Chargers’ starting right tackle battle nearing a resolution

COSTA MESA — The Chargers’ training camp battle for the starting right tackle position is drawing closer to the end. Coach Brandon Staley couldn’t (or wouldn’t) say on Monday precisely when Storm Norton or Trey Pipkins III would be declared the winner, but he did offer some clarity about the spot.

“We’re getting close to making a decision on that,” Staley said as the Chargers moved back into their training facility after spending 16 camp practices at nearby Jack Hammett Sports Complex. “It’s been a quality competition. No matter how it shakes out, it’s going to be good for our football team.”

Staley did make one thing perfectly clear, though.

“Whoever wins the starting job is going to be our starter,” he said of Norton and Pipkins. “There’s not going to be any rotation or anything like that. Whoever wins this race is going to be the guy out there. We want to be sure everyone knows that. We’ll let you know when that happens.”

Norton and Pipkins have played roughly the same number of snaps in the first two of the Chargers’ three exhibition games.

The Chargers have a number of camp battles to be settled beyond the right tackle skirmish. They also must determine whether to keep three quarterbacks on their roster, although Staley hinted that it was likely that Chase Daniel and Easton Stick would serve as backups to Justin Herbert.

“We’ll see, but I know we really like having all three,” Staley said. “We’re very pleased with how Easton and Chase have played (while splitting the halves during each of the first two exhibition games, losses to the Rams and the Dallas Cowboys). They bring a lot to this football team.”

Additionally, the backup running back spot behind starter Austin Ekeler remained in flux after rookie Isaiah Spiller suffered an ankle injury Saturday, and Staley said his status was “kind of week to week.” Spiller won’t play in the Chargers’ exhibition finale against the Saints on Friday night in New Orleans.

Staley said it remained to be determined whether Spiller would be sound enough to play in the regular season opener on Sept. 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium. Asked if there was a chance Spiller would be sidelined for Week 1, Staley said, “A chance, yes.”

None of the five running backs who played in the Chargers’ loss to the Cowboys on Saturday stood out in any way. Or any positive way, anyway. Staley was unhappy with each of them after a 32-18 loss in which Stick finished with a team-high 24 rushing yards on two carries, including a 25-yard scramble.

“I didn’t think any of the five played very well,” Staley said Saturday.

 JACKSON, PALMER HURT

Cornerback J.C. Jackson didn’t participate in Monday’s practice because of an undisclosed injury. The Chargers refused further comment on Jackson’s rather noteworthy absence from the practice field after he did not play in Saturday’s game against the Cowboys.

Wide receiver Joshua Palmer was placed into the concussion protocol after he was injured in Saturday’s game, Staley said. He had three receptions for a team-leading 75 yards against Dallas. It was uncertain whether he would be cleared in time to play Friday against the Saints.

MURRAY RETURNS

Inside linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. was activated from the physically unable to perform list and practiced with his teammates for the first time since undergoing offseason ankle surgery. Staley said Murray would be limited to individual drills this week, however.