Justin Herbert gives Chargers’ offense legs as defense shuts down Titans
The linebacker ended up on his backside. The cornerback fell backward as if he was breakdancing. Justin Herbert just kept running, juking and winning.
Used to embarrassing defenders with his arm, Herbert added a display of shifty running in the Chargers’ 27-17 win over the Tennessee Titans (2-7) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. The quarterback rushed for 32 yards in nine carries with one touchdown, his first rushing score since Oct. 1, 2023.
“I’m changing his name to Beast,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Beast Herbert. Half-man, half-beast.”
Chargers defeat Titans for their third consecutive victory
🏈 Chargers 27, Titans 17 — FINAL
Justin Herbert passed for a touchdown and scrambled for another as the Chargers (6-3) leaned on seven sacks to shut down Will Levis and the Tennessee offense for a third consecutive win.
The Titans (2-7) scored a touchdown in the final minute when Levis connected with Calvin Ridley on a 15-yard pass. But the Titans failed to recover the onside kick, ending the game.
Herbert completed 14 of 18 passes, scoring on a four-yard run in the second quarter before connecting on a 16-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston in the third quarter. Gus Edwards, in his first game back from injury, rushed for 55 yards in 10 carries.
Levis completed 18 of 23 passes for 175 yards. He connected with Ridley on two touchdown passes.
Chargers take 27-10 lead on Hassan Haskins touchdown run
🏈 Chargers 27, Titans 10 — 7:39 left in the fourth quarter
Running back Hassan Haskins jumped over the top to score on a one-yard touchdown run and give the Chargers a commanding lead in the fourth quarter.
The run capped an impressive, 11-play, 95-yard drive that started with Herbert connecting on a 37-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey. A 10-yard run by Gus Edwards, an eight-yard scramble by Herbert and a 12-yard run by J.K. Dobbins moved the Chargers into the red zone.
A pass interference penalty by ex-Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. came two plays before Haskins scored.
On the previous possession, Chargers pass rushers Tui Tuipulotu and Joey Bosa sacked Titans quarterback Will Levis to force Tennessee to go three and out. For Bosa, it was his 70th career sack, moving him into second place for the most in Chargers history.
The Chargers have sacked Levis five times so far.
Quentin Johnston catches 16-yard TD pass to extend Chargers’ lead
🏈 Chargers 20, Titans 10 — 4:27 left in the third quarter
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert found wide receiver Quentin Johnston in the end zone on a 16-yard pass to extend the Chargers’ lead.
Johnston’s fifth touchdown catch of the season came after he beat former Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. in coverage.
The play capped an efficient, seven-play, 43-yard drive that was set up by an impressive 56-yard punt return by return specialist Derius Davis.
Titans open second half with a field goal
🏈 Chargers 13, Titans 10 — 7:51 left in the third quarter
Nick Folk kicked a 27-yard field goal for the Titans to cut into the Chargers’ lead.
Titans quarterback Will Levis couldn’t complete a third-down pass to Josh Whyle in the end zone before the field-goal try. Chig Okonkwo caught a 14-yard pass and Tony Pollard had a 15-yard reception to fuel the 11-play, 62-yard drive.
Chargers hold 13-7 lead over Titans at halftime
🏈 Chargers 13, Titans 7 — HALFTIME
The Chargers’ final possession of the half didn’t go anywhere, but at least they avoided a potential disaster.
A play that was initially ruled as a fumble return for a touchdown by Titans cornerback Roger McCreary was overturned on review after it was determined Justin Herbert threw an incomplete pass and didn’t fumble.
Herbert completed nine of 13 passes for 94 yards in the first half and Gus Edwards led the Chargers in rushing with 33 yards in six carries.
Titans quarterback Will Levis has completed seven of 10 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Chargers retake lead on Justin Herbert touchdown run
🏈 Chargers 13, Titans 7 — 1:55 left in the second quarter
Justin Herbert scored on a four-yard run on fourth and one to push the Chargers back into the lead late in the second quarter.
The touchdown capped an eight-play, 61-yard drive for the Chargers.
Nick Folk misses field-goal attempt, keeping it a one-point game
🏈 Titans 7, Chargers 6 — 6:11 left in the second quarter
Titans kicker Nick Folk missed a 49-yard field-goal attempt, keeping it a one-point game after a nine-play, 41-yard drive by Tennessee.
Folk’s kick sailed wide right and it was his first missed field-goal attempt this season — he had made 20 straight.
Chargers cut into Titans’ lead with another field goal
🏈 Titans 7, Chargers 6 — 12:07 left in the second quarter
Cameron Dicker kicked a 37-yard field goal — his second field goal of the game — after the Chargers ran into issues inside the Tennessee red zone, again.
Justin Herbert tried to connect on a touchdown pass with Will Dissly in the end zone, but tight coverage by cornerback Roger McCreary prevented the completion.
The nine-play, 57-yard drive was fueled by a 17-yard catch and run from Derius Davis.
Herbert has completed eight of 10 passes for 58 yards. J.K. Dobbins has 17 yards in five carries and Dissly has made four catches for 26 yards.
Calvin Ridley catches 42-yard TD pass to give Titans lead
🏈 Titans 7, Chargers 3 — 4:25 left in the first quarter
Calvin Ridley caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Will Levis to push the Titans into the lead.
