The regular season is upon us.
The Chargers will open their 2025 season in São Paulo, Brazil in Week 1 at Arena Corinthians against the Chiefs. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (PT).
Here are three players to watch in the Chargers season opener:
1. WR Ladd McConkey
It can't be understated how impressive the young wide receiver was as a rookie.
And now, all eyes are on McConkey to show what he can do in Year 2.
The second-year receiver picked up where he left off in his rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert throughout training camp and looks to build off his historic rookie season.
McConkey set the Chargers franchise rookie record for receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,149), a yardage total that was good enough to finish 10th overall in the NFL. He also set a new mark for receiving yards in a playoff game by a rookie with 197 yards in his first postseason appearance.
All of his numbers ranked among the best in the NFL, not just among rookies, including the ninth-best yards per route run (2.38) among players with at least 50 targets, putting him squarely in the conversation among the league's best.
McConkey enters his second season in the NFL as the clear-cut top receiving target on the Chargers — and a good start to his new campaign with the boosted offensive unit could be a game-changer.
"I can't speak highly enough about Ladd," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said about McConkey early in training camp. "His talent, his approach, his character, his work ethic, all that stuff.
"When you add all that together, you're just going to get better and better as you go," Roman added.
2. LB Daiyan Henley
Henley went from almost no action in his rookie season to one of the most important players on the Chargers defense entering 2025.
He manned the middle of the lowest-scoring defense in the league last season and led the team in tackles as he displayed his prowess in the run and pass game.
The linebacker ranked third among linebackers in target EPA (-10.9), according to Next Gen Stats. He also finished the season with six pass breakups, the most by any linebacker during the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus.
But Henley isn't focused on what he did last season, it's all about what's in front of him now.
"For me moving forward, last season is last season," Henley said in July. "I'm pretty much done talking about it because I don't feel like I've gotten the respect that I want from it and I feel like it doesn't matter whether I get it or not because I have to get it within myself.
"I'm just driving, striving to get better every day and this season should be better than the next," Henley added. "I got to stack it — stacking days, stacking weeks, stacking seasons."
Henley will surely be a driving force for the unit once again, and has a chance to vault himself onto another level with another strong season.
What better way to kick it off than against a division rival on Friday.
3. RB Omarion Hampton
We'll end it off with the Bolts first-round pick, who has been itching to get things rolling in his rookie campaign.
"Really just getting out there with the guys," Hampton said earlier in the week. "We built a strong relationship in camp and everything. Just getting out there, playing with them and letting it all come out and play, everything we worked on."
He later added: "I couldn't be more excited, to be honest."
Hampton stood out during his first training camp and even in the limited action he suited up for in the preseason.
The running back finished each his last two collegiate seasons with at least 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns and carried the load in the backfield for the Tar Heels.
But perhaps something to keep an eye on with the rookie is how he can provide a difference for the Bolts offense when it comes to churning those tough yards.
As a team last season the Chargers finished the regular season averaging 2.67 yards after contact per attempt, which landed outside of the top 20 in the NFL, according to PFF. Meanwhile, Hampton averaged over 4.35 yards after contact per attempt in each of his last two seasons with the Tar Heels.
It will be something to keep track of to see how it translates in the pros, but could be a difference maker for the Bolts especially in tight games.
"He's gotten better at everything," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said about Hampton last week. "Why? Because all he does is come into work every single day and just go to work. And work and work and work and try to get it right. It's awesome. That mindset is awesome.
"He's just getting better at everything. We'll see it goes, but we're really excited to have him," Roman added. "I just love how he does what he does every day."
