EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — A battle is percolating in the Los Angeles Chargers’ receiver room.
The top three spots seem set. Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark and rookie Ladd McConkey distanced themselves early in training camp.
Further down the depth chart, the competition is wide open. In the mix: Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko and rookies Brenden Rice and Jaylen Johnson.
A big question as the Chargers prepare for their preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks is how many receivers the team will keep on the 53-man roster. Davis remains the primary kick and punt returner, and he should be a lock to make the roster as a result. It is hard to see the Chargers moving on from Johnston one year after the organization selected him in the first round — even if a different regime made that draft pick. With the top three included, that is five receivers.
Fehoko, Rice and Johnson are all having excellent camps. Together, they are making a strong case for the Chargers keeping six receivers.
Johnson flashed early in camp, and he has been regularly working in with the first-team offense over the past week. The undrafted free agent out of East Carolina has displayed sound route-running and reliable hands at all three levels of the field.
“He’s putting his hat in the ring,” Roman said of Johnson earlier this week.
Johnston, Rice and Fehoko all made splash plays in Thursday’s practice.
Johnston opened 11-on-11 drills with an explosive reception down the left sideline. He beat cornerback Tarheeb Still on a corner route, and quarterback Easton Stick delivered an accurate deep ball. Johnston made two more catches later in the period, both on comeback routes. On the first of those receptions, Johnson snatched a pass outside his frame with strong hands, amid some tight coverage from cornerback Deane Leonard.
Rice, a seventh-round pick out of USC in April, caught a 9-yard touchdown during a red zone period. He beat rookie cornerback Zamari Walton to the corner of the end zone. Stick showed tremendous touch on this throw. Rice tracked it well and got both feet in bounds smoothly.
Rice has an obvious feel for the position. Not a surprise, considering his father is Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. The younger Rice is a clean and fluid route runner, which he showed off in Wednesday’s practice when he beat Leonard on a comeback route to the outside left. Rice has enough speed to attack the deep part of the field, and he uses his 6-foot-3 frame well in contested-catch situations.
“He can run all day,” Roman said of Rice. “He’s really working hard and really has a presence about himself out there.”
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Fehoko, who played six games for the Chargers last season, had the play of the day in Thursday’s practice. On the snap after Rice’s touchdown, Fehoko came open on a route to the back right corner of the end zone. Stick recognized Fehoko’s separation early and made a layered anticipation throw. Fehoko ran underneath it and just got both feet in bounds. He showed incredible body control and coordination on this catch.
Fehoko also had two touchdowns in the red zone in Wednesday’s practice.
The fight for roster spots is on. So, too, is the fight for who will be the fourth receiver after Chark, Palmer and McConkey.
McConkey was back at practice Thursday for the first time in six days. He did not participate in team drills. The Chargers will call on their receiver depth at some point this season.
Saturday represents an opportunity for all five of these receivers in the mix for the bottom half of the 53-man depth chart.
“Who do you keep on the team? The best players,” Harbaugh said Thursday when asked about this position battle. “How do you know who the best are? They play the best.”
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News and notes
• Chargers who did not practice: quarterback Justin Herbert; edge rusher Joey Bosa; Davis; cornerback Cam Hart; center Bradley Bozeman; running back J.K. Dobbins; fullback/tight end Ben Mason; offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer; and linebacker Junior Colson. Hart and Colson worked off to the side.
• Bosa has not practiced since Sunday when he appeared to injure his left hand/wrist late in the joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams. Harbaugh said Thursday that Bosa will be “likely ready to go when the season starts.” The Chargers open the regular season Sept. 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders at home.
• Herbert still had a walking boot on his right foot at Thursday’s practice. Herbert is dealing with an injury to his plantar fascia. The Chargers said in a statement Aug. 1 that Herbert will be in the boot for approximately two weeks. The two-week mark will be Aug. 15. When asked for an update on Herbert’s progress, Harbaugh said the recovery has “been very positive” thus far.
GO DEEPER
Chargers’ Herbert injures right foot, expected to be ready by regular season
• Safety Derwin James Jr. and Palmer did not participate in team drills Thursday. James has not been in team drills since Sunday’s joint practice with the Rams.
• Brenden Jaimes was at center with the first-team offense with Bozeman sitting out.
• Harbaugh said Bosa, edge rusher Khalil Mack, Dobbins and running back Gus Edwards will not be playing Saturday against the Seahawks. Harbaugh added that a “few others” will not be playing. “There’s a couple on each side of the ball,” Harbaugh said.
• Stick will start at quarterback Saturday, according to Harbaugh. The plan is for Stick to play “around a quarter and a half, 20 to 30 plays,” Harbaugh said. Duggan will replace Stick, according to Harbaugh. Then Bauman and Perez will enter after Duggan, Harbaugh said.
• Defensive lineman Scott Matlock took a snap with the offense in a goal-line package. He was aligned on the line of scrimmage.
(Photo of Jaylen Johnson and Brenden Rice: Jevone Moore / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
