Latest news with #JustinHerbert
Al Arabiya
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers–who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities–LaDainian Tomlinson, and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego came from the organization. 'I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it,' and a suggestion if I might, 'let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. 'We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999 when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf and in 2000 when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday when I get done playing I'm going to go into coaching and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know.' He hasn't told me that. Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, 'Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me. Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers, and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was incredible. 'As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good, and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. His ability to talk during the play–sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess 'talk smack,' as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.'
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd, and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers — who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities — LaDainian Tomlinson and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego 'came from the organization. I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it and a suggestion, if I might, let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. "We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans, wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999, when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf, and in 2000, when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday, when I get done playing, I'm going to go into coaching, and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know. He hasn't told me that.' Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, ''Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me.' Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was 'incredible. As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip, when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. 'His ability to talk, during the play, sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess, talk smack, as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Chargers back in San Diego for 2 days at school where Harbaugh landed 1st head coaching job
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chargers returned to San Diego on Tuesday for the first time since they bolted for Los Angeles eight years ago, holding the first of two practices at the small college stadium where Jim Harbaugh began his head coaching career in the mid-2000s. Harbaugh ran the Chargers through their first padded practice of training camp at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego, a hilltop Jesuit school about five miles west of the site where they used to play. It was just the second time the Chargers have held a practice in San Diego County since 2017, when owner Dean Spanos moved them to Los Angeles after he was unable to get a stadium deal in San Diego. They held a walkthrough at Camp Pendleton in far northern San Diego County during minicamp in 2024. The Bolts haven't held a public event or practice here since their acrimonious split with the city they called home for 56 seasons. Tickets to Tuesday's practice were made available to active-duty military and veterans, and tickets to Wednesday's practice were available to season ticket holders. The 6,500-seat stadium appeared half full. A dozen or so fans watched from a public sidewalk overlooking the stadium. There were a lot of No. 10 Justin Herbert jerseys in the crowd, and also some from the San Diego days, including Philip Rivers — who quarterbacked the Chargers in both cities — LaDainian Tomlinson and Junior Seau. The Chargers were scheduled to hold a walkthrough on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Tuesday evening. While some San Diegans still follow the Chargers, many remain bitter or have moved on from the NFL. Harbaugh said the idea to practice in San Diego 'came from the organization. I heard the idea and said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it and a suggestion, if I might, let's do it at USD.' This is about as good as it gets.' Harbaugh was asked if having practices here was the sign of the team extending an olive branch to San Diego, where he still owns a home. 'I don't know anything about that. I never once heard the olive branch analogy used,' he said. 'We love our fans. We love our LA fans, we love San Diego fans, Santa Barbara, Fresno. We just want to go to our fans, wherever they might be. Stockton. I want to go to Stockton. Just all those that come to see us, we want to go to them whenever we can.' Harbaugh played for the Chargers in 1999, when he replaced injured quarterback Ryan Leaf, and in 2000, when he started five games during a 1-15 season. He said he often visited USD for basketball and baseball games and befriended Monsignor Daniel Dillabough. 'One basketball game I asked him if we could go look at the football field,' Harbaugh said. 'I stood on the top of the hill and said, 'This is incredible. Someday, when I get done playing, I'm going to go into coaching, and it would be incredible if this is where I coached.'' He was quarterbacks coach of the Oakland Raiders when the USD job opened in 2004. 