Whatever Jim Harbaugh‘s ultimate vision is for the Los Angeles Chargers offense, we have not seen it yet. And according to fourth-year wide receiver Josh Palmer, the Chargers are currently, “just trying to get the nuts and bolts together.”
Many could surmise that this offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders yet from the atrocious offensive display the team put up in their first preseason game last Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Chargers put up just 3 points, behind 198 yards of total offense and 9 first downs.
Palmer: Chargers Still Growing As An Offense
It will certainly improve once Justin Herbert returns, who has been sidelined with an injury to his plantar fascia. But Palmer hedged on putting all the woes on Herbert’s absence.
“I think we’re still growing as an offense. Even when Justin was here I feel we were still growing as an offense.”
A fast turnaround was expected given Harbaugh’s earned reputation for flipping the team’s records in short order. But it may take more time with the Chargers, simply because of the sheer amount of turnover. From just the starting 11, they are attempting to replace eight starters at different positions. That is basically, rebuilding a team. A team in a new head coach’s image.
Palmer is one of those players vying for a starting role on the team, as the wide receivers were one of the biggest churn jobs of them all. The only returning intended starter from last season is Quentin Johnston, whose rookie season was rough, to put it gently. They will also have to evaluate the three rookies they added via the 2024 draft, Ladd McConkey, Brenden Rice, and Cornelius Johnson, as well as, free agent addition DJ Chark
In addition to wide receivers, they have new starters at running back, tight end, and three of the five offensive line spots.
The Chargers have just over three weeks to get their nuts and bolts in place. Their first regular season game will be played on September 8th against AFC West rival, the Las Vegas Raiders.
