Chargers Simi Fehoko, No. 87, tries to fend off Rams Tanner Ingle, No. 34, during the second quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Easton Stick, No. 2, is brought down after a short gain by Rams Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, No. 6, and Jake Hummel, No. 35, during the first quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams Mike McAllister, No. 68, wears heavy paint as he faces the Chargers in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Isaiah Spiller, No. 28, tries to break free from Rams Jason Taylor II, No. 25, during the second quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams Stetson Bennett, No. 13, passes the ball during the second quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh before the start of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh before the start of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Easton Stick, No. 2, pushes through a pile of Rams defenders during the second quarter of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh before the start of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams Stetson Bennett, No. 13, waits for a hand-off during the first quarter of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers AJ Finley, No. 24, intercepts a pass intended for Rams Jordan Whittington, No. 88, during the second quarter of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh before the start of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Quentin Johnston, No. 1, can’t get to this pass from Easton Stick as Rams Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, No. 6, defends the play during the first quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Easton Stick, No. 2, is brought down after a short gain by Rams Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, No. 6, and Jake Hummel, No. 35, during the first quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams Davis Allen, No. 87, catches a pass as he is brought down by Chargers AJ Finley, No. 24, during the first quarter of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Stone Smartt (No. 84) of the Chargers drives one yard as Jake Hummel (No. 35) of the Rams defends in the second quarter of a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Easton Stick, No. 2, passes the ball during the first quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Former Rams player Andrew Whitworth (left) talks with Rams Cooper Kupp before the start of their preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rams Alex Ward, No. 47, and Chargers Josh Harris, No. 47, talk before the start of their preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Chargers warm up on the field before facing the Rams in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chargers Stone Smartt, No. 84, takes the field before the start of a preseason game against the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Chargers Simi Fehoko, No. 87, tries to fend off Rams Tanner Ingle, No. 34, during the second quarter in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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INGLEWOOD — The Chargers lost their second straight exhibition game, falling to the Rams 13-9 on Saturday at SoFi Stadium. Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what happens next after the Chargers’ quarterbacks delivered a lackluster performance for the second consecutive game:
HERBERT THROWS
Injured quarterback Justin Herbert strode confidently onto the turf before the game, not wearing the walking boot that has protected the plantar fascia injury in his right foot for the past two weeks. He chatted casually with teammates and coaches, then watched the Chargers’ pregame warm-up.
Later, Herbert threw spirals to the Chargers’ wide receivers, joining Easton Stick and Luis Perez for the drill. Unlike his teammates, however, Herbert did not use his legs to drop back and complete his throws. Mostly he stood still, but he delivered one accurate pass after another in the time leading up to the opening kickoff.
When warmups were over, all of the Chargers players and coaches gathered around Herbert, who then gave a rousing speech before they headed to the locker room to make their final preparations for the game against the Rams. Herbert was hard to miss in shorts, a t-shirt and a baseball cap.
There’s no question the Chargers have needed a healthy Herbert on the practice field and on the turf at SoFi since the team announced his injury on August 1. As of Saturday, a decision had yet to be made as to whether he would practice next week, the final week of training camp, or play in Saturday’s exhibition game against Dallas.
Once again, starting quarterback Easton Stick struggled in the first half. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 85 yards and posted a passer rating of 48.6 while leading the Chargers to a 6-3 halftime lead. However, he did drop a ball at the 1-yard line that scuttled one drive and threw an interception that ended another drive.
Perez relieved Stick early in the second half and led the Chargers on a charge that resulted in a crucial 27-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to give them a 9-6 lead. The Rams took a 13-9 lead after Stetson Bennett’s 47-yard touchdown pass to JJ Laap.
Perez took the Chargers to the Rams’ 21-yard line, but his fourth-and-4 pass to Cornelius Johnson was ruled incomplete on the right sideline with 3:26 left in the game. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh spoke at length with a referee but decided not to appeal the decision.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Chargers will play the last of their three exhibition games on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. They have one week of training camp left to prepare for the game. The roster must then be reduced to 53 players by the NFL deadline on August 27, with the opening game of the regular season taking place on September 8.
