Chargers Training Camp has returned to El Segundo as the Bolts practiced in full pads for just under two hours Thursday.
The Chargers will practice at 5 p.m. each of the next two days before an off day Sunday.
Here is the Chargers Camp Report from Thursday’s practice:
1. Bolts defense steps up
The Chargers defense was missing some big-name players Thursday as Khalil Mack and Derwin James, Jr. took veteran rest days while working in the weight room.
But that didn’t stop the defense from winning the day as the unit seemingly made one play after another in team drills.
The Chargers held a run-focused, 9-on-7 drill early in practice where the defense swarmed on almost every play.
Teair Tart opened the drill with a tackle for loss as Daiyan Henley followed with the same result on the next play.
“Teair has just done a great job getting better … very excited about where he’s at,” said Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter.
Tre’Mon Morris-Brash later stuffed a run at the line of scrimmage as the defense set the tone early on in practice.
“It was exciting. It was our first time really in pads, inside drill, 9-on-7,” Minter said. “Love the drill and I think the guys were amped for it knowing it was the first time we might be kind of ‘thudding’ the drill.
“Not tackling people but hitting people,” Minter added. “They were playing fast and downhill and aggressive … certainly great to see, especially the D-line making the plays they were able to make.”
The pass rush showed up later in team drills as Bud Dupree notched a sack before he split one with Otito Ogbonnia later in the drill. Donte Jackson had an interception on the latter play but it likely would have been nullified by the sack.
Jackson, by the way, also showed up in run support in the same practice period.
The Chargers later worked on a drill that had the offense backed up inside its own 5-yard line.
Junior Colson flashed here with a likely sack, and he teamed with Justin Eboigbe for a tackle for loss in a later drill.
“I’ve seen him playing really fast, downhill, physical,” Minter said of Colson. “He made a bunch of plays today.
“I see him just getting his confidence and growing … and part of it is that other guys’ confidence in him is growing, which is cool to see,” Minter added.
Minter said of Eboigbe: “He’s been dominant in there at times.”
The defense capped off their strong day with a pick 6 as rookie undrafted free agent Nikko Reed took an interception back roughly 15 yards to the house.
“I think he’s got a chance. He’s got a really good sense playing nickel,” Minter said. “He was really well-trained and then has a good skillset. He came out of Oregon and played well there.
“Just has the ability to play that position … he’s just gotten better and better,” Minter added.
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