The Chargers are 0-2 as they get ready for a Week 3 date in Buffalo.
Here are five takeaways from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh's Monday press conference:
1. Kolar, Njoku headed to IR
Harbaugh provided a handful of injury updates on Monday at The Bolt.
Tight ends Charlie Kolar and David Njoku are both going on Injured Reserve after each suffered injuries in Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Harbaugh said Njoku suffered a fibula injury and that Kolar has a forearm injury.
Kolar and Njoku must each now miss a minimum of four games, and their injuries mean Oronde Gadsden will be the lone tight end remaining on the active roster.
"A lot of confidence in Oronde's game," Harbaugh said. "So many things that he does well. A lot of confidence in Oronde."
Harbaugh also noted that the Bolts are likely to explore additions to the tight end room going forward.
"It's something we're working with the personnel department and the team," Harbaugh said. "We're going through that today."
Harbaugh also said the left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula) and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring) are expected to "miss some time."
Harbaugh said Trevor Penning will assume the starting left guard spot if Trey Pipkins III remains unavailable with a knee injury.
"He did good. He had efficient blocks, efficient plays," Harbaugh said of Penning. "Again, there's things in his game that, make better. That's the plan of attack."
2. Mindset ahead of Buffalo
Harbaugh struck a similar tone he did Sunday night as it pertains to the Chargers mindset for Week 3.
"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. That's the general message," Harbaugh said. "I count on our guys. Yeah, we put a lot on them, we put a lot on ourselves, but No. 1 is the confidence you have in yourself.
"That's each individual teammate, and the confidence you have in your teammates," Harbaugh added.
Harbaugh said players and coaches have focused on the film from Sunday's loss and will now turn their attention to a game against the 2-0 Bills.
A key step in that process, Harbaugh said, is being sharp and ready to go at Wednesday's practice.
"It's a huge part of that formula, correcting and improving anything you can improve, with a real sense of urgency," Harbaugh said. "Call it improvement, plus urgent, plus belief in yourself, your teammates, equals sustainable growth."
Overall, even with the Chargers sitting at 0-2, he said he still has full belief in his team moving forward.
"I feel very confident in saying it's very close," Harbaugh said. "But we're always going to be seeking improvement."
See the best game action from the Chargers' Week 2 AFC West matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium.
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE David Njoku (83)
TE David Njoku (83)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
S Tony Jefferson (23), CB Cam Hart (20) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
CB Cam Hart (20)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92), LB Daiyan Henley (0), CB Cam Hart (20) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
CB Cam Hart (20) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23) and CB Cam Hart (20)
CB Cam Hart (20) and LB Marlowe Wax (58)
LB Marlowe Wax (58) and CB Cam Hart (20)
LB Marlowe Wax (58) and CB Cam Hart (20)
WR Brenen Thompson (89)
WR Brenen Thompson (89) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
OLB Bud Dupree (48)
DL Teair Tart (93)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Bud Dupree (48) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Genesis Smith (22)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Steve Clinkscale, LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Lander Barton (57)
CB Cam Hart (20)
S Tony Jefferson (23)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
LB Troy Dye (43)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Keaton Michell (34)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
FB Alec Ingold (30) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and FB Alec Ingold (30)
T Joe Alt (76), FB Alec Ingold (30) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
TE Charlie Kolar (88) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
RB Omarion Hampton (8) and WR Quentin Johnston (1)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99), S Tony Jefferson (23) and S Genesis Smith (22)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52), OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
OLB Khalil Mack (52), DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Khalil Mack (52), OLB Akheem Mesidor (90) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Akheem Mesidor (90), OLB Khalil Mack (52) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
QB Justin Herbert (10) and RB Omarion Hampton (8)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Charlie Kolar (88)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
CB Cam Hart (20)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
LB Daiyan Henley (0), S RJ Mickens (27) and CB Tarheeb Still (4)
S RJ Mickens (27), CB Tarheeb Still (4) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), S RJ Mickens (27) and CB Tarheeb Still (4)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), S RJ Mickens (27) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and DL Justin Eboigbe (92)
S Derwin James Jr. (3), DL Justin Eboigbe (92) and OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Teair Tart (93)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Donte Jackson (26)