'I saw they had an opening for head coach and called Monsignor Dillabough and said, 'Remember what I said about five years ago?' And he said, 'I was hoping you would call.'' He coached at USD for three seasons, going 29-6 overall. 'It was my first head coaching opportunity, and the thing I've asked Monsignor before, 'What did you see in me to make you think I'd be a good head football coach?' I'd still like to know. He hasn't told me that.' Harbaugh said he wanted to get the blessing of Al Davis, who asked, ''Why would you do that? I thought you wanted to be a pro coach.' I said, 'Mr. Davis, I really want to emulate your career. I know you started as a college coach and I want to take the same path.' And he said, 'Yeah, but that was USC, not USD.' That's a fond memory for me.' Harbaugh went on to coach at Stanford, the San Francisco 49ers and Michigan. He led the Wolverines to the national championship to cap the scandal-plagued 2023 season. He was hired by the Chargers and led them to an 11-6 record last season before they lost to Houston in the wild-card round. He said being back at USD was 'incredible. As the buses came through, the little hairs on my arm were standing up.' Harbaugh praised Rivers, who on Monday announced in a video that he was retiring as a Charger. The quarterback played 16 seasons for the Chargers and last played for Indianapolis in 2020. 'Nothing but the highest respect for Philip Rivers,' Harbaugh said. 'He was so good and I just appreciate him in every way. The thing that always stands out to me is coaching against Philip, when the 49ers played the Chargers, his enthusiasm for the game is right there with Derwin James. 'His ability to talk, during the play, sometimes he was directing it at the players, one time he directed it over at me,' Harbaugh said. 'Really, I guess, talk smack, as the young people say, and to do it without swearing is just another level of eliteness. Tremendous competitor. Everyone in the organization has love and appreciation for Philip Rivers. We're excited he's going to retire as a Charger.' ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Chargers training camp report, Day 4: Quentin Johnston is seizing his opportunity
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Receiver Quentin Johnston watched this offseason as the Los Angeles Chargers stacked his position group with new talent. More specifically, they acquired receivers who primarily play on the outside, where Johnston plays. The Chargers signed Mike Williams in free agency. They drafted Tre' Harris in the second round. They drafted KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth round. Over the past year and a half since Jim Harbaugh took over as coach, the Chargers have remained publicly supportive of Johnston, who was drafted in the first round by the previous regime. But if you want to understand what a team truly thinks of a player, follow the actions, not the words. And the actions indicated that the Chargers were looking for an upgrade. Advertisement Things change rapidly in the NFL, though. Williams retired before training camp began last week. Harris did not initially report to camp because he had not yet signed his rookie deal. Quarterbacks and rookies reported on July 12. Harris did not report until July 18. He missed valuable days, including the first practice of camp. Lambert-Smith sat out most of the spring, including all of mandatory minicamp, with an injury, and he is still working his way into the rotation. Johnston, in turn, has been spending a majority of his reps with Justin Herbert and the first-team offense over the first four days of camp. And he is, quite literally, seizing his opportunity. Johnston caught two explosive touchdowns from Herbert in Monday's practice, both on go routes down the left sideline. He beat rookie Trikweze Bridges on the first for a 58-yard score. The second touchdown, from 25 yards out, came on the first play of a red zone series. Johnston beat rookie Nikko Reed, who was in solid position and contested the throw. Johnston tracked the ball over his shoulder. have a day, QJ — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 21, 2025 Over the weekend, Johnston was asked about his confidence entering his third season. 'It's higher than it's ever been right now,' Johnston said. 'I come in every day and mash the gas as hard as I can, whether we're in the classroom or on the field. … Leaning on my coaches, leaning on Justin and those type of guys, kind of just re-instilling to me that I got what it takes to still be here. I kind of just got to go out and prove that every day, which I feel like I have to this point.' Johnston now has three explosive touchdowns in four practices. On Friday, Johnston sprinted open on a deep crossing route off play action. Herbert's throw came in above Johnston's head. At times in his career, Johnston has struggled to track deep balls, especially those over his shoulder. He had no such trouble on this play, even with the pass entering at an awkward angle. Johnston reached both hands up and secured the catch without any juggle or bobble. Advertisement Repetitions breed confidence. And receivers coach Sanjay Lal has drilled this over-the-shoulder improvement into Johnston day after day. Before practices and games, Lal will set up on one sideline about 5 yards behind Johnston. Johnston will have his back turned to Lal. The two will start walking across the field horizontally. Lal will toss the ball over Johnston's head. Johnston will secure the catch and toss the ball back to Lal. Lal will do the same thing again. It is easy to see the growth in Johnston's deep-ball tracking so far this camp. 'Once we put it to practice and eventually in the game, it's just going to be muscle memory,' Johnston said of the Lal drill. 