Chargers Training Camp is officially underway at The Bolt.
The Chargers held a 90-minute practice Wednesday without pads in front of a packed house at their brand-new facility in El Segundo. The morning began with a ceremonial ribbon cutting to commemorate the first practice at The Bolt.
Here is the Chargers Camp Report from Wednesday's practice:
1. Hart makes a splash
On a day where the Bolts defense turned heads, it was rookie cornerback Cam Hart who made the play of the day.
Hart, a recent fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, was matched up against wide receiver Jaylen Johnson on a deep ball down the right sideline in a full-team drill.
Hart used his 6-foot-2 and 207-pound frame to outmuscle Johnson for the pigskin by leaping up and taking possession of the 50-50 ball.
Both Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and safety Derwin James, Jr. had high praise for Hart after his stellar play.
"The length for sure, the things that stand out to you right away," Harbaugh said. "The range, the instincts, the way he can put his foot in the ground and accelerate.
"To be able to be that long, he's pretty strong like a Derwin James. For them to backpedal, plant and drive on things, it's harder than the smaller, littler guy. It's a good, rare combination," Harbaugh added. "We look at him and go you got the license and ability to go a long way in this game. He's right on track."
James added: "I love Cam Hart. I'm a big Cam Hart fan. He's a big, confident guy ... long out there. He looks like a basketball player out there he's so long. But he's learning every day, is coachable every day. The sky is the limit for him."
Hart's takeaway wasn't the only one of the day as safety Tony Jefferson nabbed a pick in a 7-on-7 drill.
A handful of other defensive backs also stepped up, with Asante Samuel, Jr. denying a pair of passes and both Kristian Fulton and Denzel Perryman coming up with pass breakups in 11-on-11 drills.
One other defensive note from Wednesday is that Harbaugh said rookie linebacker Junior Colson recently had his appendix removed.
Harbaugh add that there isn't a specific return timeline for Colson, a third-round pick who is currently on the Active/Non-Football Illness List.
"I don't have my medical degree so we'll have to wait and see," Harbaugh said.
Check out some shots of the Bolt Fam pouring into The Bolt for the opening of Chargers Training Camp 2024!
2. Notes on the offense
It's not unusual for a defense to be ahead of an offense in the early stages of camp. And from a long-term perspective, Justin Herbert and his crew are going to be fine.
A positive note from Wednesday was that Herbert spread the ball around as he works to continue to build a rapport with a new-look group of skill players.
Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark and Stone Smartt each had multiple catches in 7-on-7 or team drills as Herbert routinely showed off his strong arm.
The first-team offensive line was the same was it was during the spring as Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins III and Joe Alt lined up from left to right.
The second unit consisted of Foster Sarell, Jordan McFadden, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer and Alex Leatherwood.
Rookie offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart missed practice as Harbaugh said he is "working through something."
Running back Gus Edwards took part in individual drills but not team drills as Harbaugh said after practice that he is working his way back into form after an unspecified offseason surgery.
"When you're coming off an injury, the glide theory is an even longer, runway, so to speak," Harbaugh said. "As they are being released back into the wild, we're doing it judiciously."
3. A focus on special teams
Without pads — those are slated to come on Monday — the first practice of camp felt similar to what we saw in minicamp.
That meant a heavy dose of special teams work under Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken.
And while the new and altered kickoff wasn't in the practice plan, Wednesday's session did feature punt coverage and return drills.
Derius Davis and Ladd McConkey were the two returners as JK Scott boomed punts from his own end zone in a situational drill.
Numerous players also worked as gunners and focused on shedding blocks on a picturesque morning at The Bolt.
