Insider notes from Chargers training camp: Jim Harbaugh cranks up prep, and latest on Ladd McConkey's injury
Long the red-headed stepchild of football teams in the city of Los Angeles, it’s a new day for the Chargers franchise, as Jim Harbaugh has laid down the law. Things are pointing north for the Bolts and with good reason, as the Chargers look to rebound from their awful 2023 season.
It’s a much different feel around the Chargers facility this summer than in years past. The first thing standing out is how physically grueling and tough Chargers camp is this year compared to previous summers. It seems Harbaugh has taken the lead from his brother John, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Talk to people around the league and they will tell you that, historically, the Ravens have been known to run the toughest camps and toughest practices of any team in the NFL. Besides all the contact in camp this summer for the Chargers, there is much more physical conditioning than in the past.
Yet the grueling training camp has not diminished the positive attitude towards the head coach. Quite the contrary. I’m told even tough Chargers players are brought to their physical limit during three-hour practices, they feel at the end of the day they’ve gotten a lot done and consistently improve.
Inside Chargers training camp
As a source told me, the players “love Harbaugh,” and they have bought into his system. They see the vision the head coach has put in front of them and Chargers players believe they will be a much better team under Harbaugh than anyone is giving them credit for. They not only think highly of their new head coach but are fond of new general manager Joe Hortiz, who helped assemble a team many believe will compete for a playoff spot this season.
While head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Harbaugh leaned heavily on a dominant offensive line, and he’ll do the same with the Chargers. The team bypassed several talented pass catchers early in the draft despite a glaring need and used the fifth pick on offensive tackle Joe Alt, someone they will be relying on this year. Another blocker they expect big things from this season is Zion Johnson, the former first-round pick out of Boston College.
Johnson has started 32 games since his rookie campaign two years ago, but he was banged up and played injured much of last season. Thus far in the early going, Johnson has looked much improved and is drawing the praise of Harbaugh. Hopes are that he will stay healthy this season and meet expectations. Many believe that if he does, a Pro Bowl berth will be in the offing for Johnson.
On the receiver front, Ladd McConkey, the team’s pick in the second round, was on the sidelines this week with an injury, though it has not been deemed serious. Those on hand at Chargers practice tell me that Quentin Johnston, the somewhat surprising first-round pick from 2023 who had a disappointing rookie season, has struggled as we head towards Week 1 of the preseason.
Johnston entered the 2023 draft out of TCU with the rap of dropping too many catchable passes and body-catching throws. The recent trouble, according to onlookers, is the big wideout struggles tracking the pass in the air, which has led to drops. Whether that has anything to do with the passes being delivered by Easton Stick rather than Justin Herbert, who is sidelined with plantar fasciitis, is debatable.
This is not debatable; McConkey will be given every opportunity this season to take over as one of the Chargers’ starting receivers.
Conversely, Joshua Palmer, the Chargers’ third-round pick from 2021 who was the team’s top wideout two years ago, has looked terrific in his return from injury. Palmer had a terrific sophomore season in 2022, catching 72 passes, but he was limited to just 11 games last season due to a knee injury and still racked up 581 receiving yards.
Sources on hand at Chargers practice said Palmer has been running outstanding routes in camp and catching the ball extremely well. He’ll be counted on heavily this season as he is projected to be the teams number one wide out. If it all falls into place that won’t only help the Chargers offense, who need all the help they can get at the receiver position, but Palmer as well as he’s slated to hit free agency next March.