The speedy Tennessee wide receiver broke away from Chargers quarterback Ja’Sir Taylor in single coverage to catch a perfect pass from Levis about five yards from the end zone.
The play capped a seven-play, 72-yard drive that featured a 12-yard run by Levis and a 10-yard catch by Ridley.
Chargers take early lead on Cameron Dicker field goal
🏈 Chargers 3, Titans 0 — 8:08 left in the first quarter
The Chargers had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker after a strong opening drive fizzled in the red zone.
Tight end Hunter Hayden dropped a short pass that could have gotten the Chargers at least to the goal line if not the end zone. Justin Herbert scrambled up the middle for three yards on third and goal, but couldn’t score.
The 12-play, 68-yard drive included an impressive eight-yard scramble by Herbert and a 14-yard reception by Will Dissly. Herbert completed four of five passes for 31 yards. Gus Edwards, in his first game back from injury, picked up 16 yards on two carries.
In addition to his run, Herbert also passed Derek Carr for the most completions (1,760 and counting) through the first five seasons of a career.
Chargers’ Elijah Molden leads former Titans who helped elevate NFL’s No. 1 defense
Star players were injured. They were starting rookies. They had a brand new coaching staff. There are plenty of reasons why the Chargers shouldn’t have a defense that gives up the fewest points in the NFL.
Elijah Molden looks at the unit’s rise a different way.
“Why not us?” he told teammates last month before a game.
Gus Edwards set to return against Tennessee Titans
Running back Gus Edwards is on the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, marking his return after an ankle injury landed him on injured reserve.
Edwards returned to practice this week and said he felt “100%” after a longer-than-expected layoff. He said he didn’t anticipate that the high ankle sprain he sustained would require going on injured reserve, but when he hit the field again Wednesday, Edwards looked “explosive and big and physical and violent,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said.
“Everything happens for a reason,” said Edwards, who rushed for 113 yards on 38 carries in four games before the injury. “[I’m] coming back, fresh legs at a time when a lot of teams are wearing down, so gotta use it for our best.”
With Edwards returning, running back Kimani Vidal was back on the inactive list. The running back from Troy is a fan favorite and flashed his potential while scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos in his NFL debut. Vidal has 44 yards rushing on 18 carries with 49 yards receiving on three catches.
The Chargers will also be without starting right guard Trey Pipkins III, who is inactive with a shoulder injury. The team will likely turn to Jamaree Salyer in his place.
Cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring) is inactive for a second consecutive game. While he is missing a rematch with his former team, the cornerback who began his career with the Titans could be ensuring he is in position to play next week. The Bengals — and star receiver Ja’Marr Chase — play the Chargers next week in prime time.
Tight end Stone Smartt (ankle), quarterback Easton Stick, defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe and offensive lineman Jordan McFadden are also inactive.
How Chargers’ Ladd McConkey went from small-town Georgia to budding NFL stardom
Preston Poag had the night planned. The high school football coach looked ahead at the Georgia Bulldogs’ schedule to see when Ladd McConkey had a free weekend. He convinced the wide receiver to skip out on a hunting trip. The occasion called for it: North Murray High was going to retire McConkey’s jersey.
Poag nearly moved McConkey to tears, but two weeks later the receiver called his former coach and pleaded to not have his jersey retired. There are plenty of other great players who deserve the honor, McConkey said.
“Shut the crap up and get your butt here,” Poag responded.
Chargers’ Justin Herbert takes abuse like Shaq did on Lakers, but dishes it out too
Justin Herbert has been twisted down by his ankle. He was spun down late after his pass was well downfield. He was driven into the ground by 272-pound Myles Garrett.
Herbert has gotten up each time with no protest.
While his coach is calling for more stringent officiating on plays made on the Chargers’ quarterback, Herbert is taking the hard hits in stride, noting that although he would “love to be able to get more calls,” he won’t take in-game discussions or embellishments too far.
Despite questions at receiver, cornerback, Chargers stand firm at NFL trade deadline
Joe Hortiz made aggressive moves this offseason, but when it came to Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the Chargers’ general manager stood firm with the roster he built.
The Chargers didn’t complete a move before the deadline as the 5-3 team that’s currently sixth in the AFC playoff standings waits for encouraging injury news instead of transactions to strengthen its roster at wide receiver and cornerback.
Chargers takeaways: Defense continues to make difference in win over Browns
CLEVELAND — Despite an uneven performance from an offense that mustered just 86 yards in the second half, the Chargers (5-3) had no trouble picking up a second consecutive win Sunday, defeating the Cleveland Browns, 27-10.
What we learned from the game:
Defense still striving for perfection
Before the game, defensive coaches gave their players a simple challenge. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston was close to 100 career passes intercepted, coaches said.
“Let’s be the team that gets him there,” linebacker Daiyan Henley said of the message.
Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans: How to watch, predictions and betting odds
The Chargers didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline, but DJ Chark Jr.’s long-awaited season debut will be like adding a new player to an offense that is starting to round into form.
The 28-year-old receiver is expected to make his Chargers debut Sunday at SoFi Stadium against the Tennessee Titans at 1:05 p.m. PST after working through hip and groin injuries.
Chark was the final piece of the Chargers’ receiving corps that has seen breakout performances from rookie Ladd McConkey and 2023 first-round draft pick Quentin Johnston. Those two have combined for eight of the Chargers’ 10 receiving touchdowns this season.