New pod: Chargers streamroll Cowboys in Dallas -Giving Jim Harbaugh his flowers for how he has navigated the Bolts -When you keep Justin Herbert clean, it looks like that -Quentin Johnston's return to Texas -Great situational defensive performance by Jesse Minter's defense youtu.be/u02GrYIP3Mc?...

Harbaugh said that he admired Philip Rivers' unretirement: "Jealous I didn't do that." In September, Harbaugh admitted to trying to unretire for Arena League football as the HC of USD. MNF will also be of interest to the Chargers if they beat Dallas👀 boltbeat.com/chargers-jim...

The Chargers have struggled on offense. They've put up 349 passing yards combined in the last 2 games w/ under 4 YPC. For Harbaugh, only one thing matters: "Winning football." boltbeat.com/jim-harbaugh...

New pod! Chargers sweep the Chiefs for the first time in 12 years. -Unc Tony Jefferson sets the tone on defense😤 -Oronde Gadsden II, Tre' Harris, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith step up in a big way as rookies -Odafe Oweh and the pass rush put the clamps on Patrick Mahomes🔒 on YT: youtu.be/_8cZIkwjoXw

Chargers starting OT duos: Wk 13+14-Pipkins, Salyer 11-Pipkins, Penning 10-Pipkins, Deculus 9-Hart, Alt On Sunday, it will be Salyer + Hart. They keep winning despite the attrition. boltbeat.com/chargers-wil...

New pod: Bolts beat the Birds⚡️ -Herbert's resilience😤 -Defense muddied the waters for Jalen Hurts -Donte Jackson's lockdown performance🔒 -and Cam Dicker appreciation (we sometimes take him for granted) youtu.be/uF76IGsDv6I

The Chargers’ dynamic RB duo was supposed to be Omarion Hampton + Najee Harris. Harris tore his Achilles in Week 3 while Hampton (ankle) hit IR in October. Now-It’s Hampton and second-year breakout RB Kimani Vidal. And they have a chance to be dangerous. boltbeat.com/omarion-hamp...

Sunday: break your hand Monday: surgery Thursday: practice Such is life for Chargers QB Justin Herbert. He was listed as a limited participant today. Greg Roman said they're "really optimistic" he plays-also, will Trey Lance still get under center? boltbeat.com/justin-herbe...

New: Justin Herbert is (probably) going to play in a game on MNF against the Eagles barely one week after having stabilization surgery on his left hand. Cracked ribs. High ankle sprain. Broken fingers, bones-we shouldn't take his toughness for granted. boltbeat.com/justin-herbe...

NEW POD: Chargers sweep the Raiders in 2025! -Kimani Vidal has the best game of his career💙 -Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu bounce back from the Jacksonville game -Justin Herbert's hand injury: what we know and how the offense will be different going forward🏥 youtu.be/FKo59-Hgkic

NEW POD: Chargers sweep the Raiders in 2025! -Kimani Vidal has the best game of his career💙 -Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu bounce back from the Jacksonville game -Justin Herbert's hand injury: what we know and how the offense will be different going forward🏥 youtu.be/FKo59-Hgkic

RB Omarion Hampton's return was delayed at least one more week after being ruled out for Sunday vs. LV. Harbaugh said he remains "on track". Hampton practiced Friday with a "noncontact" jersey-he did not wear one in Tuesday or Wednesday's practices. boltbeat.com/omarion-hamp...

New Chargers Q + A pod: -Is Salyer playing left tackle realistic? -3-5 realistic changes the Chargers can make after the BYE week -offensive and defensive needs for 2026 -attempting to set realistic expectations for the team going forward as far as the playoffs are concerned youtu.be/vaxeTF5ROTE

CHARGERS BYE WEEK: Like I've done the last two years on Bolt Breakdowns, opening the floor to questions for this week's mailbag episode✉️ Chargers therapy, playoffs, free agency, the draft, non-football talk even-whatever you got, send in Q's via the comments👇

New pod: disaster strikes once again in Duval. -Everyone stunk except like four players -Greg Roman: what the hell was that?🤔 -Jesse Minter's defense rerun of the Colts game😬 -Where is the Harbaugh edge for this team? youtu.be/oYhRkeaFNHE

New: while the Chargers have played down the return to Jacksonville revenge narrative, Khalil Mack let the media know it's on his mind. "It's just certain things you gotta keep in your pocket and bring them out when the opportunity presents itself." boltbeat.com/chargers-kha...

New: the Chargers got it done vs. the Steelers. Both NFL NGS + the Upshot model have LA at 82% to make the playoffs. They now play their highest stakes playoff probability game this week, per The Athletic's Upshot. W vs. JAX: 📈 93% L vs. JAX: 📉 68% boltbeat.com/chargers-pla...

