The Chargers’ first preseason didn’t go as they would’ve liked, losing to the Cardinals by the score of 17-13. Fortunately, the wins and losses don’t really matter the next few weeks.
Instead, it’s about finding the players who will be able to contribute to when it actually counts. We were able to get an idea of some players who stood out and then some others that didn’t really help their case.
With that, here’s whose stock is up and down, following the matchup against Arizona.
Stock Up — OL Forrest Lamp
Lamp came into the game as the backup right guard to Michael Schofield, but his playing time suggests otherwise. The former Western Kentucky started at left guard and played every single snap. He also played on the right side, too.
Lamp was finally able to display why the team spent a second-round pick on him in 2017. He looked crisp the entire night and was dominant in the run-blocking department, paving the way for running backs Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson.
Lamp’s path to a starting job is looking promising at the moment.
Stock Down — QB Cardale Jones
Jones went into Thursday’s game knowing that for the next few weeks he will be playing to keep his job with the Chargers. Jones and rookie Easton Stick will be battling for the final spot on the 53-man roster. Based on the performance yesterday from Jones, he did nothing to help his case.
Jones didn’t appear to have any pocket awareness, he missed a couple wide open receivers and he fumbled in their own territory. Luckily, the play was overturned and he was ruled down.
He should see the field a few more times to try to turn things around, but things aren’t looking promising for the former Ohio State product.
Stock Up — LB Uchenna Nwosu, DE Chris Peace
Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram didn’t play on Thursday, leaving more opportunities for the other pass rushers on the team to make a statement. It was the 2018 second-round selection and undrafted free agent out of Virginia that rose to the occasion.
Nwosu and Peace were forces off the edge, consistently putting quarterbacks Brett Hundley and Drew Anderson under duress. Defensive end Isaac Rochell also recorded a sack on the night. Overall, the Chargers took advantage of a weak Cardinals offensive line.
Stock Down — OT Trey Pipkins
Many were eager to see how the former Sioux Falls product would fare against tougher competition and from his performance, we know exactly why the team labeled him as a project.
The third-round selection was beat badly for a sack in the fourth quarter by Cardinals linebacker Pita Taumoepenu. Pipkins gave up the edge on a couple run plays, too.
Pipkins entered Thursday’s contest as Trent Scott’s backup at left tackle, making it a worrisome situation if Scott was to go down based on last night’s performance.
Stock Up — LB Drue Tranquill
Another rookie that many people were anticipating going into Thursday’s contest was Tranquill, the fourth-round selection out of Notre Dame. Tranquill filled in at the middle linebacker spot in the second quarter. It was then when we got a glimpse of why the coaching staff coveted him.
Tranquill was everywhere. He showed a nose for the football with a few key run stops and posted an interception late in the third quarter. His performance landed him as the highest-graded defensive player from yesterday’s game, per Pro Football Focus.
Stock Down — WR Artavis Scott, Geremy Davis
Wide receivers Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin and Andre Patton didn’t play on Thursday, which led to more opportunities for Scott and Davis, who are in contention for the fourth and fifth receiver slot. Unfortunately, they didn’t take advantage of it.
Scott was targeted twice and only posted one reception for three yards. Davis failed to record a single catch on the night. Meanwhile, Malachi Dupre led all receivers with two catches for 32 yards.
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