Good morning, Chargers fans! You know what to do! And now for today’s links. Ladd McConkey should bounce back in Mike McDaniel’s offense (Chargers.com) Jamaree Caldwell could be a breakout candidate for the Chargers this year (Chargers.com) The Chargers are a high-stakes team entering the 2026 season (Chargers Wire) Keaton Mitchell is a wildcard in the Chargers backfield entering training camp (Bolt Beat) Mark Davis backs the push for NFL stadiums to add grass fields (Bleacher Reports) The Dolphins and linebacker Jordyn Brooks agreed to a three-year extension (ESPN) Who are the most overrated and underrated quarterbacks in the NFL this season? (CBS Sports) Cardinals and Panthers veterans are reporting first in preparation for the Hall of Fame Game (NFL.com) Pat McAfee addressed the recent layoffs at ESPN (Pro Football Talk) These are 12 NFL contract situations to monitor entering training camp (Sports Illustrated)
Good morning, Chargers fans! You know what to do! And now for today’s links. Jim Harbaugh met with the USMNT manager prior to the World Cup (Chargers.com) Sports Illustrated believes the Chargers have one of the best offensive triplets in the NFL (Chargers.com) You may want to target Keaton Mitchell in fantasy drafts this offseason (Chargers Wire) Omarion Hampton’s history shows that a leap could be coming in 2026 (Bolt Beat) What we’ve learned after the first wave of minicamps in the NFL (NFL.com) The Broncos have signed head coach Sean Payton to an extension through the 2030 season (CBS Sports) The Seahawks recently received their Super Bowl rings (ESPN) Jermod McCoy is expected to be healthy enough for work during Raiders training camp (Pro Football Talk) These are the best landing spots for the top pass rushers left on the market (Sports Illustrated) The Chiefs traded offensive tackle Wanya Morris to the Falcons for a swap of day three picks (Bleacher Reports)
The Los Angeles Chargers are a few months away from the start of the 2026 season, but the roster that the team currently has won’t be the same as the one that takes the field in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 13. The Chargers could be making changes on the trade market, including one with running back Kimani Vidal . “Vidal led the Chargers with 643 rushing yards for the 2025 season, averaging a respectable 4.1 yards per carry. However, the Chargers signed running back Keaton Mitchell and hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who favors speed at the skill positions,” Moton wrote. “Despite his contributions in the previous season, Vidal could drop to No. 3 on the depth chart if Mitchell flashes his pre-ACL-injury quickness. If Vidal falls out of favor in McDaniel’s offense, the Chargers may look to deal him to a team that needs to bolster its backfield committee.” Vidal, who turns 25 in August, has one year remaining on his contract. Based on his performance in the 2025 season, teams with injuries in their running back room could add a player like Vidal to help with their depth. Vidal proved last season that he can handle a starter’s workload, taking over for rookie Omarion Hampton in 10 games as a starter. Other squads around the league, like the Green Bay Packers , could find that value if they were willing to part ways with a Day 3 pick. BFTB community, should the Chargers see what they can get in a trade for Vidal? Let us know in the comments section below
It was heartening to see Mitchell get a two-year, $9.25 million deal from the Chargers in free agency this offseason, because it was a serious worry that he would never play again when he suffered that season-ending knee injury at the end of his 2023 rookie season. It was particularly cruel for such a thing to happen to an undrafted rookie who had quickly made the league look foolish for passing on him out of East Carolina. At his best, Mitchell is something like a slightly slower De'Von Achane with lesser pass-catching skills -- Mitchell isn't bad as a receiver, he just isn't a standout. But it was still a very Achane-like thing to do when Mitchell ran for 396 yards and two touchdowns on the first 47 carries of his NFL career (8.4 YPC). Although it took almost two years to fully recover from that 2023 injury -- his 2024 season was all but lost to it -- Mitchell mostly looked like himself again in 2025, running for 341 yards on 59 carries (5.8 YPC). The concern is that then-offensive coordinator Todd Monken seemed resistant to giving Mitchell playing time over Justice Hill, presumably out of discontent over Mitchell's pass blocking. It's possible that Mitchell will never become a trusted passing-down back, instead remaining an off-the-bench rushing specialist, albeit a highly explosive one. With the Chargers, we can expect Mitchell to return kicks and play some kind of role off the bench. If starter Omarion Hampton were to miss time, Mitchell and Kimani Vidal likely would form a timeshare
SeatGeek is the official NFL Ticketing Partner of the New York Post. