It’s that time of year again. Here are three burning questions for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Who’s that under center?
For the first time since 2006, Philip Rivers will not be the starting quarterback for the Chargers because he is now in Indianapolis.
Former NFL starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and No. 6 pick Justin Herbert will be competing for the starting job. Although early indications suggest Taylor will start and the rookie Herbert will watch and learn from the sideline, sooner or later, the Chargers may experiment with the Oregon product.
More Pro Bowl players on defense?
For a defensive unit that boasts Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Desmond King, Casey Hayward, and Derwin James, one would assume that they have not needed to add too much to that side of the ball. After all, those five players combined have been selected to nine Pro Bowls.
However, the Chargers did not settle. They added two-time Pro Bowl selection and former Vikings nose tackle Linval Joseph. They also signed former Bengals linebacker Nick Vigil and drafted Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray at No. 23 overall.
And these are just the moves they made to the front seven.
Former Broncos cornerback and five-time Pro Bowl selection Chris Harris was brought in to solidify the secondary.
This defense could potentially be among the top few in the league. For one of three teams that are tasked with playing the defending Super Bowl champions twice, they are going to need just that.
Ekeler as the lead back?
Whether it was splitting time two seasons ago with now-former Chargers running back Melvin Gordon or even being the feature back during Gordon’s holdout last season, Austin Ekeler has been a bigger threat in the receiving game.
Last season, Ekeler totaled 1,550 total scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns. He also dominated the passing game as he came up just seven yards shy of 1,000 receiving yards.
With Gordon leaving for Denver, Ekeler will see his workload expand this season in both aspects. More carries in the running game could translate to Ekeler being a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver this season. That’s not bad for an undrafted player.
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