FANS GET A TREAT
Chargers: Rookie LT Slater looks impressive in front of an audience
INGLEWOOD >> Chargers rookie left tackle Rashawn Slater didn’t have to face a Pro Bowl edge rusher for his first career preseason game, but he still had a unique challenge against an opponent who’s familiar with his tendencies.
Slater went from facing Joey Bosa in training camp practices to being matched up with Northwestern teammate Earnest Brown IV, the Rams’ rookie defensive end. Slater and Brown played together at Northwestern for four years.
Brown gave Slater fits, but it wasn’t enough to create pressure on Chargers quarterback Chase Daniel. Slater
continued his dominant summer with a successful opening drive Saturday night against the Rams in front of an announced attendance of 68,791 at SoFi Stadium.
Slater only played one drive, but it was a lengthy one with 20 plays and most of them were against Brown. The Rams quickly pulled outside linebacker Chris Garrett after struggling to get any push versus Slater.
Slater’s impressive drive consisted of him opening lanes for running backs and providing time for Daniel to operate. It was the type of performance that likely put a smile on quarterback Justin Herbert’s face.
But Herbert, who had the night off, didn’t need a preseason performance to know the Chargers might have hit on Slater, the team’s 13th overall pick in April’s draft. Slater has had plenty of success in camp practices versus the Chargers’ top edge rushers.
Slater started the game at left tackle next to Brenden Jaimes (left guard), Scott Quessenberry (center), Tyree St. Louis (right guard) and Storm Norton (right tackle). Slater walked onto the field for the start of the second drive, but was pulled for Trey Pipkins.
“It went well,” Slater said. “Being able to come out here and be in front of everybody; I know that we’re not the home team, but I feel like being here in the stadium and being around the guys for the first time in a game setting, was amazing.”
For Slater’s lone drive, the Chargers scored on a 21-yard Tristan Vizcaino field goal to take an early 3-0 lead with 5:13 in the first quarter.
Daniel went 15 of 24 for 104 yards as the Chargers’ quarterback in the first half. Daniel was replaced by Easton Stick in the second half.
Slater wasn’t the only Chargers rookie to impress in the opening half. Wide receiver Josh Palmer, the team’s thirdround pick, was Daniel’s go-to target with six receptions for 36 yards.
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., the team’s second-round pick, had three tackles before halftime, including a notable hit on Rams wide receiver TuTu Atwell.
“You all are seeing it firsthand,” Chargers safety Derwin James said about Samuel on the TV broadcast. “He came up and made a big hit. Like I told him, we’re going to feed off that energy and keep getting better every day. He has a bright future.”
Linebacker Nick Niemann, the team’s sixth-round selection, had six total tackles in the first three quarters.
Slater was one of few projected starters on offense to play Saturday night, but many played on the defensive side. Cornerback Michael Davis, safety Nasir Adderley, pass rushers Uchenna Nwosu and Kyler Fackrell and linebackers Kyzir White and Drue Tranquill played for the Chargers.
Many of the top players were pulled in the second half to provide more snaps for players fighting for roster spots.
Running backs Darius Bradwell and Larry Rountree III had notable plays on the Chargers’ first touchdown drive. Rountree, a sixth-round rookie, got the drive going with a 25-yard run. Bradwell followed with a 12-yard run and a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Chargers a 13-6 advantage with 6:06 in the third quarter. Bradwell and Rountree are competing for roster spots as backups to Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson.
For the kicker battle, Vizcaino went first and made a second first-half field goal that went 38 yards to tie the game 6-6 with 22 seconds left before halftime. Michael Badgley received kicking duties for the second half.