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Camp Report: Herbert, McConkey Flash Strong Rapport

ladd

The first week of Chargers Training Camp is in the books.

The Chargers have an off day on Sunday before getting back to work Monday at 10 a.m. for a padded practice.

Here is the Chargers Camp Report from Saturday's practice:

1. Herbert finds McConkey for a score

Justin Herbert rolled to his left, trying to buy as much time outside of the pocket as possible.

The Bolts quarterback eventually lofted a pass toward a cluster of players in the end zone ... but it was rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey who secured the score.

The 18-yard touchdown came in a clutch situation on third-and-10 inside the red zone, but it also highlighted the growing rapport between Herbert and McConkey that was first on display this spring.

The pair later teamed in a 11-on-11 drill where McConkey made a sliding catch on third-and-5 to move the sticks ... and followed that up with another catch that went for a first down.

"He's been off to a really good start. Really excellent route runner," Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said of McConkey. "We knew that and he's been really good, really dialed in from the beginning.

"Just how quick he gets to full speed, I mean I don't know how many steps it is, but it's pretty fast," Harbaugh added. "Pretty quick. Three, five quick steps and he's up to full speed."

On a day where the starting groups on both sides of the ball went against each other without pads, it was the Herbert-McConkey connection that stood out.

Check out some shots of the Bolt Fam at The Bolt for Back Together Saturday 2024!

2. Dicker is money

Cameron Dicker is off to a historic start to his NFL career having made 52 of 55 field goals (94.5 percent) and all 59 extra point tries.

And if Saturday was any indication, Dicker is primed for another big season with the Bolts.

The 24-year-old made all 11 of his kicks in team drills Saturday, including at least two that were from 50-plus.

Dicker began his perfect day by knocking in all three kicks during "Mayday," a drill where the kicking unit comes onto the field as the clock is winding down. He hit the first two kicks before his third attempt, from 53 yards out, was true.

Dicker then made all four kicks from a variety of distances in a field goal drill where there was not a rush.

But he then delivered in a more pressurized situation, coming on to hit from roughly 50 and 55 yards after the offense had stalled out.

Dicker later hit an extra point after a Cornelius Johnson touchdown catch for his 10th make and capped off his night with a 48-yarder that curled inside the right upright to make it 11-for-11.

3. A fun defensive moment

The Bolts defensive starters made some noteworthy plays Saturday evening.

Khalil Mack drew a holding call on one play before he likely would have had a sack on the ensuing play. And Bud Dupree showed off a power rush move while Asante Samuel, Jr. displayed lockdown coverage on a pass in the end zone for DJ Chark.

But the group had some fun, too, most notably when Tuli Tuipulotu punched the ball out from an offensive teammate in a full-team drill. Granted, the play might have been blown dead at that point.

But Alohi Gilman pounced on the ball anyway, returning it a few yards before pitching it over to Tuipulotu ... who then pitched it back across the field to Derwin James, Jr. ... who then pitched it even further across the field to Kristian Fulton.

By the time Fulton had the ball, the offense had given up chasing the ball since the play was dead. But it was a heads up play by the defense and another example of how the Bolts have been dialed in on the little things under Harbaugh.

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