New pod: everything from the Chargers' dominant win over the Steelers -Keenan Allen shattering *the* record👑 -Justin Herbert getting the job done through some pain -Kimani Vidal showing up big once again 😤 -Minter's defense sends Aaron Rodgers on a darkness retreat👴 youtu.be/rJZ8kNyaX1Y

New: 2 years ago, the Chargers were close to the top of every special teams metric. It earned Ryan Ficken a spot on Harbaugh's staff. Now, the team is bottom of the league in key ST stats-how did we get here? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? boltbeat.com/chargers-unf...

Chargers trade deadline-My 13 targets mentioned on the pod: RB Jerome Ford RB Tony Pollard RB Breece Hall OG Kevin Zeitler OT Max Mitchell G/C Cesar Ruiz T/G Evan Neal OG Ben Cleveland T/G Dillon Radunz OG Joel Bitonio DT T'Vondre Sweat OT Jack Conklin DT Shelby Harris On YT: youtu.be/Up_4KhLxbbw

New: The Chargers may still trade for a Breece Hall or Jerome Ford at the deadline-they’re in the RB market. But Harbaugh threw his support behind Kimani Vidal in a way he hadn’t before: “He's been playing like a #1 running back in the entire league." boltbeat.com/chargers-jim...

New: It was announced that Justin Herbert had broken Peyton Manning's completions record for a QBs first six seasons. He didn't even react after being congratulated by Denzel Perryman. He is also 1653 yards from breaking Manning's passing yards record. boltbeat.com/chargers-qb-...

New: Secondary injuries have piled up for the Chargers. For at least the Titans game, they'll likely be without their 2 top slot defenders in Derwin James + Tarheeb Still. LA also worked out DBs this week as James, Jefferson + Molden deal w/ injuries. boltbeat.com/chargers-get...

New pod, ICYMI: ICYMI yesterday, new pod: -Oronde Gadsden is a top 5 TE sooner rather than later😮‍💨 -A tone setting performance for the defense -Herbert flashing more as an improviser🧑‍🍳 -under the radar performances: Tre' Harris as a run blocker and Kimani Vidal's pass blocking💪 youtu.be/LnZk3Dk9vUA

New: the Chargers have gotten *some* positive injury news with Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins making progess on their eventual returns. But elsewhere on the roster, the depth at RB and DT has been gutted-they'll have to weather the storm on a short week. boltbeat.com/chargers-con...

Bolts beat Fins, 4-2cast: -Justin Herbert's heroics -KIMANI VIDAL AND ORONDE GADSDEN LEGACY GAMES -a defense that still looks undermanned -A quality day for the special teams unit, praise Ryan Ficken On YT: youtu.be/_98oRLzgxb4

New: The Chargers are making calls at running back. Wrote about a handful of names that might make sense at the deadline. Which RB would you want to see the Bolts trade for? boltbeat.com/latest-nfl-r...

New: The Chargers now have 7 players designated for return from IR after placing DT Da'Shawn Hand on injured reserve today. They already have 3 players on season-ending IR and have just 1 more available return spot left for 3 months. It's Week 6.☹️ boltbeat.com/chargers-rea...

Herbert's frustration with Bozeman's "MA" boiled over. He tried to diffuse the situation: "A common mixup-we're going to be better. We talked it through as soon as we got off to the sideline, we said 'you know we're not going to let that happen again.'" boltbeat.com/chargers-qb-...

Harbaugh on S R.J. Mickens in the wake of the Gilman trade: "He has a real quality of covering the field, sideline to sideline. He's got great range and good ball skills, understanding of the defense. That's come along very well. It's his time to shine." boltbeat.com/jim-harbaugh...

I hate talking about the same things, but we're talking about the same things this week. -Offensive line musical chairs -24 penalties in two games -bad tackling, bad special teams -...can they even muster a turnaround? sigh. new pod. youtu.be/wJ6dToka4Jw

New: Jayden Daniels will be wearing a knee brace, but he and Marcus Mariota still present the Chargers with a challenge on the ground. Through 4 games, LA has given up an average of 41 rushing yards per game to opposing QBs-can't have that happen today. boltbeat.com/jayden-danie...

