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3 Chargers Players to Watch Against Giants in Week 4

PTWWeek4

The Chargers look for their first 4-0 start since 2002 as they take a cross-country trip in Week 4.

The Bolts will take on the Giants from MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. (PT).

Here are three players to watch on Sunday:

1. CB Tarheeb Still

The strides in the second-year cornerback's game have been apparent in the early part of the season.

Still has put on more strong performances in this early portion of the season and has played the most snaps among the cornerbacks so far.

His ball skills are well-known — Still led the Chargers with four interceptions as a rookie — but the biggest area that has flashed for him through three weeks is his development as a tackler.

Still heads into the week second on the team with 13 solo tackles, trailing only Derwin James, Jr. in that department.

"He plays really hard," Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter said about Still following Week 2. "When you combine that with his mindset this year of, 'I'm going to be a complete DB,' that's pretty special."

While this week will require more of that with Giants running back Cam Skattebo on the other side, it might also be a week where his coverage skills will be necessary.

Entering Week 4, the Giants have two receivers ranked top 12 in the NFL in receiving yards, with Malik Nabers fourth (251) and Wan'Dale Robinson 12th (223). Nabers has operated mostly out wide on both sides, while Robinson lines up mainly in the slot.

These are two areas where Still has seen a lot of action in, as he has played 92 snaps as the outside cornerback and 76 in the slot so far through three weeks.

There's an element of the unknown with New York heading into Week 4 given that Jaxson Dart will be starting his first NFL game, but Still and the Bolts secondary will be tested through the air regardless with multiple receiving threats on the other side.

Check out the best photos from practice on Thursday at The Bolt in El Segundo!

2. G Zion Johnson

Johnson's fourth season has gotten off to a solid start along the Chargers offensive line.

The Bolts left guard has played in every offensive snap so far this season and heads into the game tied with Joe Alt for the best pass-blocking efficiency (98.4) through three weeks on the team's offensive line.

He's allowed just four total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and hasn't given up a sack.

Johnson and the rest of the offensive line's focus now shifts to this week's challenge in the trenches, which Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh held in a high standard.

"Great front," Harbaugh said. "I don't know if there's a better one."

The Giants boast a lot of talent on their defensive front led by Second-Team All-Pro Dexter Lawrence on the interior, who has steadily been among the best in the league.

The defensive tackle moves throughout the interior, meaning Johnson and everyone will need to be on the same page in both the pass and the run game.

But, similar to last week against the Broncos, it's going to take a full effort from the entire offensive line

"These guys are really good at every position, starting in the middle," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said. "That guy is an immovable object, and then the edges, those guys are special talents.

He later added: "There's a lot to consider and our guys are buckled down, they're an extremely good front."

Check out the best photos from practice on Wednesday at The Bolt in El Segundo!

3. RB Omarion Hampton

Hampton enters Week 4 coming off the best game of his very young career.

The first-round pick finished Week 3 with 25 total touches for 129 total yards while scoring his first NFL touchdown in the victory over the Broncos.

He got some chunk carries that kept the offense moving, but he was also productive in the pass game with six catches for 59 yards.

"I could tell that he was getting that rhythm of pro football," Harbaugh said about Hampton. "He's competitive in the way that he likes it. He wants to be out there."

And now with fellow running back Najee Harris out for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles, the onus of the backfield will now fall on the shoulders of the rookie.

Hampton has played the majority of the backfield snaps up to this point in the season while Harris worked his way back but now will depended on as the lead back going against a Giants defense that has given up the second-most rushing yards per game in the NFL (153.3).

But even in his first year, the Chargers are excited about what they've seen from the rookie so far.

"What somebody does speaks so loudly that you don't have to hear what they say," Harbaugh said of Hampton. "That's the case with him, the way he trains, the way he practices.

"What you saw in that game [Sunday] ... the competitive fire, the fierceness, the acceleration through the holes," Harbaugh added. "There's no fear. He's a real football player."

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