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. The Los Angeles Chargers are nothing if not consistent…which is a good but not great thing. Over the past four seasons, Justin Herbert’s gifted squad has suffered three losses in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. After finishing 11-6 in 2025 (they also went 11-6 in ’24), the Bolts fell 16-3 to the eventual AFC champion Patriots and subsequently faced yet another long offseason. “We weren’t good enough,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said at the end of the season. “We’ll be spending a lot of hard work and maybe even sleepless nights getting it figured out…not looking at this as an end but as another beginning.” And now that the 2026 NFL schedule has been announced, we have an idea of what the club has in store for their next beginning. Just a few of the biggest franchises set to swing into the Chargers’ home SoFi Stadium this year include Bo Nix ’s Denver Broncos (Oct. 11), C.J. Stroud ’s Houston Texans (Nov. 8), Patrick Mahomes ’ Kansas City Chiefs (Jan. 10), their fellow SoFi tenants in the Los Angeles Rams (Nov. 1) and a rematch with Drake Maye ’s New England Patriots on (Nov. 29). These high-profile foes make up what is the NFL’s ninth-most difficult schedule in 2026, according to Yahoo Sports . As for the roster, standout standbys Justin Herbert, Khalil Mack , Derwin James Jr., Omarion Hampton and Joe Alt are all set to return, as is elite left tackle Rashawn Slater , who missed all of 2025 due to a torn patellar tendon. Running back Najee Harris , guard Mekhi Becton and cornerback Donte Jackson are all back, too. Offseason acquisitions Charlie Kolar , Keaton Mitchell , Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz join them alongside with splashy offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who came over after the Dolphins fired him as head coach. Now all that’s missing is you . If you want to join “the Brochachos” and see the Chargers live, tickets are available for all nine 2026 home games at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium as of today on SeatGeek. Not familiar with SeatGeek? SeatGeek is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100 percent buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. For those who prefer to pick and choose which home games make the most sense to attend, we’re here for you, too. Below, you’ll find a list of all upcoming Los Angeles Chargers home games at SoFi Stadium, including dates, start times and opponents. Los Angeles Chargers home game dates Cardinals vs. Chargers Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:25 p.m. Raiders vs. Chargers Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1:05 p.m. Broncos vs. Chargers Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1:05 p.m. Rams vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:05 p.m. Texans vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:05 p.m. Jets vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1:05 p.m. Patriots vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 29 at 5:20 p.m. 49ers vs. Chargers Sunday, Dec. 17 at 5:15 p.m. Chiefs vs. Chargers TBD If you think you might find yourself traveling with the Chargers this year, here’s where you can find them on the road once the 2026 season begins. Los Angeles Chargers away game dates Chargers vs. Bills Sunday, Sept. 27 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY Chargers vs. Seahawks Sunday, Oct. 4 at Lumen Field in Seattle , WA Chargers vs. Chiefs Sunday, Oct. 18 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City , MO Chargers vs. Ravens Monday, Nov. 16 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD Chargers vs. Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 6 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL Chargers vs. Raiders Sunday, Dec. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV Chargers vs. Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL Chargers vs. Broncos TBD at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver , C
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Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel showed he had a knack for highlighting fast offensive players when he was the head coach in Miami and that has one of his new charges excited about what’s coming his way during the 2026 season. Running back Keaton Mitchell averaged 6.8 yards per touch over his three seasons with the Ravens and McDaniel identified him as a player of interest heading into free agency this offseason. Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz was in Baltimore’s front office when Mitchell signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and that helped a deal come together for Mitchell in Los Angeles. Mitchell tore his ACL as a rookie and only played five games in 2024 before returning to touch the ball 68 times in 13 appearances last season. It’s unclear what kind of role the Chargers have in mind for him, but Mitchell feels there’s an opportunity to build on what he’s done so far in his career. “Definitely motivating to be in a room where I feel like I have a chance and a shot to do big things,” Mitchell said, via the team’s website. 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton will factor into any backfield plans for the Chargers, but Mitchell could also be a factor in the return game as he and the Chargers try to maximize the return on the team’s investment
Justin Herbert is poised for a big season as the Chargers have replaced offensive coordinator Greg Roman with Mike McDaniel and added veteran tight end David Njoku. With a talented group of pass catchers including Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris, Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Njoku, and Oronde Gadsden, and improvements to the offensive line, Herbert's dynasty value is expected to soar. He is considered a strong buy at his current QB9 ranking
Mitchell agreed to terms Thursday on a two-year, $9.25 million contract with Los Angeles, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Mitchell brings his talents to a backfield already led by Omarion Hamption and No. 2 back Kimani Vidal. Across three seasons with Baltimore, the 24-year-old logged a total of 112 carries for 767 yards and three touchdowns, averaging an impressive 6.34 YPC. While the Hampton and Vidal represent difficult competition for Mitchell to earn depth opportunities, he seems a strong fit for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme and will be a sleeper candidate to impress with the Chargers
