On Sunday, the Chargers face their first divisional opponent of the 2023 season, hosting the Raiders in a game that could tip the scales in either direction for LA. With the bye week to follow, Los Angeles needs a win to climb back to .500 before their week off.
Here are four reasons to be worried that they will be 1-3 instead.
Back end depth
Neither Derwin James (hamstring) nor Alohi Gilman (heel) practiced on Wednesday or Thursday, casting doubt on their availability for Sunday’s game. Therefore, there’s a potential universe in which JT Woods starts his second career game while Raheem Layne starts his first. The backups would be undrafted rookie AJ Finley, who was just moved to the practice squad after spending the first three weeks on the 53-man roster, and veteran Dean Marlowe, who has been called up from the practice squad twice already to play special teams.
Oh yeah, and they’d be tasked with putting the roof on Davante Adams’ ceiling. Adams averages over eight receptions for almost 120 yards and a touchdown in three career games against the Chargers, including performances of 141 and 177 yards last season. Asante Samuel Jr. covered Adams admirably for stretches of Week 1 last season, but LA has yet to show that they’re capable of stopping the other team’s best offensive weapons.
Josh Jacobs bounceback
Jacobs has averaged over 5 yards a carry in his last three games against the Chargers, running for 132 yards in Week 18 of 2021 and 144 in Week 13 last season.
Last year’s rushing champion has gotten off to a slow start, with only 108 yards on 45 carries through three games. However, two of those games have come against teams with a top-ten overall defense by DVOA. The Chargers are 29th in that metric and have already proven that a slow start to the season means nothing when LA is your opponent.
Minnesota was last in the league in attempts and rushing yards entering Week 3’s contest, but Alexander Mattison took 20 carries for 93 yards in, by far his best performance of the year. Jacobs is likely to have a more significant role in Sunday’s gameplan – quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo just returned to practice from concussion protocol on Thursday – which should worry Chargers fans hoping for a pass-heavy strategy.
Solid pass blocking
The Raiders are tied (with the Chargers, coincidentally) for fourth in pass-blocking efficiency, a remarkable outcome given the relative anonymity of the players on their line. They’ve primarily excelled on the interior, where Greg Van Roten and Dylan Parham lead Las Vegas in pass-blocking efficiency.
Regardless of who the quarterback for the Raiders is on Sunday, the easiest path to victory for the Chargers is to heat up the man under center. Garoppolo has long been one of the worst quarterbacks under pressure in the league. Backup Brian Hoyer is a fundamentally limited player whose lack of scrambling ability could cause an influx of sacks. Rookie Aidan O’Connell theoretically handles pressure the best of the three, but the best way to defeat a rookie quarterback in their debut is often to get after them and speed the game up.
With Joey Bosa (hamstring) likely to remain on a snap count, the Chargers will need Tuli Tuipulotu to continue his hot streak against Vegas. Getting more production in the pass rush from Khalil Mack is also a key component here. Las Vegas’ chances increase exponentially if they can’t devise a plan to collapse the pocket.
Injuries galore
It’s only Week 4, and we’re already playing the hits. Stop me if you’ve heard this: the Chargers are dealing with injuries to several key players coming into Sunday’s game.
Austin Ekeler’s status due to an ankle sprain remains in question, although he’s practiced in limited fashion on both Wednesday and Thursday. Eric Kendricks (hamstring), Kenneth Murray (groin), Rashawn Slater (ankle), and Deane Leonard (hamstring) were all limited on Thursday as well. Joey Bosa (hamstring/toe), Gerald Everett (illness), Alohi Gilman (heel), Derwin James (hamstring), and Corey Linsley (illness) have not practiced this week.
Wide receiver Mike Williams also hit injured reserve after tearing his ACL against the Vikings. At the same time, corner JC Jackson told the media on Thursday that he’s still not 100% after rupturing his patellar tendon last season, despite being listed as healthy since the beginning of this season.
That’s eleven starters the Chargers could be without on Sunday, along with key special teamer Leonard, although a handful of them will likely end up playing. Even so, this game’s outcome could depend on performances from reserves like Joshua Kelley, Nick Niemann or safeties JT Woods and Raheem Layne. That could be enough to turn the tide in Las Vegas ‘ favor against a Raiders team whose most notable injuries are Garoppolo (concussion) and Maxx Crosby (knee).
