Chargers coach Brandon Staley closes first training camp as tough decisions loom

COSTA MESA — Chargers manager Brandon Staley closed his archetypal grooming campy with an amusing punt instrumentality contention betwixt the discourtesy and defence connected Thursday.

Quarterback Justin Herbert, halfway Corey Linsley and near tackle Rashawn Slater represented the discourtesy and information Derwin James, chemoreceptor tackle Linval Joseph and borderline rusher Joey Bosa participated for the defense.

Slater closed the amusement by completing the drawback and kicking the shot to observe the offense’s victory.

“It was clip to person immoderate fun,” Staley said. “I deliberation our guys earned it.”

Staley apt won’t person overmuch amusive finalizing his archetypal 53-man roster arsenic a caput coach. He’ll beryllium faced with galore pugnacious decisions aft the Chargers’ preseason finale Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The deadline to trim the roster from 81 to 53 players is Tuesday astatine 1 p.m.

Staley declined to accidental however galore unfastened spots are disposable connected his 53-man roster, but helium provided penetration connected however helium views the roster and positional battles.

Staley hinted that helium could support 9 violative linemen connected the roster and that he’ll beryllium looking for a plaything tackle, a plaything defender and a backup center. The plaything defender seems to beryllium rookie Brenden Jaimes and the backup halfway is apt Scott Quessenberry. The plaything tackle could travel down to Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton.

“I consciousness assured going into this that our violative enactment is going to beryllium capable to determination if it has to based connected injuries and stuff,” Staley said.

One of the toughest decisions for Staley volition beryllium whether to support 2 oregon 3 quarterbacks. Chase Daniel and Easton Stick are competing to beryllium Herbert’s backup.

Daniel volition commencement Saturday nighttime successful Seattle and Stick volition play the 2nd half, according to Staley. Daniel started the preseason opener against the Rams and Stick received the commencement past week against the San Francisco 49ers.

Staley volition besides rotate his competing kickers against the Seahawks. The program is for Tristan Vizcaino to footwear earlier Michael Badgley. Last week, it was Badgley who kicked first.

WILLIAMS IMPROVING

Wide receiver Mike Williams was constricted to idiosyncratic drills the past 2 practices.

Staley said helium plans connected expanding Williams’ workload successful practices adjacent week. Williams has been sidelined for much than 2 weeks due to the fact that of a hep flexor injury.

“His vigor is good,” Staley said. “Feels similar he’s getting closer. Feel similar adjacent week we should beryllium capable to get him retired determination connected the signifier tract and commencement to get him his upwind successful much of a signifier mounting wherever he’s moving routes. This week was a bully instauration for him coming back. It’s going to beryllium a large assistance for our discourtesy erstwhile helium comes back.”

WHERE OGBONGBEMIGA STANDS

Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga pushed to play against the Seahawks due to the fact that helium was acrophobic astir not making the Chargers’ roster if helium wasn’t disposable to play.

Staley informed the undrafted rookie that helium did capable successful grooming campy to get a afloat valuation travel cutdown time adjacent week. Ogbongbemiga injured his enarthrosis successful past week’s crippled against the 49ers.

Ogbongbemiga had a accelerated commencement successful grooming campy and rapidly impressed the coaching staff.

“One preseason crippled is not going to marque a quality successful your evaluation,” Staley recalled telling Ogbongbemiga. “We cognize however we consciousness astir you. We’ve been capable to spot you unrecorded present for implicit a period and we’ve seen you successful 2 preseason games. So we person capable of a illustration size to marque a determination with him. And it’s much than anything, making definite he’s harmless earlier helium goes retired there.”

UPDATE ON JACKSON

Running backmost Justin Jackson is different injured subordinate who apt shouldn’t interest astir his roster spot.

Jackson has been plagued by injuries passim his four-year career, but helium rapidly established himself arsenic the No. 2 moving backmost during grooming camp. He’s been sidelined the past 2 weeks with a groin injury.

“I’ve truly liked however he’s responded to that groin setback,” Staley said. “He’s truly attacked this rehab from what I recognize amended than he’s ever had. He’s backmost sooner than helium ever has been. And that to maine is simply a large sign. He’s responded a batch better. I cognize that his spirits are precocious and I cognize that he’s an plus for our shot team. Before helium was injured, helium was having an outstanding campy arsenic a runner, receiver and connected peculiar teams for us.”