The Chargers’ first full-team practices will kick off on Monday, which marks the first time the team has come together since before their divisional round loss to the Patriots.
This week begins Phase III of the offseason training program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team activity. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are.
Here are six things to be on the lookout for during this week’s session:
Rookie roles
The rookies got their feet wet with rookie minicamp last weekend, but OTAs will be the first opportunity to see the newcomers sprinkled in with the veterans.
First-round pick Jerry Tillery will not be participating as he’s recovering from a shoulder injury. He is expected to return in July. Second-round pick Nasir Adderley and third-rounder Trey Pipkins will be the most interesting rookies to observe.
Will Adderley primarily line up as a free safety? Or, will they use him as a chess piece and unlock his former cornerback skillset? Will Pipkins play at both left tackle spots? How is he adapting early on to the speed of the NFL after playing against strictly Division 2 players for four years.
The new guys on the block
The Chargers didn’t go out and sign a bunch of free agents this offseason, like many other teams. Instead, they made a few re-signings and brought in linebacker Thomas Davis and Tyrod Taylor.
Davis will get his fair share of snaps as the starting WILL linebacker with Jatavis Brown and Kyzir White backing him up. But he also brings vocal leadership to the team, so using that to help the young players, including fourth-rounder Drue Tranquill and sixth rounder Emeke Egbule will be key for their growth.
Taylor was a great pickup for a team that hasn’t had a serviceable backup in years. It’s hard not to envision him as anything other than the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.
Battle in the trenches
Odds are that the Chargers will begin the offseason with the same offensive line that played most of last season: Left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Dan Feeney, center Mike Pouncey, right guard Michael Schofield and right tackle Sam Tevi.
One of the changes could come on the inside of the line, where former second-round selection Forrest Lamp could earn time at either spot. If Lamp is able to show out and get back to how he was prior to his injury, then he could potentially win a starting job.
Even though Los Angeles had problems at the right tackle position in 2018 with Tevi starting, it appears that the coaching staff is going to let him try to redeem himself. Trey Pipkins could be a bright spot, but it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see him sit for the majority of the season, barring any injuries.
The battle for the No. 3 wide receiver
The Chargers lost their No. 3 wide receiver Tyrell Williams to the Raiders this offseason. Of course, the team has Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as as the No. 1 and 2 receiver, but the fight for Philip Rivers’ third option is open.
At the moment, Travis Benjamin is likely the frontrunner. Benjamin is back on a one-year deal even though he was underwhelming in 2018, finishing with 12 receptions for 186 yards. The team has valued him for quite sometime and he has the experience in the role.
But don’t count out the other guys that will be fighting for the job. 2018 sixth-round selection Dylan Cantrell, Artavis Scott and Geremy Davis are all capable of emerging as the next man up for Los Angeles.
Who’s next?
There are always gems that are found in the undrafted free agent pool, and the Chargers have a history of doing just that, including safety Adrian Phillips and running back Austin Ekeler.
On paper, Los Angeles didn’t bring in anyone that shined among others throughout their collegiate career. Instead, they targeted mostly depth players. But even though they didn’t standout, there will always be the diamond in the rough players, which could be the case here.
Nose tackle Eurndraus Bryant is a player that has a high chance of making the roster and contributing up front. Other names to watch for include tight ends Daniel Helm and Matt Sokol, safety Adarius Pickett, guard Chris Brown, wide receiver Jason Moore and defensive back Rodney Randle.
Health updates
Plenty of key players ended last season with injury questions, including their three main linebackers, tight end Hunter Henry and cornerback Trevor Williams.
They’re all relatively healthy now, but one of the important things to watch for is how they’re moving and if everything is in sync. The majority of football players are able to fully recover from an injury, but sometimes it does indeed hinder their movement skills.
Making sure that the players are able to stay healthy all throughout will be critical, as this has been a time where they’ve lost some members, including Henry last year.
