EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The depth in the Los Angeles Chargers’ secondary has already been heavily tested through six weeks.
Nine defensive backs have played at least 30 defensive snaps on the season. Injuries have been the primary factor. Safety Alohi Gilman missed a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers with a knee injury. Nickel cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor has been out since Week 4 because of a fibula injury. Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was placed on injured reserve ahead of the Chargers’ Week 6 win over the Denver Broncos with a shoulder injury.
There was also safety Derwin James Jr.’s one-game suspension when he missed the Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite a rotating cast on the back end, coordinator Jesse Minter has sustained a good defense. That is a testament to his coaching, staff and scheme. Entering a Week 7 matchup at the Arizona Cardinals, the Chargers rank second in expected points added per play on defense, according to TruMedia. Specifically, they rank fourth in EPA per dropback, meaning their pass defense has thus far been able to weather a rather vicious storm.
The issue, however: The storm is not passing; if anything, it is strengthening.
Further tests await.
Outside cornerback Kristian Fulton suffered a hamstring injury in Denver. He left the game early in the third quarter. This injury is particularly noteworthy as Fulton has battled multiple hamstring injuries in his career. In each of his final three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Fulton missed time because of hamstring injuries, including injured-reserve stints in 2021 and 2023.
Fulton did not practice Wednesday. He was working off to the side during the period of practice open to media. He was also dealing with a knee injury earlier this season that limited him in practice leading up to the Chiefs game.
Against the Broncos, Taylor and Samuel were out. Cornerback Deane Leonard had been questionable for the game with a hamstring injury of his own. He only played five special teams snaps before leaving the game in the first quarter.
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Because of Leonard’s injury, rookie Cam Hart got the start at outside cornerback in place of Samuel. Fellow rookie Tarheeb Still got his second straight start at nickel in place of Taylor. When Fulton suffered his hamstring injury, Still moved outside to replace him. The Chargers moved James into a full-time slot role, with Elijah Molden coming on at safety next to Gilman. Second-year defensive back AJ Finley took over as the sixth defensive back in dime packages.
Hart had a really encouraging game in Denver. He played every defensive snap. He did not allow a reception in coverage, and he was solid in run support, making three tackles. The most impressive of the bunch came late in the first quarter when he shed a block and took down Broncos receiver Troy Franklin on a jet sweep. Franklin had a head of steam, and Hart prevented what could have been an explosive rush.
Still has played well at nickel over the past two games. He clearly has a feel for the position. He had a sack on a blitz against the Chiefs. Against the Broncos, he was in man coverage on receiver Marvin Mims Jr. on a third-and-5 late in the first quarter. Mims beat Still off the line. Still had no help over the top. He showed off his recovery speed as quarterback Bo Nix launched a deep ball to Mims. Still tracked back and broke the pass up, preventing a touchdown.
we see u, rook‼️
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/1NjQCj4J2B
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 13, 2024
“They balled,” James said of Hart and Still after the game in Denver. “I’m so proud of them boys. I told them, ‘This game don’t got no age limit on it. You can be a rookie and make plays.’”
There are positives and negatives to young guys getting playing time early in the season.
Gilman noted the positives after the game in Denver.
“It’s good to get those looks early in the season and have these opportunities with a lot of young guys in,” he said. “That only builds confidence for the whole unit, and I think it’s good stuff we can learn from.”
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Hart and Still were both fifth-round picks in April. They both played at least 50 snaps against the Broncos. Harbaugh, like Gilman, sees the value in the rookie defensive backs playing meaningful snaps in the first third of the season.
“I have thought of it and just reminisced on some of the really good teams I’ve had a chance to be a part of,” Harbaugh said. “The great ones are when a guy will step in — whether he plays that role early or middle of the season or later in the season — and he plays great. He becomes the hero or the reason that you won the game. That’s a fact.”
The negative is that inexperienced players are more volatile.
Can the Chargers continue to play at this level as the injuries keep coming?
The pass defense deteriorated after Fulton went out against the Broncos.
Before Fulton’s injury, Nix completed 3 of 10 passes for 22 yards and an interception.
After Fulton’s injury, Nix went 16-for-23 for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Still was not the same player on the outside as he had been in the slot.
The Chargers gave up five explosive passes in the second half, more than they had given up in any half this season.
Edge rusher Khalil Mack put the responsibility on the front. Nix was able to escape the pocket on several occasions. The two longest explosives — a 29-yard completion to Franklin and a 37-yard completion to receiver Devaughn Vele — came on loose plays during which Nix escaped pressure. Nix amassed 59 of his 61 scramble yards in the second half.
“He was able to get out and create plays with his legs, so it’s a matter of us getting on the same page,” Mack said. “He was dropping his eyes. He wasn’t looking to throw. He was kind of looking to escape. So just adjusting.”
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray enters Week 7 ranked second in total scramble EPA, according to TruMedia.
The front will get an opportunity Monday night to better manage a mobile quarterback.
With the mounting injuries, Still, Hart and the other young defensive backs could see more opportunities, as well.
Said Harbaugh: “You can just feel it brewing, and when a guy does step up — that next man up steps up — and plays to his best or sometimes it’s as good as the starter, that’s when some real magic starts happening.”
(Top photo of Tarheeb Still defending Marvin Mims Jr.: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
