Jared Cook, Chargers tight ends shine against Raiders

COSTA MESA — Chargers backmost Justin Herbert often recites 3 names erstwhile asked wherefore the discourtesy is playing good this season.

The mismatches that choky extremity Jared Cook and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams person created person made beingness easier for Herbert and the second-year backmost makes definite they get their stock of the recognition for the team’s 3-1 start.

“When you dispersed the shot retired betwixt Keenan, Jared Cook and Mike Williams, it doesn’t get overmuch tougher than that,” Herbert said.

Herbert converted captious 3rd downs by targeting Allen successful the play opener astatine Washington. In Week 3, Herbert went to Williams for the game-winning touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cook was adjacent successful Herbert’s rotation and the seasoned choky extremity delivered his champion show arsenic a Charger during Monday’s triumph implicit the Las Vegas Raiders.

Herbert arced a walk supra Raiders linebacker Denzel Perryman’s caput to link with Cook connected fourth-and-2 adjacent midfield to determination the chains and bargain momentum from the Raiders successful the 4th quarter.

Cook said helium knew the shot was coming his mode due to the fact that of his 6-foot-5 size vantage against the 5-foot-11 Perryman, who played for the Chargers from 2015-2020. Perryman tangled with Cook’s close arm, but Cook hauled successful the walk with his near hand.

“We knew what it was immediately,” Cook said of the one-on-one situation. “That we had the cleanable play. I knew successful that infinitesimal that Justin was astir apt gonna travel to me. … It was conscionable perfect, close implicit his receptor and I was capable to unafraid it. A bully propulsion by Justin.”

Cook had six catches for a team-high 70 yards and recorded his archetypal touchdown arsenic a Charger successful the 2nd quarter. The Raiders constricted Allen to 7 catches and 36 yards and Williams had 1 reception for 11 yards.

The Chargers’ 2 champion wide receivers had quiescent outings, but the trio of choky ends stepped up, displaying the team’s violative depth.

Tight extremity Donald Parham Jr. had a 4-yard touchdown successful the archetypal 4th and choky extremity Stephen Anderson had a 34-yard reception to acceptable up Cook’s touchdown successful the 2nd quarter.

“Just confidence,” Cook said astir wherefore Parham has improved this season. “He loves the crippled of football, continues to larn and helium conscionable continues to get amended successful antithetic situations. He came connected large for america contiguous and helium continues to travel connected large for america successful galore things that we’ve asked him to do. Him and Stephen Anderson arsenic well.”

Anderson besides plays fullback for the Chargers and he’s a contributor connected peculiar teams. He came retired of the backfield for his 34-yard catch.

“He’s been benignant of a glue feline connected offense,” Chargers manager Brandon Staley said astir Anderson. “He does a small spot of everything for us. He’s been outstanding successful the kicking crippled and he’s a glue feline for america close now. He does a batch of jobs for us, and helium caught a truly bully walk for america past night.

“He allows america to play the mode we privation to play. You request guys similar that. Everyone’s got a relation connected the team. Everyone’s got worth connected the team.”

UPDATES ON HARRIS, BULAGA

Staley said helium expects cornerback Chris Harris Jr. to beryllium a afloat subordinate astatine signifier this week aft helium missed the past 3 games with a enarthrosis injury.

“I cognize that helium feels adjacent stronger than helium did past week,” Staley said astir Harris. “Last week, helium did practice. He was successful pads and worldly similar that. So I consciousness similar he’s getting close. And conscionable barring immoderate setbacks, we expect him being retired determination for signifier afloat each week long.”

Chargers close tackle Bryan Bulaga is eligible to instrumentality from injured reserve, but Staley said helium doesn’t person a timeline for his return. Bulaga has missed the past 3 games with a backmost injury.

The Chargers had a walk-through workout Wednesday alternatively of a mean signifier to accommodate for the abbreviated week aft the Monday nighttime game.

CHARGERS UPDATE GAMEDAY POLICY

The Chargers updated their gameday COVID-19 argumentation astatine SoFi Stadium to comply with L.A. County Department of Public Health’s latest request for stadium events with astatine slightest 10,000 spectators.

Fans ages 12 and implicit indispensable supply impervious of either COVID-19 vaccination oregon a antagonistic COVID-19 trial effect taken wrong 72 hours of the time of the game.

Fans whitethorn contiguous immoderate of the pursuing arsenic impervious of vaccination:

• A carnal vaccination paper that includes their name, the benignant of COVID-19 vaccine received and the day the past dose was administered

• A carnal photo/copy of their vaccination paper

• A photograph of their vaccination paper stored connected a phone/electronic instrumentality

• Documentation of their afloat vaccination against COVID-19 from a healthcare supplier