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Chargers Training Camp Report: Defense Dominates on 1st Day in Pads

Aug 04, 2026 at 01:25 PM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

Tuesday was a pivotal day of Chargers 2026 Training Camp.

For one, the Bolts are down in San Diego for two days of practice.

The Chargers also put on the pads for the first time, practicing in helmets and shoulder pads for 90-plus minutes.

"It's part of the process," said Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. "Feels good for players to have the armor on. It's an important step we're making today."

"Ramp up, it's the word we used. Used that analogy, it's like getting on the highway," Harbaugh continued.

He later added: "I'd say we're on the highway, but we're still in the far right lane. We'll work on way to the fast lane."

The Chargers will practice again Wednesday in San Diego before returning to The Bolt for practice on Thursday.

Here is the Chargers Training Camp Report from Tuesday's practice:

1. Defense sets the tone

While the Bolts are certainly taking a slow-ish approach in pads, Harbaugh did note the importance of the weeks to come.

"Things get determined," he said before Tuesday's practice.

On the first day in pads, that meant a dominating display from the defense in full-team drills.

The unit set the tone early when Derwin James, Jr. raced in for a sack on Justin Herbert on the first play of 11-on-11 drills. (James obviously did not touch the Chargers franchise quarterback).

"It felt good to get little thuds, get off blocks. You could tell it feels like football more," James said. "I'm happy to put the pads on for sure."

He later added: "I love it. Obviously, you can't set the tone by getting the quarterback to the ground, but I can envision making the play. I love rushing the quarterback, I love covering, I love doing it all, to be honest."

Denzel Perryman then made his presence known with a run stop and a likely sack while Justin Eboigbe would have tallied a sack, too.

Undrafted free agent rookie Nadame Tucker also flashed throughout practice with a pair of sacks.

The edge rusher, who played for Chargers Defensive Coordinator Chris O'Leary last season at Western Michigan, tied for the Division I lead with 14.5 sacks.

"Just being able to put pressure, we got to stay away from the gold jerseys so everybody can't really see it, but guys are rushing good," James said.

The defense also took the ball away when safety Kendall Williamson and wide receiver Tre' Harris met with a thud in the middle of the field, with Williams muscling the ball away for an interception.

"That was nice, he snagged it. Herbert gunned it in there," James said.

Other notable plays included edge rusher Bud Dupree perfectly reading a screen pass to force an incompletion and James notching a pass breakup on a third-down pass in the red zone.

Nikko Reed and Devin Grant also had tackles for loss while Eric Rogers had a pass breakup.

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2. Herbert thrives in red zone

Perhaps the Chargers defense dominated full-team drills because they were annoyed after what transpired in 7-on-7 drills to open practice.

Because Herbert was simply lights out in the red zone to start practice.

"Our offense is making a lot of plays. We just wanted to be tighter and make more plays," James said. "We know our standard, so we picked it up and it was a great practice."

The quarterback began the drill by hitting Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey for 15 yards apiece on the first two plays of 7-on-7.

"The guys we have running routes are making special plays," Herbert said.

Herbert went back to Johnston over the middle for a first down on his third down before delivering a 25-yard dart to McConkey for a score that fired up the crowd in San Diego.

What potential does Herbert see for McConkey in this scheme?

"A ton. Ladd is about as athletic as it gets … so getting him the ball quickly with his athleticism, how he's able to break tackles … he's going to do big things," Herbert said.

After Trey Lance took four reps, Herbert was back out there and zipped a 12-yard touchdown pass to Johnston over the middle.

Herbert capped off a brilliant 7-on-7 period with a 5-yard completion to Oronde Gadsden on third-and-5 that moved the chains.

"It was good. I thought the guys reacted really well, played fast," Herbert said of Day 1 in pads.

Cameron Dicker also provided some non-defensive highlights as the Bolts kicker was good on all six of his field goal attempts in team drills.

Dicker was true twice for 28 yards out before making from 33, 35, 38 and 40 yards away.