'It's going to be like second nature.' When asked this offseason how Johnston responded to the influx of new players in the receiver room, Lal said, 'Water off a duck's back.' Johnston is now proving those words with on-field actions. Through the first four practices, Ladd McConkey, Jalen Reagor and Johnston have been the three primary receivers with the first-team offense in 11 personnel. McConkey has been in the slot, while Reagor and Johnston have been on the outside. Perhaps Harris and Lambert-Smith will push for first-team snaps as they continue in their rookie camps. Reagor and Johnston have simply been making more plays. 'All the confidence,' Johnston said, 'just comes with experience.' • Left tackle Rashawn Slater missed his second straight practice Monday. Slater did not practice Saturday. The Chargers had an off day Sunday. Slater, wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, was working off to the side during the early part of Monday's practice. He was lifting and training with executive director of player performance Ben Herbert. About midway through practice, Slater walked onto the field. He watched team drills from the sideline, standing with the offensive linemen. He then participated in the fourth-quarter-finishing drills at the conclusion of practice. Advertisement Slater remains in contract extension negotiations with the Chargers. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that the Chargers gave Slater a 'rest' day on Saturday. 'He's here, he's working,' Roman said then. 'It's just whether we give him reps or not.' The Chargers are heading to San Diego for two practices Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday is the first padded practice of camp. Harbaugh is scheduled to address the media Tuesday before practice, so we will get a firmer update on Slater then. Joe Alt moved from right tackle to left tackle for the second straight practice. Trey Pipkins was at right tackle. Mekhi Becton was back at right guard after missing the previous two practices. Zion Johnson was at center, and Bradley Bozeman was at left guard. • The Chargers have been down two running backs for the past three practices. Najee Harris (eye) remains on the non-football injury list. Rookie Raheim Sanders has not practiced since Day 1. The Chargers held a run period during Monday's practice. Without pads on, it was more of a walkthrough tempo. But we did get a look at the running back rotation amid the injuries. Rookie Omarion Hampton got the first carry. Kimani Vidal got the second carry, followed by Jaret Patterson and Hassan Haskins. Vidal also had an explosive reception from Herbert on a third down in 11-on-11. The defense brought a blitz. Herbert found Vidal wide open in the flat, and Vidal surged down the sideline for 20 yards before he was tagged off. A huge opportunity awaits in the upcoming padded practices for all the running backs. Harris' status remains uncertain. How does Hampton look as the clear No. 1 back? Can Vidal, Patterson or Haskins emerge? Earlier this offseason, there was a potential battle for a fourth running back spot. Harris and Hampton would have formed a one-two punch atop the depth chart, while Haskins is likely to make the 53-man because of his special teams experience. Until Harris returns, there is an open No. 2 spot behind Hampton. The Chargers also added to the group Monday when they signed veteran Nyheim Hines. He hasn't played since the 2022 season after suffering a serious knee injury in a jet ski accident. •. It is clear through the first four practices that Denzel Perryman is ahead of Junior Colson on the linebacker depth chart. Perryman has received all of the first-team reps over Colson, next to Daiyan Henley. This competition will heat up when the pads come on. Said Colson, 'When the pads come on, that's when the bullets are flying.' On Monday, Colson had a tackle-for-loss on a Hampton run during 11-on-11. Advertisement • During the aforementioned run period, the Chargers defense rotated through first-team, second-team and third-team fronts. That gave us a look at the interior defensive line depth chart. The first team: Da'Shawn Hand, Teair Tart and Naquan Jones. Second team: Justin Eboigbe, Otito Ogbonnia, Scott Matlock. Third team: Jamaree Caldwell, Christopher Hinton, TeRah Edwards. Later in 11-on-11, Caldwell sniffed out a screen attempt from Herbert to Vidal. He has the potential to be a disruptive player. Can he ascend the depth chart when the pads come on? • Receiver Derius Davis had one of the plays of the day on offense. The second-team offense, led by Taylor Heinicke, faced a fourth-and-5 in 11-on-11. Heinicke layered a throw to the sideline, and Davis made a sliding catch in bounds for the conversion. Later in 11-on-11, Davis accelerated on a post route and was wide open, getting behind the defense. Heinicke overthrew him. Davis has game-breaking speed, as evidenced by his kick and punt returning production. It feels like an explosive touchdown is coming for Davis at some point this camp. As Lal said earlier this offseason, 'There's so much untapped speed there.' • Two other Chargers missed Monday's practice: rookie receiver Luke Grimm and rookie edge rusher Kylan Guidry.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mike Williams' abrupt retirement has Chargers searching for a wideout to fill a big hole
