It's business as usual for the Chargers at The Bolt following the bye week.
The Bolts took the practice field in El Segundo for the second time this week as they prepare for their first game back after their initial stretch of the season.
Even though it was an early bye, to many it felt like it was perfectly timed for the team that has a handful of players working their way back or through injury.
"It was good. I thought it came at the right time," quarterback Justin Herbert said on Wednesday. "Saw a lot of the guys getting treatment in here so that's always good to see."
Still, with four games down and a run of 13 more to go, there was a clear message among everyone of where the Bolts stand after coming back from their week off.
"Not where we want to be," Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday. "We want to be 4-0, we're 2-2."
Tuli Tuipulotu added Monday: "It's tough winning our first two games then losing our next two, but it's like a reset. It's basically 0-0 right now, just going to try to keep winning and improve our record."
The team was also able to zoom out during their bye and reflect on the first four weeks while also having their eye on what awaits them in their upcoming game.
It's a week-to-week league, and Harbaugh said the goal is to continue to get sharper every day.
"Steps to improve, get better, what does getting better look like," Harbaugh said. "For us, getting crisper, sharper on offense, in all areas, trying to grow. That's particularly what we're attacking as we get into this.
"The NFL is a one-week league. Just honing in everything we can do to be most successful each week for Sunday," Harbaugh added. "That's tightening up, honing in on our football and get it humming. That's the goal."
What does "getting crisper" mean for the Bolts moving forward?
Harbaugh laid out what that looks like for the team.
"It starts with not beating ourselves, that margin of error that comes with penalties, with missed assignments," Harbaugh said. "Putting the guys in the best possible positions, players and coaches, working together as one.
"My experience has been the defense usually comes around a little bit quicker and then offense is, not frustrated, patient and disciplined knowing that it's going to come if we keep working at it, get a little bit better," Harbaugh continued. "I feel like it's close.
"With anything in life, just keep doing what we're doing," Harbaugh added. "Want to get a little bit better at something, work a little bit harder at it. That's where we're going."
It's much of the same that the team has done up to this point, however, as the search for consistent improvement is part of an NFL season.
"It's a process. I don't really get frustrated," Harbaugh said. "We're just attacking it, and that's what the guys have been doing last week, this week same."
The Chargers have come back with energy in their return from the week off — and now hope to get started on the right foot with this second part of the schedule.
"I feel like all the 'first day backs' are always the best," wide receiver Quentin Johnston said Monday. "Whether it's the first day back for the season, any type of break or bye week, it's always a good feeling going around the locker room. Everybody is ready to go back to work.
He added: "It's always a hyped feeling… everybody having a common goal heading into this week and that's coming off the bye week with a win."