New: Harbaugh knows who the Chargers are starting on the OL w/o Joe Alt-we'll find out Sunday. Salyer and Deculus both got work at LT in practice while Becton could also kick outside. Salyer started at LT last year vs. KC when Slater + Alt were hurt. boltbeat.com/chargers-hc-...

youtu.be/RiCoSyx0v3U New pod: They beat themselves in New Jersey against the Giants. -14 penalties in all three phases😞 -Taking the ball out of Hampton's hands in critical moments falls on Greg Roman😠 -The Joe Alt injury 🏥and the lack of OL moves in the offseason -poor special teams day

youtu.be/RiCoSyx0v3U New pod: They beat themselves in New Jersey against the Giants. -14 penalties in all three phases😞 -Taking the ball out of Hampton's hands in critical moments falls on Greg Roman😠 -The Joe Alt injury 🏥and the lack of OL moves in the offseason -poor special teams day

boltbeat.com/nfl-insider-... Michael Silver: "Some Chargers decision-makers believe there's a scenario in which Slater, 26, could be shifted to center, with a viable chance to excel at a new position." I am... skeptical that highest paid tackle in the NFL will kick inside.

New: Rookie TE Oronde Gadsden II is going to play more after his breakout debut-Harbaugh: "He's gonna be in there more, he earned that." "I just have a feeling," Harbaugh said. "I've been to this movie a few times. There's more good to come." boltbeat.com/jim-harbaugh...

New Pod: -A Justin Herbert masterclass under pressure🧑‍🍳 -The grittiness against adversity: a win the Harbaugh Chargers probably don't get last year -ORONDE GADSDEN II IS HIM!!! 😤 -a hit or miss day from the defense, but stepped up when they needed to most RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH youtu.be/4p0a0_7Ie1o

New: it was silence for Oronde Gadsden II-two healthy scratches to open the season. And then: 5 catches, 46 yards + two of the biggest catches of the year on the game winning drive. Herbert after the game: "we're looking for a big year from him" 👀 boltbeat.com/justin-herbe...

HC Jim Harbaugh on his father's advice for when to retire: "You coach as long as you possibly can until you cannot do one more script, you can't walk out on the field for one more practice or do one more gameplan-that's when you know you should coach for two more years."

New: The Chargers were in talks with Najee Harris when FA opened. LAC applied a UFA tag to J.K. Dobbins after the draft. "They did what they had to do. I did what I had to do. They absolutely wanted me, but we just didn't see eye to eye business-wise." boltbeat.com/broncos-jk-d...

New: Harbaugh left the door open to adding an EDGE in Mack's (at least) 4 week absence. "We'll look. We're always looking. We'll see what the coming days bring. But competitors always welcome." Eboigbe and Kennard will get more run on the outside. boltbeat.com/jim-harbaugh...

New: Wrote about the four studs that stuck out to me after watching the tape of the Chargers win over the Raiders. Also wrote about some players/spots that need to improve going forward. +a career day for Tarheeb Still😤 -the run game😬 boltbeat.com/4-winners-an...

New pod! Chargers dominate the Raiders to head to 2-0 and FIRST PLACE IN THE WEST -Minter had Geno on lock down 🔒 -An ELITE performance from the secondary.😤 -The run game struggles -How will the Chargers deal with the Khalil Mack injury?🤔 youtu.be/is72TFkqK0w

New: Carroll and Harbaugh will coach in their 13th game against each other. Jim: 2-1 vs. Pete in college Pete: 5-4 vs. Jim in the NFL 6-6: rubber match! Both coaches stated their respect for one another, but there's still some fire dating back to the 00's. boltbeat.com/pete-carroll...

New: Keenan Allen is approaching Antonio Gates' yardage + reception records with the Chargers. Allen in '23 on chasing Gates : “I’m coming. At this point, this is what we chasing right now. You know big bro. Definitely gonna try to make a run for it." boltbeat.com/keenan-allen...

Greg Roman via Albert Breer on Herbert's legs: “It demoralizes the defense. They had great coverage, then all of a sudden,’Oh man, another first down’. It was so cool to beat the Chiefs with that, too. Mahomes does that to everybody.” boltbeat.com/chargers-oc-...

New pod: The Chargers beat the Chiefs for the first time in four years!⚡️ -We're giving Greg Roman his flowers💐🌺 -Standard surgical Justin Herbert after questions on how he'd respond🦾 -The best game on tape of Quentin Johnston's career😤 WHAT A FEELING youtu.be/e03gKju4p_4?...

New: Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh told Rich Eisen that Hampton will get the start on Friday-a relatively expected outcome after Najee Harris missed most of training camp. It wil end Harris' streak of 71 straight starts-but the carry splits are still TBD. boltbeat.com/jim-harbaugh...

Roman on playing McConkey and Allen at the same time: ”Those two guys can clearly be on the field at the same time sometimes. Sometimes not." On the 8 snaps w/ Herbert this preseason: Ladd played all 8 (6 Pass, 2RBLK) Keenan played 5 (all passing downs) boltbeat.com/chargers-oc-...