Philip Rivers can't go up against Thomas Davis for another few weeks.
Still, that didn't stop the quarterback from letting his newest teammate hear it.
While the defense put in work on a separate field, Rivers shouted out some good-natured ribbing in jest.
"Same old Philip," Thomas Davis told the media when they asked him about the exchange. "Nothing's changed. When you're competing with him on another team, he's hollering at you. When you're on the team with him, he's still going to holler at you. It's going to be fun (when we're allowed to face off). I did that a lot in Carolina with (Panthers QB) Cam (Newton). We went back and forth a lot in practice. I feel like when you're doing that, it raises your level of play because when you talk trash, you have to be competing at a high level. It just raises everyone's level of play, and with us being able to do that it, should be fun."
Of course, the pair won't get the chance to go against each other for a few more weeks when Phase III rolls around.
Nonetheless, it was a big day at Hoag Performance Center as after two weeks of strength and conditioning work, the Chargers transitioned to Phase II of their program.
This phase will last the next three weeks, consisting of on-field workouts that may include individual player instruction and drills. Coaches are also allowed on the field with the players for the first time. However, team practice may be conducted on a "separate" basis, but no live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.
Take a look through the top photos as the Bolts kick off phase 2 of offseason workouts.
2019 Voluntary OSP Phase 2 at Hoag Performance Center on Monday, April 29, 2019 in Costa Mesa, CA.
2019 Voluntary OSP Phase 2 at Hoag Performance Center on Monday, April 29, 2019 in Costa Mesa, CA.
So, for the first time in months, Philip Rivers was once again firing lasers to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Meanwhile, Casey Hayward, Derwin James and Adrian Phillips were put through the paces under the watchful eye the coaches.
Basically, it's beginning to look a lot more like football around the Chargers' facility.
"It's very important," Davis explained. "We have a good group of guys here. We're out here installing and it's a very important time for a lot of guys and especially for myself being one of the newer guys on this team. Being able to get out there and understand how things work. Understand the basic, fundamentals of this defense. This is a great phase and a great time for us to really come together."
"It feels good just to be back out there with the team as an offensive unit, calling plays and running around together," added Keenan Allen. "It feels good."
It especially feels good to be on the receiving end of some Rivers' darts once again.
"I feel like he always looks the same," Allen said. "Ever since I've been here, he always approaches it the same. He hasn't missed OTAs. He is still the same leader that he was. I feel like his communication level has gotten better with me — we talk all the time now. Even when he was just away for vacation, we kept in communication. That part of that leadership goes a long way, knowing somebody will fight for you."
While the coaches met with the players during Phase I, there's nothing like actually being on the field with them again.
"Well, we've been with them for two weeks in the meeting room, so you've gotten over that you hadn't seen them in a while and getting back together," said Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. "It's always good to go out on the field. That's where we do most of our work. The excitement from them is always good. You can feed off that. Just to get together as a group out there on the field is pretty good."
