When the Chargers were trying to stage a comeback Sunday night, a handful of highlight-reel plays came from an unlikely source.

Tight end Stone Smartt added a jolt to the Chargers offense in Kansas City, finishing with 54 yards on three catches — all of moved the chains for a first down.

"Stone stepped up big time on game day," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said Thursday. "Practice is one thing; game day is another. He's lit it up some in practice starting in the spring.

"But he got an opportunity and that's really what this league is all about," Roman added. "He really gave us a boost, especially in the play-action game."

As the Bolts prepare for the Buccaneers in Week 15, Smartt is now looking at an even more increased role in Week 15.

With Will Dissly banged up with a shoulder injury and Hayden Hurst on Injured Reserve, Smartt could be the Chargers top option at tight end against Tampa Bay.

Not that it changes Smartt's approach.

"Shoot, I would say it's the same like it is every week," Smartt said. "I prepare like I'm the starter. Just lean on the guys to help me with the scheme and technique and go out there and make plays when my number is called."

Sure. But what about this week? When Smartt is probably going to be atop the depth chart?

The 26-year-old allowed himself to grin a little.

"Yeah, that definitely plays a part into it a little bit," Smartt said. "But my mentality towards it is just preparation, preparation, preparation. That's why I can stand on it."

He later added: "Any time you get an opportunity to play in this game you dreamt of as a kid, you definitely get some little jitters. But it's just maintaining a level head and approaching each day like you're trying to win it."

If you aren't familiar with Smartt's game, here's a quick refresher.

He joined the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has been working on his craft for the past three seasons. He's appeared in 34 career games and has 21 catches for 270 yards and one touchdown, which came last season against the Packers at Lambeau Field.

The fun part? Smartt played quarterback in college at Old Dominion University and switched to wide receiver his senior season.

Well, kind of.

"It was a receiver-athlete type," Smartt said. "They had me everywhere — quarterback, running back, receiver.

"In college it was like playing backyard football with that love for the game playing with your boys," Smartt added.

Smartt said his pre-draft workout lasted three hours as teams had him go through drills at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end. His learning curve from college to the NFL was a steep one, even more so as he juggled a position switch.

Running routes and catching passes weren't too much of an issue for Smartt.

"I've always had hands," Smartt said with a laugh. "Naturally, playing football, the route running is just pieces I'm adding to my game. It's all starting to come into flow and come into balance.

"My first year, it was a little difficult from the whole technique standpoint of it and just understanding it as a tight end," Smartt later continued. "But Year 2 and now 3, it's like second nature now. I'm like an athlete playing the position.

"It makes it a little bit easier for me that I was a quarterback and have a feel for where your quarterback is going to want to put it. It's been a smooth transition," Smartt added.

Then there's the run-blocking aspect of it, something Smartt — who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 226 pounds — said he continually works on.

"It's the physicality of it. You've got big ol' dudes on the interior and on the edge," Smartt said. "It's never easy with me being a route-running tight end but it's something I've taken with a chip on my shoulder and tried to develop that on the field."

Roman on Thursday called Smartt "an underrated blocker" and said he's seen plenty of progress from the tight end in that area this season.

"Obviously, he's got to hit it hard in the weight room with [Ben Herbert] because physics don't lie," Roman said. "In order to hang in there, you have to be big and strong enough to do it or else you're just a big, slow wide receiver.

"In order to be a tight end, you have to at least block outside linebackers well. And he can do that now," Roman added. "Really feel good about him."

As Smartt prepares for a larger role in the offense against the Buccaneers, he said he's continuing to rely on Dissly, Hurst and others in the group such as Tucker Fisk and Eric Tomlinson.

"I feel like we've got the closest room in the whole facility," Smartt aid. "Great group of guys, great vets … we just get along well together."

Smartt has also grown close with the Chargers quarterback group as the tight end was part of a group of players who trained with Herbert this summer in Oregon.

Now it's time for that hard work to pay off as the Chargers continue their playoff push Sunday at home against the Buccaneers.

"I just like how he attacked it and took advantage of the opportunity. It's so good to see that," Roman said. "He's been doing a great job on special teams but now he gets his shot on offense. Hopefully we can keep that going."