It’s Hard Not to Overreact to the Chargers’ Hall of Fame Game Win

The annual Hall of Fame Game isn’t supposed to mean anything. It’s the NFL’s preseason appetizer, a glorified walkthrough where everyone reminds you not to overreact.

Naturally, after dominating the Detroit Lions, Chargers fans are overreacting anyway.

The Chargers put on a performance that had plenty of silver linings for a fan base that was already cautiously optimistic this offseason. The rookie wideouts continued their pace from camp, looking like future starters. Trey Lance made a case to be the league’s most intriguing QB2. Even the shuffled, generally shaky offensive line showed moments of promise.

Factor in some flashes from the backfield and a potential new red zone weapon. Oh, and the entirely credible fact that the last time they won this game, they made the Super Bowl. Suddenly, you’ve got a preseason story worth talking about.

Chargers’ Rookie WRs Look Legit

Though the Hall of Fame Game was supposed to be a low-stakes preseason warm-up, that didn’t stop KeAndre Lambert-Smith from putting on a show. The fifth-round rookie WR looked entirely comfortable, slicing up the Lions’ secondary with ease and explosiveness. His routes were crisp, and he showed instant chemistry with Trey Lance, finding soft spots, making himself available, and turning short gains into first downs.

Tre Harris didn’t fill up the stat sheet (zero catches on one target). The 6-foot-2 second-rounder fought through press coverage, ran sharp routes, and showed a physicality that, while not reflected in the box score, seemed reminiscent of his Ole Miss film. His reports from training camp have also been positive, which is essential to keep in mind.

With Keenan Allen back and Quentin Johnston now forced to step up, the Chargers’ wide receiver depth chart suddenly feels like a strength instead of their biggest weakness. Lambert-Smith and Harris are already making a case to be part of the weekly game plan. And yes, it’s one meaningless game in early August, but if this is a preview, Justin Herbert might be looking at the deepest, most versatile WR group of his career.

Backfield and Trey Lance’s Showcase

Trey Lance, though listed as the Chargers’ QB2, played like a man out to prove he’s more than a backup.

After being drafted third overall by the 49ers in 2021, Lance was traded to the Cowboys due to injuries and limitations. He didn’t see much of the field in either location and was widely considered one of the biggest “busts” of the 2020s so far.

However, the 25-year-old was decisive, accurate, and calm under pressure, working through his reads and delivering the ball on time. He showcased the mobility that made him a top-three pick. If he keeps playing like this, the Chargers might have more than just a solid insurance policy behind Herbert— they might have a trade chip for any quarterback-needy team come midseason.

In the backfield, rookie Omarion Hampton made his limited snaps count, only playing one drive. He ran hard and showed enough burst to hint at a change-of-pace role. It’s far too early to say he’ll carve out a meaningful role in the regular season, but his quick impact was exactly what you want to see from a first-round rookie. With Najee Harris’ future unclear due to an eye injury suffered on the 4th of July, the Chargers might need Hampton to step up and carry considerable weight this season.

Offensive-Line Shuffle

The Chargers’ offensive line has been a work in progress all offseason, and this game offered a mixed bag of hope and concern. Jamaree Salyer, stepping in at right guard, looked composed, holding his own in pass protection and showing the kind of toughness Harbaugh is known for in the trenches.

Zion Johnson at center got off to a rough start on the first drive, struggling with anchoring and footwork, but eventually found his groove. His run blocking stood out as a strength. The challenge remains improving his pass protection fundamentals, especially maintaining fluid foot movement.

Since he and Bradley Bozeman are contentious topics among Charger fans, it was at least somewhat promising to see him find some rhythm at center. For now, however, the team seems to be definitively out on Johnson at C.