EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — From the starters to the third team, the Los Angeles Chargers defense had a very encouraging practice in coverage Wednesday.
Cornerback Kristian Fulton led the way with three passes defended in 11-on-11 drills.
Overall, coverage players combined for 11 forced incompletions in the practice.
“I felt like the guys today maybe looked the most comfortable that we’ve looked so far,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said.
Fulton got the pass-breakup party started in a move-the-ball period early in practice. The starting defense was facing the starting offense. After two touches for running back Jaret Patterson — a catch in the flat and a run — quarterback Justin Herbert and the offense faced a third-and-5. Herbert threw to receiver Quentin Johnston on an out route. Fulton challenged the pass and knocked it off Johnston’s hands.
On the next play, a fourth-and-5, the offense went for it. Nickel cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor was in the slot against rookie receiver Ladd McConkey. McConkey ran a corner route into the end zone. Taylor matched him the whole way. Herbert tried to drop a ball into the back corner, but Taylor’s coverage was too tight. The ball sailed out of the back of the end zone.
Later in the practice, Fulton had two more pass breakups during the two-minute drill. The starters faced the starters again. On the opening play of the drive, Herbert tried to hit Johnston on another out route. Fulton jumped the route and nearly picked the ball off.
The offense got moving on the next play when Herbert connected with receiver Joshua Palmer down the right sideline. Herbert then nearly scored on a scramble to the right side. Edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack both won on their pass rush moves and created pressure. Herbert escaped and was marked down at the 2-yard line.
turbo herbo pic.twitter.com/mcFUifq3pi
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 31, 2024
On the next play, Herbert threw a jump ball to Johnston in the end zone. Fulton was in coverage and had Johnston locked down. The result: another incompletion. And the offense settled for a field goal.
“He’s practicing like what we thought he could be,” Minter said of Fulton. “He’s an ultra competitor. He’s really talented. When he’s comfortable and he trusts just how he’s being taught, what he’s being told, I’m confident that he’ll perform well this year, and I know he’s got a — I don’t even know if it’s a chip, he’s got a boulder on his shoulder.”
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Fulton is carving out a starting role on the outside opposite Asante Samuel Jr.
“I just want to prove that I know I’m a top corner in this league,” Fulton said earlier this week. “It’s going to show come game day. But right now, I’m just focused on proving it every day to the coaches, my teammates, that they can trust me to go out there and be that.”
Taylor, who had a pass breakup on a Herbert throw intended for Fehoko, is distancing himself as the starter at nickel.
“Zont, Kristian, Ja’Sir have played really well up to this point for what we’re asking them to do,” Minter said.
Linebacker Daiyan Henley, who has been working with the first team next to Denzel Perryman, also got involved in coverage. In an 11-on-11 period, Herbert tried to fit a throw into receiver Simi Fehoko on a dig route. He did not see Henley retreating over the middle. Henley was in perfect position for the interception, but the ball deflected off his hand.
“Daiyan’s got some really elite coverage skills,” Minter said.
The young defensive backs also made several plays. Rookie safety Thomas Harper had two pass breakups. The first came on the play after Henley’s near-interception. Herbert threw deep to Johnston on a corner route into the end zone. Harper made a great read on the play and rotated over the top from the middle of the field. He batted the pass away to prevent the touchdown.
Later in practice, backup quarterback Easton Stick threw deep to Johnston on a post route off play action. Harper retreated down the middle of the field and nearly picked off the pass, which was slightly under-thrown.
“He’s flashed,” Minter said of Harper, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame. “He made some nice plays today.”
Cornerback Cam Hart had a pass breakup while in coverage on a Fehoko crosser. Cornerback Matt Hankins picked off rookie quarterback Casey Bauman on the final 11-on-11 play of practice. Bauman threw a go ball intended for rookie receiver Jaelen Gill. Hankins was in tight coverage and did well to turn and find the ball.
“It was a good, solid day, good competition,” Minter said. “Just got to continue to chase that and see if we can stack some of those types of days.”
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News and notes
• Safety Alohi Gilman was back at practice. He missed the previous two practices for the birth of his child.
• Edge rusher Bud Dupree was back at practice after missing Tuesday.
• Rookie offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart practiced Wednesday for the first time this camp. He was playing right guard with the third-team offense.
• Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer was not on the field for Wednesday’s practice. He went down with an injury during 11-on-11 drills in Tuesday’s practice.
• Left tackle Rashawn Slater was back in 11-on-11 drills after sitting out all those periods in Tuesday’s practice. Slater is dealing with a minor injury. The Chargers were not in pads Wednesday. Slater sat out two 11-on-11 periods Wednesday. When Slater was out, the first-team offensive line was: left tackle Trey Pipkins III, left guard Zion Johnson, center Brenden Jaimes, right guard Bradley Bozeman, right tackle Joe Alt.
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• Derius Davis had a standout rookie season as a punt returner. So far in camp, he continues to impress as a receiver. He had one of the best reps of the receiver-cornerback one-on-ones. Davis was matched up with rookie cornerback Tarheeb Still out of the slot. Davis set up Still on the stem of his route with a burst of speed up the seam. He then faked to the inside before cutting to the sideline, spinning Still around. Davis has something to offer as a receiver. That much is clear.
• Rookie receiver Brenden Rice had the play of the day on offense. He beat cornerback Chris Wilcox down the left sideline and made a great over-the-shoulder catch on the deep ball from Stick. Rice is proving to have some capacity as a down-the-field receiver.
snagggggged pic.twitter.com/QsI1vih7zE
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 31, 2024
• Linebacker Junior Colson and running back J.K. Dobbins were not in uniform Wednesday. They worked off to the side in shorts and T-shirts. Colson is now off the non-football illness list after passing his physical Tuesday. Edge rusher Tre’Mon Morris-Brash and tight end Donald Parham Jr. also worked off to the side. They were both in uniform.
• Safety Akeem Dent was on the field in uniform for the start of practice, but he walked off and into the facility with trainers during individual drills. Rookie receiver Leon Johnson was not at practice.
• AJ Finley is starting to create some separation in the third safety battle. He has been the first safety to come on the field when Derwin James Jr. moves around to different positions. He also got the bulk of the first-team reps on Monday and Tuesday when Gilman was absent. Said Minter: “AJ’s a guy that guys have confidence in. He’s made some plays in practice and communicates really well. He’s got a comfort out there.”
(Photo: Ryan Sun / Associated Press)
