5 Takeaways: What We Learned From Week 1 of Chargers Training Camp

Aug 02, 2026 at 07:01 AM

Editorial Director

The first week of Chargers Training Camp is complete, meaning the Bolts have earned a well-deserved day off.

The Chargers have held four practices, none in pads, and will return to work Monday before practicing Tuesday and Wednesday in San Diego.

Here is what we've learned from the first week of Chargers training camp:

1. Why is optimism so high?

Jim Harbaugh didn't mince words on Day 1 of camp, saying the Bolts are "more than capable" of accomplishing their ultimate goals.

Every player and coach who has stepped to the podium since has also expressed a confidence, too, and the Chargers as the team simply look like a high-level squad on the field.

No, the pads aren't on yet and there's still plenty of time before the season is here, but the vibes are certainly high in El Segundo.

"This team is in a very good place," Harbaugh said Saturday while noting he is "very optimistic" and that the Bolts are always "ready to roll" for each practice.

The Bolts have enjoyed some success under Harbaugh through two seasons by winning 11 games each year and making the playoffs in both years.

But with Harbaugh still looking for his first playoff win as the Chargers Head Coach, it's understood that the time is now for the Bolts, especially considering the talent and depth on the roster.

2. Who's playing left guard?

We knew there would be a handful of competitors for the Chargers open left guard spot.

But five players competing for one spot? Safe to say the Bolts are exhausting all options to try and find the starter between left tackle Rashawn Slater and center Tyler Biadasz.

Kayode Awosika and Jake Slaughter shared reps on Day 1 before Awosika and Penning did the same on Day 2.

Trey Pipkins III then took the majority of the reps on Day 3 before second-year lineman Branson Taylor did the same on Saturday.

Harbaugh had high praise for Pipkins on Saturday morning.

"Is he one of our five best linemen? Yeah, he probably is," Harbaugh said. "This system, this running game in particular, really fits his skillset."

Chargers Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel noted Friday that the evaluation process won't really get going until the pads come on.

But it's clear that the Bolts aren't going to rush into a decision as they look for their fifth and final starter up front.

"We have a lot of flex guys that have the ability to play guard, play tackle. And what you're trying to do is get people ready to win the job," McDaniel said. "What I mean by that is that I'm very resistant to crowing someone in non-padded practices, especially like blockers. You're trying to get them comfortable so that job competition can really take root."

He later added: "The way guys are going after it, there's going to be a really fun competition that's just getting underway. But you can't claim a lead player in that race this early in the process, particularly because that's a job of blocking people and we really haven't got to the stage of truly blocking something, which occurs when you have pads on."