S Tony Jefferson (23) and S Genesis Smith (22)
RB Omarion Hampton (8)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
WR Tre Harris (9)
RB Keaton Michell (34) and WR Tre Harris (9)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
QB Justin Herbert (10)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and TE Charlie Kolar (88)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and C/G Jake Slaughter (66)
C/G Jake Slaughter (66) and TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86) and WR Ladd McConkey (15)
TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
G Cole Strange (69) and TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
Tight Ends Coach Chandler Henley and TE Oronde Gadsden (86)
K Cameron Dicker (11)
CB Rodney Shelley (24) and S Kendall Williamson (32)
S Kendall Williamson (32) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
S Genesis Smith (22) and CB Rodney Shelley (24)
LB Del'Shawn Phillips (53)
DL Teair Tart (93)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S RJ Mickens (27)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
OLB Tuli Tuipulotu (45)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
CB Rodney Shelley (24)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
FB Alec Ingold (30)
FB Alec Ingold (30)
CB Cam Hart (20)
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (94)
S Genesis Smith (22) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DL Teair Tart (93) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DL Teair Tart (93)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43)
LB Troy Dye (43) and LB Daiyan Henley (0)
S Genesis Smith (22)
DL Nick Barrett (91)
DL Nick Barrett (91) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
DL Nick Barrett (91) and OLB Akheem Mesidor (90)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
WR Ladd McConkey (15)
C/G Jake Slaughter (66), G Cole Strange (69), OL Trevor Penning (75) and T Rashawn Slater (70)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
DT Jamaree Caldwell (99)
CB Donte Jackson (26) and S Tony Jefferson (23)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
S Derwin James Jr. (3) and OLB Khalil Mack (52)
LB Daiyan Henley (0)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
S Derwin James Jr. (3)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
WR Quentin Johnston (1)
3. Praise for the run defense
Perhaps the biggest bright spot for the Chargers in Week 2 was their run defense.
The Raiders managed just 57 rushing yards on 29 carries, with running back Ashton Jeanty tallying 21 carries for just 48 yards, good for an average of 2.3 yards per attempt.
Jeanty was also held without an explosive run of 10-plus yards.
"The play of the defensive line, play of Derwin [James], the guys, it was very good. There was a run wall there," Harbaugh said.
Through two games, the Chargers run defense ranks fifth in defensive EPA per play (-0.257).
The Bolts also have Pro Football Focus' top team run defense grade (79.2) and have only allowed three explosive runs (10-plus yards), which is tied for second in the NFL.
All while facing the sixth-most rushing attempts at 65.
Del'Shawn Phillips led the way with three run stops Sunday, according to PFF, while Tony Jefferson, James, Daiyan Henley, Tuli Tuipulotu and Justin Eboigbe each had two.
Troy Dye and Teair Tart were each credited with tackles for loss on run plays.
4. Improvements on offense
As for the offense, Mike McDaniel's unit remains a work in progress after two games in which the Chargers have scored 28 combined points and put up 578 total yards.
Harbaugh on Monday said the offense is going through some "growing pains" right now.
The Chargers have been hampered by penalties and carelessness with the ball.
Through two games, the Bolts have been called for eight pre-snap penalties and a total of 12 false starts or holding.
The Bolts also had six fumbles Sunday, and although they lost only one, that half-dozen total was their most in a game since 1987.
"There were some errors, some fumbles, penalty," Harbaugh said. "Those things in the margins that were holding us in a particular drive."
He later added: "There is definitely a rhythm. Rhythm, rhythm, get the rhythm in precision. Getting closer to that. Fully confident it will get to where it's humming."
Overall, the Chargers rank 25th in offensive success rate at 44.3 percent, according to PFF.
5. A look at the 3rd-and-1 play
One of the most game-swinging plays came late in the third quarter with the Bolts on offense.
On third-and-1 from their own 32, the Chargers sent wide receiver Tre' Harris in motion with Justin Herbert in the shotgun.
But Jake Slaughter's snap hit Harris when he was in motion, causing Herbert to pounce on the ball for a loss and force a Chargers punt.
"That particular play, the clock was moving down, we had the motion timed up, something we had done numerous times," Harbaugh said. "Justin gave the indicator for the snap, Jake wasn't quite looking for it yet.
"By the time he did look for it, got it and resulted in it being too late. It was that close," Harbaugh added.
The play summed up a disappointing a frustrating day for the offense, something Harbaugh said the team will work to rectify ahead of Week 3.
"That's what we're attacking, get it to where it's humming," Harbaugh said. "I see us chasing that. chasing that execution, chasing perfection."
He later added: "Everybody you've mentioned, including myself — coaches, coordinators, position coaches — each and every one of us is going through a checklist of exactly where we can improve. And we're doing it urgently."
