this season. They have displayed an ability to stop the run, which is significant. But they remain too vulnerable against the pass, particularly with Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes on the horizon. We’re going to soon find out if this defense is, in fact, trending in the right direction.
Reedy:<\/strong> Pass defense and limiting big plays. I don’t know if there will be any stability now that J.C. Jackson has been traded, but the pressure is definitely on Asante Samuel, Jr. and Michael Davis.
Smith:<\/strong> Yeah, it’s the pass defense. That area of the defense was hit hard against Miami, but credit to the high-octane Dolphins there. There were improvements in limiting explosive plays against the Raiders, who had two pass plays of 20-plus yards, one of which was a check down. Given the upcoming quarterbacks on the docket, a more consistent pass defense would help give Justin Herbert more cracks at lighting up the scoreboard each week.
Miller:<\/strong> Yes. I am significantly less confident that this is a playoff team. Playoff teams don’t surrender this many big plays. Playoff teams aren’t historically bad against the pass. Playoff teams don’t dominate the turnover battle and still sputter. Over their past six games (including the 2022 postseason), the Chargers are plus-10 in turnover ratio and somehow gone 2-4.
Reedy:<\/strong> Not really. It’s a long season and there is a logjam of plenty of 2-2 teams in the AFC at the moment.
Smith:<\/strong> Nah. I still believe the Bolts will get in. Despite the mixed bag through four games, they remain just one game behind the Chiefs in the AFC West and are among a cluster of AFC teams who sit at 2-2. There is still a long, long way to go this season and the standings will begin to shake itself out in the coming months. When we get to late December, the Chargers will still be right in the mix and will eventually claim a postseason berth.
Secure your 2023 Season Ticket Memberships today! Click here<\/a> to learn more.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, the NFL’s All-Time Touchdown Receptions Leader Amongst Tight Ends, will once again roam the sidelines and lead a who’s who of celebrity players in this unique Monday Night Football showcase.\u00a0
The Chargers announced Thursday that they have traded the cornerback to New England
The Los Angeles Chargers today traded cornerback J.C. Jackson to the New England Patriots.
The Los Angeles Chargers today claimed cornerback Essang Bassey off waivers. In a corresponding move, the team waived defensive lineman Christopher Hinton.
Nearly 150 local Girl Scouts came together for a day of flag football skills and fundamentals on the Bolts’ training camp fields at Jack Hammett Sports Complex.
In partnership with the Los Angeles Chargers Impact Fund, Inglewood Unified School District, and Brotherhood Crusade, SoFi celebrated the graduation of 14 young scholars from the Bolt Academy program. The program is designed to offer juniors and seniors from Inglewood high schools the opportunity to participate in a six month after-school program to develop leadership and job-readiness skills.
The Los Angeles Chargers today traded cornerback J.C. Jackson to the New England Patriots.
On the third episode of ALL IN Season 3, follow wide receiver Keenan Allen as he makes history in his 11th NFL season. Find out how Allen has managed to stay so dominant for so long and why his connection with quarterback Justin Herbert is among the most special in football.
Get an inside look into how wide receiver Keenan Allen is breaking records and putting up career-best numbers in Year 11 on the latest episode of All In Season 3, out now.
The Los Angeles Chargers today claimed cornerback Essang Bassey off waivers. In a corresponding move, the team waived defensive lineman Christopher Hinton.
The Los Angeles Chargers today placed center Corey Linsley on Reserve\/ Injured and safety JT Woods on Reserve\/Non-Football Illness. The team signed safety Dean Marlowe and safety AJ Finley to the active roster. The Bolts also activated wide receiver Keelan Doss and outside linebacker Andrew Farmer from the practice squad for Sunday’s game, and downgraded outside linebacker Joey Bosa to doubtful.
The Chargers will take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at 1:05pm at SoFi Stadium.
The Los Angeles Chargers today placed wide receiver Mike Williams on Reserve\/Injured and signed wide receiver Simi Fehoko to the active roster from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. The team also signed safety AJ Finley to the practice squad.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed tackle Zack Bailey to the active roster. In a corresponding move, the team waived safety AJ Finley. The Bolts also activated safety Dean Marlowe from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
The Chargers will take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at 10:00am at U.S. Bank Stadium.
On the second episode of ALL IN Season 3, go inside how the Chargers created one of the most dominant rushing attacks in the NFL through the first two weeks of 2023. Find out how Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore’s philosophy has impacted the offense’s mentality and follow second-year offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer as he transitions from left tackle to right guard.
The Los Angeles Chargers today activated outside linebacker Brevin Allen and safety Dean Marlowe from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. The team also downgraded three players to out \u2014 running back Austin Ekeler, linebacker Eric Kendricks and outside linebacker Chris Rumph II.
The Chargers will take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at 10:00am at Nissan Stadium.
The Los Angeles Chargers today activated outside linebacker Brevin Allen from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
The Chargers will take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at 1:25pm at Sofi Stadium.
On the Season 3 premiere of ALL IN, follow every step of the Chargers’ journey to 2023 Week 1, from new additions in the offseason to an intense Training Camp all with one goal in mind: start fast and finish.
All In<\/em> is back for season 3 as your all-access pass to the 2023 Los Angeles Chargers. Go behind the scenes of the Bolts all season long as Justin Herbert, Derwin James, Jr., and more take on the vaunted AFC. All In<\/em> Season 3 premieres September 7 at 10 am PST on Chargers’ YouTube and Chargers.com.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed 12 players to the practice squad.
The Los Angeles Chargers today claimed linebacker Tanner Muse off waivers. In a corresponding move, the team waived fullback Zander Horvath.
The Los Angeles Chargers placed two players on Reserve\/Physically Unable to Perform and waived 36 others. The moves put the roster at 53 players before the NFL’s 1 p.m. PT deadline.
The Los Angeles Chargers today agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns on a trade, sending kicker Dustin Hopkins to Cleveland in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed linebacker Tae Crowder and waived\/injured tackle Andrew Trainer.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed cornerback Matt Hankins and waived\/injured cornerback Kemon Hall.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed running back Aaron Shampklin.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed tackle Matt Kaskey and waived\/injured offensive lineman Nic Melsop.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed linebacker Blake Lynch and waived linebacker Tyreek Maddox-Williams.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed wide receiver Milton Wright.
The Los Angeles Chargers today agreed to terms with quarterback Justin Herbert on a multi-year contract extension.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed rookie outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu (selected No. 54 overall).
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed wide receiver Darrius Shepherd.
The Los Angeles Chargers today signed defensive lineman Nick Williams.
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