Here are five takeaways from Day 2 of Chargers training camp at Jack Hammett Sports Complex:
Jenkins has early edge at free safety – Nasir Adderley was drafted No. 60 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, but like any rookie, adjusting to the pro game takes time.
When asked about Adderley's chances to start at free safety in 2019, head coach Anthony Lynn said Friday that the incumbent Rayshawn Jenkins has the inside track – but it's early.
"Rayshawn has been in the system for three years," Lynn said. "He's a heck of an athlete. He has to be one of the most athletic free safeties in the league. Now, he just has to make better decisions. Once he learns what he's doing and he can help people around him, he's going to be a really good football player."
Jenkins started Los Angeles' 2018 regular season finale at Denver, plus the team's two playoff games at Baltimore and New England. He attributed his development over the last three seasons to his All-Pro teammate Adrian Phillips.
"That's the reason for my growth, honestly," Jenkins said on Day 1 of training camp. "And I'll tell anybody that. I sit right next him in the meetings, I pick up his habits and I just try to learn from him."
In addition to Adderley and Jenkins, there's six-year veteran Jaylen Watkins. Lynn pointed to Watkins as someone who may have started at free safety in 2018 if not for an ACL injury in the preseason.
"It's one heck of a competition back there right now," Lynn said.
Allen feels "amazing" – Coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, wide receiver Keenan Allen said Friday he's done more lifting this offseason to maintain his health, or as he put it, "prehab before rehab."
"I feel amazing," Allen said. "It's year seven, [the] best I've felt and most I've worked in the offseason up to this point."
Allen caught 97 passes for 1,196 yards and six touchdowns in 2018, appearing in all 16 regular-season games for the second straight season. NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund, who was a guest on Friday's episode of Chargers Weekly, said Allen's elite route running will further benefit his third-year teammate Mike Williams in 2019.
"If you ever want to learn your routes, if you ever want to go to scouting school, just watch this man run his routes," she said. "So, it's impressive. That will also help Mike Williams, right, because then you have Keenan Allen [who's] just so good at drawing defenses away."
The battle for No. 4 and No. 5 WR – The roster spots at wide receiver behind Allen, Williams and Travis Benjamin have been a talking point throughout the offseason. On Friday, the head coach singled out two pass catchers in particular.
"We're looking, I like the competition, though," Lynn said. "Andre Patton, he's making plays. It seems like every practice that he makes a play. Artavis Scott makes plays. Both of those guys were very focused in the offseason. They know it's a good competition. They know they have an opportunity to step up and help this football team and I believe they will."
Chargers radio analyst Daniel Jeremiah called Scott “a playmaker” on Twitter, referencing two deep balls he caught during Friday's practice. Geremy Davis and Dylan Cantrell are a pair of returning wide receivers in the thick of the competition, too.
"Mike and Ike" headline Chargers Weekly – Kicker Michael Badgley and defensive end Isaac Rochell supplied some post-practice entertainment on Chargers Weekly, the official podcast of the team.
Rochell said that the training camp experience for a defensive end versus a kicker is worlds apart.
"It's hot, you're trying to get back into the flow of things," Rochell said. "There's no way to mimic playing out here. You can't do it. You can't do it with any type of workout. So when you get out here, you're put in different positions that you're not used to so your body reacts differently than you're used to. So, it's a grind."
Badgley and Rochell also hit on a few off-field topics, including the second-year kicker's new mullet, fast food french fries, and more. Download and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Odds and ends – Second-year linebacker Kyzir White was held out of Friday's practice (rest). … Lynn said that third-year offensive lineman Forrest Lamp will get a look at both guard spots during training camp. … Third-year defensive back Desmond King has been working at both corner and free safety during training camp. Lynn acknowledged that King is the team's starting nickel, but positional versatility is a plus.
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Take a look through the top photos as the Bolts continue with Training Camp practice on Friday, July 26, 2019.
