Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) looked good in his return to training camp practice on Monday, his first since being diagnosed with a plantar-fascia injury in his right foot on July 31. Head coach Jim Harbaugh was steadfast throughout the injury process that Herbert wouldn't miss a beat in adapting to a new offense. Herbert didn't do any work in full-team situations on Monday but got plenty of snaps in 7-on-7 drills, with Harbaugh saying that "he looked great with a capital G. No drop-off, pinpoint accuracy. He looked really good." The 26-year-old started 62 consecutive games, the second-longest streak by a QB, before a fracture to his right index finger in Week 14 in 2023 ended his season. With Herbert back at practice, it looks like he'll be ready in plenty of time for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, where he'll be a QB2 with upside in a new offense.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark came up limping after the opening play of 11-on-11 work at training camp practice on Monday and was grabbing at his left-hip flexor. It's something to watch for the rest of the practice week and heading into the team's preseason finale this Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys. In his first year in LA, the 27-year-old is expected to help replace receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams alongside Joshua Palmer and rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey in starting three-wide sets. Chark is no stranger to injuries -- he missed 22 games from 2020 to 2022 -- and if he's forced to miss time entering the start of the 2024 regular season, it will open up playing time for former first-rounder Quentin Johnston. Chark should be better than he was in 2023 in a bad Panthers offense if he can stay healthy this year, but he should be left to the waiver wire to begin the year in 12-team leagues.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) practiced at training camp on Monday for the first time since July, when he was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Herbert was placed in a walking boot at the end of July but ditched the boot last Thursday. He was seen making stationary throws before Saturday's preseason contest against the Los Angeles Rams and has now taken the next step in returning to practice. The 26-year-old will now have two weeks worth of practices before the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 8 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Pain tolerance will probably be an issue for Herbert along the way and even potentially into the regular season, but the Chargers have never seemed to worried about him missing time to begin the year. In more of a run-first offense under the new coaching staff and no longer without his top weapons in Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams, Herbert's fantasy stock has fallen to QB2 status.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) did some stationary throwing on Saturday before the team's preseason contest against the Los Angeles Rams without really pushing off on his right foot. Herbert shed his walking boot right at the two-week mark last Thursday as he recovers from plantar fasciitis in his foot. The Chargers haven't been too worried that the 26-year-old won't be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener versus the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, but he is missing a bunch of valuable reps with the rest of the starting offense in training camp and the preseason. Herbert could be dealing with pain in his foot early on in 2024, but he's likely to play through it. His fantasy stock was already trending down this offseason after losing all three of his favorite targets from last year in Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler. Herbert should now be considered more of a QB2.

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The Los Angeles Chargers are parting ways with quarterback Max Duggan. Following Justin Herbert's (plantar fascia) diagnosis of a plantar fascia injury in his right foot on August 1, the Chargers now have two healthy quarterbacks on their roster: Easton Stick and Luis Perez. Duggan was drafted by Los Angeles in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the prior regime before Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach on January 24. Throughout his rookie year, Duggan alternated between the practice squad and the active roster but did not see any regular-season action. He spent all four years at TCU and ended up third on the school's all-time passing list. Duggan was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy after his standout 2022 season, where he threw for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns over 15 games and led the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff National Championship, though they lost to Georgia. In the preseason opener, Duggan was 4-of-7 for 41 yards but did not play in the Chargers' game against the Rams on Saturday. With Herbert's injury potentially affecting his performance throughout the season, the diminishing quarterback options for the Chargers are becoming a significant concern.

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Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey made his first catch as an NFL player in a Chargers preseason loss to the Rams. McConkey did not play in the first Chargers preseason game, so Game 2 was his NFL debut. He was targeted just once and made his lone catch for a five yard gain. McConkey likely won't get a ton of run in the preseason given how big his offensive role is expected to be. As long as Justin Herbert (foot) is able to play, McConkey could be a PPR monster as early as Week 1.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Jaret Patterson led the team in targets and catches in a Week 2 preseason loss to the Rams. Patterson ran the ball four times for ten yards and was targeted five times in the passing game, making all five catches for 28 yards. No one else on the team had more than two catches in this game. Patterson has been operating in a role that will presumably be filled by J.K. Dobbins once the regular season begins, but he's looked solid enough to potentially earn a smaller role come Week 1.

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Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Kimani Vidal led the Chargers backfield in their second preseason game. Vidal ran the ball 11 times for 49 yards, leading the team in both carries and yards. He was also targeted three times in the passing game, catching two for an additional eight yards. Vidal is behind at least Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins on the depth chart, but the sixth-round rookie has certainly shown some promise so far.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick struggled again in the second preseason game. Stick attempted 13 passes, completing eight of them for 85 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He added 22 yards on the ground with five rushing attempts, but also lost a fumble. Stick hasn't looked great this preseason, and wasn't all that impressive when forced into playing time last season either. He's presumably competing with Luis Perez for the backup quarterback job in LA, but the Chargers will be in trouble if either of them ends up with significant playing time in the regular season.

