Chargers Camp Report: Rookie WRs Thrive on Final Day in San Diego

Jul 23, 2025 at 03:06 PM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

Chargers Training Camp is headed back to The Bolt.

The Chargers held their second and final practice at the University of San Diego on Wednesday, going for 75 minutes in a non-padded session.

The Bolts will practice Thursday at 1 p.m. back in El Segundo.

Here is the Chargers Camp Report from Wednesday's practice:

1. Harris, Lambert-Smith come up clutch

Watch out for those Chargers rookie wide receivers.

On a day when a handful of young players turned heads for the Bolts, two of the best plays belonged to Tre' Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

Harris' moment came on a fourth-and-4 situation with the ball at the 41-yard line. The 2025 second-round pick ran a smooth route before Justin Herbert found him near the left sideline for a 15-yard gain to move the sticks.

Lambert-Smith, a recent fifth-round pick, also got the crowd going in San Diego.

"He had two great practices [in San Diego]," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said of Lambert-Smith. "I have to go back and watch this tape but he made a couple of adjustments today on the ball that you can't coach."

Roman later added: "He's doing a really good job."

He first impressed in a 7-on-7 drill when he high-pointed a deep pass from Trey Lance for a big gain with Deane Leonard in coverage.

Lambert-Smith also had his own clutch catch on fourth down when he hauled in a 30-plus yard gain against Cam Hart on a pass from Lance. The tumbling reception came on fourth-and-4 at the 40-yard line.

It's worth noting that Daiyan Henley likely would have had a sack on the play, but credit to the rookie for making an acrobatic catch, too. (Henley, by the way, said "of course" it was a sack on the play).

Even so, fellow receiver Ladd McConkey said both Harris and Lambert-Smith have impressed him thus far in camp.

"They're getting better and better every day," McConkey said. "You come in during OTAs and you're running around with your head cut off and have no idea what's going on ... but now you can see them starting to play more fast and more free.

"Then the athletic ability and the playmaking ability comes out," McConkey added.

big play dre pic.twitter.com/CdBhKDBFZ3
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 23, 2025

And while the Chargers were not in pads, Omarion Hampton ripped off a 10-plus yard run that showcased his burst and athleticism.

Tight ends Tyler Conklin and Stevo Klotz also each had a lunging catch in Wednesday's practice.

2. Still tallies impressive PBU

The youngsters on offense weren't the only ones who shined Wednesday.

Second-year cornerback Tarheeb Still made perhaps the defensive play of the way when he swatted away a deep Justin Herbert pass intended for Brenden Rice.

With Rice running a go route, Still matched him step for step before he deflected the ball to the ground as the last second.

Fellow cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor also had a pass breakup Wednesday while defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe flashed with a pair of likely tackles for loss on run plays in team drills.

3. A look at special teams

The Bolts spent a solid portion of practicing working on the return game.

Kick returners were up first as Derius Davis and Hassan Haskins led the way in the drill.

Davis, a 2024 All-AFC selection by the Pro Football Writers of America, had 19 kickoff returns for 524 yards, good for an average of 27.6 yards per return.

Jaret Patterson, Quentin Johnston, Hampton, Nyheim Hines, Kimani Vidal and Lambert-Smith also mixed in during the drill.

Hines, who was added to the roster on Tuesday, has two career kickoff returns for a score.

A reminder that touchbacks on the altered kickoff format will now be brought out to the 35-yard line. Touchbacks were taken to the 30-yard line last season in the first year of the new rules.

The Chargers later worked on punt return drills, with Davis obviously in front of that drill. McConkey, Hines and Lambert-Smith also took some reps there.