The Chargers kicked off the preseason with a loss to the Cardinals by the score of 17-13 on Thursday night.
Despite the loss, we were able to see a few players make a statement early on. Pro Football Focus also noted them and tweeted out the five highest-graded players on both sides of the ball for Los Angeles.
Here’s a look at the highest-graded Chargers on offense, led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
There’s no doubt that Taylor had the best game out of any member on the offensive side of the ball in his debut as a Charger. He came out early on and looked dialed in, finishing 6-of-6 for 72 yards with a quarterback rating of 116.7. He also added 34 rushing yards.
Tight end Sean Culkin only had one reception for nine yards, but he was efficient in the run-blocking department. Wide receiver Mike Williams had a huge 28-yard catch late in the first quarter from Taylor. Jordan Smallwood and Malachi Dupre showed up late in the game.
Here’s a look at the defensive side of the ball:
Rookie linebacker Drue Tranquill made his mark in his professional debut with a few run stops and an interception which came in the third quarter. Defensive end Isaac Rochell had a sack and was consistently in the backfield. Despite a holding call, cornerback Brandon Facyson looked stout in coverage. Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill, who’s on the roster bubble, had a couple pressures on Thursday.
It’s a bit surprising to not see defensive end Chris Peace or linebacker Uchenna Nwosu on this list. Peace and Nwosu each caused problems for Arizona’s offensive tackles. The former Virginia product posted the only other sack on the night.