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With Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) still out, Easton Stick will make another start in the preseason game on Saturday versus the Los Angeles Rams. Stick underwhelmed in the preseason opener last Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks, going 5-for-13 for 31 yards and an interception. He evidently showed enough in training camp practices this week to hold off Max Duggan and Luis Perez, though, in what is turning into an unexpectedly tight QB competition for the backup role to Herbert in 2024. Stick looked better in practice this week but still had his ups and downs. If the 28-year-old struggles again this weekend, don't be surprised if Perez or Duggan see more starting reps in practice next week with Herbert still out. The bottom line here is that if Herbert ends up missing time in the regular season, the Bolts' offense could be in serious trouble.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) shed his walking boot on Thursday and was working out in the weight room. Herbert had a walking boot on for exactly two weeks while he deals with a plantar-fascia injury in his foot. It's good news that the 26-year-old is out of his boot, but it remains to be seen when he'll actually rejoin his teammates at training camp practices as he prepares for the start of the 2024 season. As long as he doesn't have any setbacks with his foot, it's likely that Herbert will be ready for the Week 1 regular-season matchup against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert's fantasy stock was already on the decline before his foot injury with his top targets -- Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams -- all departing in the offseason and with a run-first offense expected under the new coaching staff.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) is still in a walking boot. It was reported on August 1 that Herbert would wear a boot on his right foot for approximately two weeks while he recovers from a plantar fascia injury. Now that the two-week mark is almost upon us, fantasy managers will be eager to see Herbert walking under his own power again. Herbert is looking to bounce back after a down season in 2023. Injuries and poor team organization limited Herbert to 3,134 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in 13 games. The Chargers have revamped their wide receiver core and will need Herbert to perform at a high level to support the inexperienced pass catchers. Fantasy managers interested in rostering Herbert or any Chargers skill players should closely monitor this situation.

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As things currently stand in training camp, The Athletic's Daniel Popper lists Los Angeles Chargers tight ends Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst and Stone Smartt as the three TEs he thinks will make the final roster. Donald Parham Jr. and Ben Mason have missed significant practice time with injuries, and when Parham has been on the field, he has been working with the second and third teams. His blocking also remains a weakness. Zach Heins and Luke Benson have flashed at times, but they don't seem deserving of a roster spot over one of the other team's receivers. Smartt has improved as a blocker, which is why Popper thinks he'll earn a 53-man roster spot for a run-heavy Greg Roman offense this year. Parham's fantasy value in dynasty/keeper leagues is quickly evaporating, even though he set career-highs in catches (27), yards (285) and touchdowns (four) in 2023.

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The Athletic's Daniel Popper went into training camp thinking the Los Angeles Chargers would only keep five receivers, but impressive performances by wideout Brenden Rice has forced Popper to open up an additional spot in this group. Rice has shown he can be a productive receiver at the NFL level. His size, athleticism, route-running, hands and instincts are all NFL-caliber. However, the receiver room remains wide open, and Simi Fehoko has also been making plenty of plays, including a 29-yard reception in the preseason opener on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. Fehoko also played on all core-four special teams units on Saturday. In addition to Rice and Fehoko, rookie Jaylen Johnson has had a strong camp, putting himself on the roster bubble. Popper lists Joshua Palmer, rookie Ladd McConkey, DJ Chark, Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis as the first five receivers for the Bolts.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey has gotten plenty of positive attention during his first NFL training camp, and head coach Jim Harbaugh went as far to as his route running is "elite." The second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft appears to be establishing himself as a clear starter for the Bolts, and he could play his way into the No. 1 wide receiver role ahead of Joshua Palmer. The 22-year-old didn't have the most impressive counting stats at Georgia, but he played in a run-heavy offense that often had the lead and competed with Brock Bowers, George Pickens, and Jermaine Burton, among others for targets. His 14.2 yards per reception and 16.6 yards per carry in college and his 4.39 40-yard dash time at the 2024 NFL Combine suggest he could be an efficient play-maker for Justin Herbert right away. Although the Chargers are expected to deploy a run-heavy offensive attack, McConkey could be a weekly WR3 or flex option if he earns the target-hog role in L.A.

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Los Angels Chargers running back Jaret Patterson has impressed the coaching staff and appears to have grasped the RB3 role right now, which has led The Athletic's Daniel Popper to list rookie sixth-rounder Kimani Vidal as the first RB off the active roster when the regular season starts. Patterson has gotten the most reps with the first team in training camp practices among the four backs competing behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. He was also the first RB in the game in the preseason opener on Saturday, ahead of both Isaiah Spiller and Elijah Dotson. Vidal was in uniform for warmups but did not dress for the game. Spiller is on the first-team punt unit and has familiarity with special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken. Vidal has also been dealing with an injury and missed four full days of practice earlier this month.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Simi Fehoko led the team in receptions and finished second in yards gained in a Preseason Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Fehoko was targeted four times, tied for the team lead in that category, and made three catches, gaining 33 yards. Most of his yards came on a 29-yard reception. Fehoko is mostly a special teamer and depth in the Chargers wide receiver room, as he only made one catch all of last season.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Isaiah Spiller was ineffective on the ground in a Preseason Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Spiller ran the ball five times for a total of five yards on the ground. He did add three catches on three targets for an additional 18 yards however. Spiller had some bright moments among his 37 carries last season, but was mostly a depth option in the Chargers backfield. It'll take a few injuries this season for him to be much more than that, as he currently sits fourth at best on the running back list.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick didn't do too much in the opening preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Stick got the start in place of an injured Justin Herbert (foot) and completed just five of his 13 pass attempts for 31 yards and an interception. He took two sacks and added one rush for 12 yards. Stick is currently second on the Chargers depth chart, but he was arguably outplayed by both Max Duggan and Luis Perez in this one. What it boils down to though is: the Chargers are in trouble if Herbert misses any regular season games.

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Jaret Patterson led the Chargers backfield in carries and yards in the first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Patterson carried the ball seven times for a total of 38 yards, including a long run of 16. The college star was an undrafted free agent in 2023 but did not see the field. He's buried on the Chargers depth chart, and while Preseason Week 1 isn't usually a good predictor, he could be someone the Chargers see as a special teams piece or a depth guy to keep around.

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