COSTA MESA — Justin Herbert zipped a pass down the middle of the field for a completion to wide receiver DeAndre Carter for a big gain on a third-down play. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack blew up a couple of running plays. Linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day and Zion Johnson scuffled.
Chargers coach Brandon Staley then called Sunday night’s scrimmage at Jack Hammett Sports Complex “a clean operation.” It was the Chargers’ first chance in training camp to go deeper into the playbook than in previous scripted practices over the first two weeks.
“We got in a lot of work today in all three phases and that’s what we were shooting for, for all three phases to get a lot of work,” Staley said, referring to the offense, defense and special teams. “I loved the flow of the scrimmage. We came out of it a better football team, for sure.”
There were plenty of highlights, with Herbert connecting with a number of receivers and running backs, with Mack showing flashes of the disruptive force he could be when the season begins, and with a little bit of tension erupting as the two-hour session continued.
Mack and linebacker Joey Bosa could prove to be a standout pass-rushing duo, and they might have had more highlights Sunday if not for Bosa suffering from a couple of debilitating blisters on his foot. Bosa said he believed “the energy was a little low” because “It’s been two weeks of grinding.”
Bosa also said, “I felt pretty good out there. I think these are the best two weeks I’ve had in all my years coming into camp. I remember after the scrimmage last year, I was like, ‘Dang, I (stink).’ Then it started coming to me. But I feel like my moves are coming nice and naturally.
“My body is feeling good-ish.”
Joseph-Day later interrupted Bosa’s session with reporters, playfully talking about his mild altercation with Johnson, the Chargers’ first-round draft pick.
“He showed the rookie some manners today,” Bosa joked, referring to Johnson.
Said a laughing Joseph-Day, “Yeah, I had to show him some manners.”
On a more serious note, Bosa said he’s been building steadily since last season.
“I figured out some things about how I want to rush,” he said. “I had a really good offseason. In the last eight weeks coming into this offseason, I was just getting stronger every day. Me and Nick (his brother, who plays with the San Francisco 49ers) had some really good pass-rush days. It was, like, 104 degrees outside. Dying.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better every year. Every year I learn more.”
CAMP COMPETITION
Herbert, and backup quarterbacks Easton Stick and Chase Daniel each played in similar situations during the scrimmage, including the red zone and the two-minute drill. Trey Pipkins III started off with the first team at right tackle, but Storm Norton also got some reps there, too.
Austin Ekeler, Isaiah Spiller and Joshua Kelley got the bulk of the reps at running back, running with the ball and also catching passes out of the backfield. Carter caught several passes from the three quarterbacks, working into a rotation with Mike Williams, Keenan Allen and tight end Gerald Everett.
“There’s always things we can improve and fix, but overall as an offense, I thought we moved the ball well and converted on third downs, and that’s what is important to us,” Herbert said.
INJURY UPDATES
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy and tight end Donald Parham Jr. sat out the scrimmage. Staley described both as suffering from soft tissue injuries. But Staley went a little more in depth on Parham’s ailment, calling it a hamstring injury and saying he would probably be out for the rest of the week..
Carter and defensive back Tevaughn Campbell were involved in a collision on a pass play near the end of the scrimmage, with Campbell getting the worst of it. Campbell was attended to by the athletic training camp for a few moments before walking gingerly to the sideline.
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