If you've seen highlights or photos from recent Chargers offseason practices, perhaps you've noticed something new.
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh recently implemented special patches for players to wear on their practice jerseys to signify personal or team accomplishments.
Harbaugh on Tuesday explained why he wanted to add the extra touch to the practice jerseys.
"Like a resumé. Kind of reminds me how a [military] general has different patches," Harbaugh said.
"Some day they'll be able to put that jersey up in a frame, put it on a wall, say something really good about themselves, it will be what they accomplished as a pro football player. I like that," Harbaugh later added.
There are multiple categories that a player can get a patch for, including being a captain, making the playoffs with the Chargers or earning All-Pro honors. Each patch is represented with a logo of a certain category plus the appropriate number of Bolts they have earned.
Derwin James, Jr., for example, has a patch with three Bolts for the three playoff appearances he's made with the Chargers.
James also has a 'C' patch with four Bolts as a four-time captain, plus an All-Pro patch with four Bolts and a patch two Bolts since he's twice been a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.
"I love it. I love everything about it," James said. "At the end of the day, this is a professional league, but when you can keep us connected and get a little bragging rights in the locker room, it's good.
"Guys want to compete for their jersey to look like that, too. It's a lot of fun," James added.
While young players might not have a ton of patches (yet), veterans such as Khalil Mack and Justin Herbert have plenty of Bolts to signify their accolades.
Herbert, for example, has a patch with 20 Bolts to indicate the numerous Chargers records he holds.
And Mack has an All-Pro patch with five Bolts, three of which note the First-Team nods in his career.
All in all, the patches represent the following categories: Chargers Team Captain, Ed Block Courage Award winner, Walter Payton Man of the Year (nominee or winner), Chargers playoff participant (gold Bolt), NFL playoff participant (white Bolt), holds a Chargers record, holds an NFL record, has earned an All-Pro honor or is a Chargers Block of Granite Award Winner, which is a weight room accomplishment bestowed by Ben Herbert.
James said Tuesday that it's created an extra layer of friendly competition in the Chargers locker room.
"I got to get it to the ribs though," James said of the patches on his right chest. "We ain't done. I got it getting it hanging."