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — A week into the Los Angeles Chargers' training camp, an unexpected hole has quickly become a coaching staff and front-office focal point. It's a void that measures 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, was previously inhabited by veteran wideout Mike Williams, and now needs a sizable presence to step into an opportunity. That was the primary takeaway after visiting Chargers camp Saturday, just days after Williams abruptly retired on the first day of practice and pushed the franchise to start mulling limited options. It's a roster concern that exacerbates an early — but somewhat typical — camp theme for many teams: The defense is ahead of the offense; the installation process is just now getting traction; and conversations are intensifying behind closed doors about roster questions that will need to be answered from inside the current depth chart or supplemented with an outside addition. For the Chargers, nothing represents that reality more than the starting 'X' receiver spot, which not only lost Williams' prototypical size and strength at the position, but also his baked-in chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert, whom Williams played with from 2020 to 2023. All of that drove Los Angeles to reunite with Williams in free agency last March, bringing some important depth and options to the position alongside rising young star Ladd McConkey. Unfortunately, with Williams battling lingering health issues from the spring, the reliable free-agent signing ended up being the least reliable development in the first week of camp. 'Nothing's shocking to me — I was definitely disappointed, though,' Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said of Williams' retirement. 'I really enjoyed my time with Mike. I've watched him throughout the years, obviously coming out of the draft and watched him flourish here over the years. … I don't know that it changes things a lot. You know, you lose a Mike Williams, that is what it is. It's not easily replaceable. But we like where everybody is going. We like the guys we have. We've just got to work to keep getting better. I like the trajectory we're on.' [Get more Chargers news: Bolts team feed] So what now? Well, a few things are in play. First and foremost, the Chargers have the option on the table of adding one of the free-agent wideouts who are currently waiting for the right opportunity to open. Among them are former Chargers star Keenan Allen, who makes the most sense given that he's still productive and has also played with Herbert, as well as veterans Amari Cooper and Gabe Davis. All would be expected to be bargain price options at this stage. Even with the veteran options on the table, the Chargers seem intent on getting a good look at other players who could step in and potentially replace Williams in the aggregate. Third-year receiver Quentin Johnston faces a referendum of sorts this season, despite growing in production during his first two seasons with the Chargers. Coming off a rough performance in a playoff loss to the Houston Texans, Johnston is going to have to showcase more consistency and reliability across the course of the season if he's going to develop into the bona fide No. 2 next to McConkey. He'll also now have to contend with a pair of rookies who are already stalking opportunities to take a bite out of the snaps opened up by Williams' departure: second-round pick Tre Harris, who has already flashed some of the big-play ability he showcased at Ole Miss, and fifth-round pick KeAndre Lambert-Smith, whose top-tier speed and early groove with Herbert already has the coaching staff and front office excited. Barring a free-agent signing or trade, one or more of that trio is going to get a slew of snaps to help fill the gap left by Williams' departure. The only question now is who steps up from one day to the next to earn the trust of Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh. Other notes from Chargers camp Putting together a preseason watch list for my All-Pro vote, the Chargers' brass advanced two of their youngest players: wideout Ladd McConkey and right tackle Joe Alt. Interestingly, one member of the braintrust said McConkey's superb rookie season is not perceived as anything close to his ceiling internally. One thing that has the staff buzzing? McConkey opens camp a little bigger and stronger than anticipated. While it's not via a big weight gain, the staff noted that McConkey is visibly stronger. As for Alt, the Chargers think he and a healthy Mekhi Becton could form one of the better right guard/right tackle duos in the league this season. The team is also confident that Alt could swing to left tackle if injuries necessitate it, making him one of the most versatile young anchor tackles in football. How much did the Chargers like wideout Tre Harris in the draft? I was told that while running back Omarion Hampton was the team's target with the 22nd overall pick, there was a trade-back scenario that could have come into play if Hampton had come off the board board early. While there were various options on the table, if Hampton was gone by No. 22, the Chargers would have entertained moving to the bottom of the first round (likely to the Philadelphia Eagles' original pick at No. 32), where they would have been comfortable taking Harris to close out the first round. Instead, they got Hampton and then white-knuckled Harris making it all the way to the 55th overall pick in the second round. Another rookie to watch this season: fifth-round tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who a team source says has made strides getting stronger and bigger only a few months since the draft. Despite players like Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers popping as rookies in recent years, tight ends usually have a slow build in terms of production. But Gadsden has already had flashes in camp as a receiver and could factor more than expected as the season moves along.
