Team news: Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers QB Justin Herbert (plantar fascia) is off the injury report -- for real this time -- and good to go for Sunday's opener vs. the Raiders.

WR D.J. Chark (hip) is out.

Related Players: Easton Stick, Taylor Heinicke

Good news for Herbert and the Chargers in general, but we don't want to touch this passing attack as we head into what could be a slog against the Raiders. Leave the QB on your bench or waiver wire until we find him in a better spot.

Justin Herbert practicing for the first time since July.

Last week reports said Herbert was out of his walking boot and today there was a video of him throwing in warmups. Herbert is dealing with plantar fascia, but hopefully looks to be back on track to play in Week 1. We'll likely know more based on his activity in practices going forward, but for now seems to be heading in the right direction.

I left Kimani Vidal off my 53-man roster projection after Week 1 of the preseason. My grade at that stage was “incomplete.” He had missed a week of practice, including the joint session with the Rams, before not playing in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. You have to earn your spot in the NFL, and that will especially be the case under Harbaugh. Vidal had a strong week of practice last week. He followed that up with a solid performance in his first game action. I have moved him ahead of Isaiah Spiller and onto the 53-man in my running projection.

Related players: Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson

If you remember, we reported on this a few weeks ago when this writer left Vidal off the team's 53-man roster. Vidal was at least a popular dynasty selection up to this point, given the Chargers state at RB. However, Vidal looks to be making a move up the depth chart with solid, recent practices and preseason game showing. Edwards and Dobbins appear to be leading the way at the position with Patterson also having a nice camp. Vidal looks like he still has a lot of work to do to at least be the team's RB3.

Jaret Patterson has impressed the coaching staff, and he appears to have grasped the RB3 role right now.

Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Kimani Vidal, Elijah Dotson, Isaiah Spiller

Much like they did in Baltimore, Edwards and Dobbins will look to form the 1-2 punch. While Patterson seems to be in the lead for the RB3 role, the author of this story seems to think rookie sixth rounder Vidal could be left off the roster. He said of the four backs competing behind Edwards and Dobbins, Patterson has gotten the most reps with the first team in practice. He was also the first running back in the game Saturday, ahead of both Spiller and Dotson. The story went on to say Vidal was in uniform for warmups but did not dress for the game. Vidal has also been dealing with an injury and missed four full days of practice earlier this month, according to the story, including the joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams. The author ended by saying this competition is still wide open and things could change by the end of camp.

Following yesterday’s practice, Justin Herbert was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot.

Doctors have recommended approximately two weeks in a boot — followed by a graduated return to play protocol — with the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the regular season.

Related Players: Easton Stick, Max Duggan

Ah yes, just what we needed; more bad news for the Chargers' passing game. Easton Stick should be stashed away in (very) deep SuperFlex Dynasty leagues, but doesn't move the needle in redraft leagues. If Herbert misses time in the regular season, the entire offense needs to be downgraded in fantasy.

I see Gus Edwards as the clear lead back. The secondary touches are open for competition, though if J.K. Dobbins is healthy, I think he wins that job. Edwards was nursing an injury in the spring, but according to Harbaugh, he should be ready for camp.

Related Players: Kimani Vidal

"If he's healthy" is what we've been saying throughout the entirety of Dobbins' career. He has sadly had multiple major lower-body injuries, and the Chargers signed him to a very minimal contract. Vidal remains an interesting late-round fantasy addition for an L.A. team we are expecting to run the ball a ton.

Former Panthers WR and current FA DJ.. Chark has agreed to terms with the #Chargers on a 1-year deal worth up to $5M. A new landing spot for Chark, who visited with LAC before the Draft.

Related Players: Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, Ladd McConkey

Chark, like most of the Panthers' pass-catchers, had a mediocre single season in Carolina, hauling in only 56.5% of his targets. It's been a long road since his 1,000+ yard season in 2019, but at the very least, he will offer Justin Herbert a little more firepower. He makes for a good dart throw in fantasy, as he could end up usurping Johnston and/or Palmer for snaps.

Former Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins is planning to sign with the #Chargers on a one-year deal. Electric when healthy, Dobbins — who averages 5.8 yards per carry in his career — reunites with OC Greg Roman and can hit the market again in March.

Related Players: Gus Edwards

Dobbins has had poor injury luck in his career, but has only managed 234 total rushes since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. This is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Chargers and might give them a runway to wait a little longer in the '24 Draft before they address the position.

Chargers are trading WR Keenan Allen to the Bears for a fourth-round pick.

Related Players: Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, D.J. Moore, Tyler Scott, Velus Jones

The Chargers pass-catching group now looks very dire. There is no doubt that they will be loading up wherever they can through the draft but the offense looks questionable heading into 2024.

Velus Jones is all but guaranteed to lose the slot role he was pegged for in Chicago, as their WR room is starting to look pretty great. Caleb Williams could be in for an exciting rookie season, were the Bears to go that route.

The Chargers releasing WR Mike Williams, making him a free agent. Williams, on the books for a $32M cap hit, becomes a top FA WR available.

Related Players: Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston

Someone had to take the fall for the Chargers' inflated salary cap, and as it stands, the team chose Keenan Allen over Mike Williams. There's a chance he could return at a lower pricepoint, but with the rest of the NFL now able to make their pitches, that doesn't seem likely. Allen should be the typical target monster we've come to expect, assuming both health, and his employment with the team come Week 1.