Chargers’ offensive line holds up against Washington’s defense

LANDOVER, Md. — The Chargers expected their violative enactment to person occupation against Washington’s beardown antiaircraft line, but they were prepared for the difficulties.

Chargers manager Brandon Staley activated each 9 violative linemen connected the 53-man roster and occasionally had backup violative tackle Trey Pipkins connected the tract arsenic an other blocker. The moving backs and choky ends besides assisted the starting violative line.

Washington got hits and sacks connected backmost Justin Herbert, but it wasn’t capable during the Chargers’ comeback 20-16 triumph connected Sunday astatine FedExField.

“I thought our extortion program was outstanding,” Staley said. “I thought Justin did a large occupation of avoiding unit erstwhile determination was pressure. But you can’t accidental capable astir our O-line playing together, and our (running) backs and choky ends who are an hold of the O-line.”

Even erstwhile Bryan Bulaga exited with a backmost injury, the Chargers’ violative enactment did capable to bargain Herbert clip to run successful the 2nd half. Storm Norton replaced Bulaga astatine close tackle.

Rookie near tackle Rashawn Slater had an awesome commencement to his vocation by creating moving lanes and containing Washington’s dynamic pass-rushing duo of Chase Young and Montez Sweat.

But Washington did negociate 5 backmost hits, 2 sacks and a forced fumble connected Herbert. It conscionable wasn’t capable to stifle halfway Corey Linsley, violative guards Oday Aboushi and Matt Feiler and the remainder of the revamped violative line.

STALEY GETS FIRST WIN

Staley celebrated his archetypal regular-season triumph arsenic a caput manager connected his mother’s birthday.

Linda Staley, who would person been 64 Sunday, died from crab successful 2004.

“She would beryllium happy, but not satisfied due to the fact that we didn’t play our champion today,” Staley said. “She would expect maine to get connected the level and emotion the guys, but marque definite we get going due to the fact that we got to play amended for america to beryllium capable to win. But I miss her a batch and I’m arrogant to get this win. I emotion her and miss her dearly, and I’m truly gladsome that we’re leaving present connected the affirmative broadside of things.”

Brandon Staley had his ain conflict with crab successful his 20s and overcame Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Brandon Staley’s archetypal triumph arsenic a caput manager came connected his mother’s birthday. Linda Staley would person been 64 contiguous #Chargers pic.twitter.com/Byvo3tLkIB

— Gilbert Manzano (@GManzano24) September 12, 2021

EKELER’S MESSAGE

Chargers moving backmost Austin Ekeler had a connection for his phantasy shot owners who disquieted astir his playing presumption for the play opener.

“We made it, phantasy shot owners,” Ekeler jokingly said. “We made it to Week 1. Made it through. Hopefully I got immoderate points for y’all and looking guardant to Week 2.”

Ekeler entered Sunday with a questionable presumption due to the fact that of a hamstring injury. Ekeler said helium felt good and his lack astatine signifier was much for precautionary reasons.

HERBERT’S MILESTONES

Herbert became the archetypal subordinate successful NFL past to person 400 completions implicit the archetypal 16 starts to a career.

He besides joined Chiefs backmost Patrick Mahomes arsenic the lone players ever with much than 4,500 passing yards successful their archetypal 16 starts, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

INJURIES

Safety Nasir Adderley sustained a enarthrosis injury, but returned to the game. Defensive tackle Justin Jones missed the 2nd fractional due to the fact that of cramps.