Bolt-Pulse: LACI Chargers Report

The Los Angeles Chargers hit the 2025 season rolling with back-to-back divisional road wins, a feat that intensifies the Herbert-MVP chatter while masking a few midstream concerns. Justin Herbert has carried the offense with surgical efficiency in the first two games: Five touchdowns, zero interceptions, and an impressive opening-day performance against Kansas City that read like a franchise benchmark (25 of 34, 318 yards, 3 TDs). In Week 2 at Las Vegas Raiders, he stayed clean, going 19 of 27 for 242 yards with two scorers and adding a team-best 31 rushing yards. The early pace is historic for the Bolts, mirroring franchise-era precision rather than last-season volatility.

The pass game has blossomed around a growing receiving corps. Quentin Johnston is the breakout spark, highlighted by a 60-yard TD connection with Herbert in Week 2 and a 71-yard receiving night, signaling a true downfield threat opposite Keenan Allen, who is back to veteran form with multiple targets and a TD in Week 2. Johnston’s emergence complements the veteran floor Allen provides, giving Herbert a cleaner, more explosive target tree than a year ago. Week 1 also underscored Allen’s steady floor, with five catches for 61 yards in the Raiders game and the early-season connectivity evident across routes and timing.

The backfield remains a work in progress, tilted toward a committee that has yet to produce a clean 100-yard rush game. Omarion Hampton carried eight times for 24 yards in Week 2 and fumbled late, while Najee Harris added eight carries for 28 yards to close out the game. The run game isn’t just about yards; it’s about balancing play-action timing for Herbert and widening the field for the passing attack as the line stabilizes. The run-blocking has shown resilience, but the group has yet to assert a consistent, game-altering ground presence.

Defensively, Los Angeles has anchored the two-game start with a rapid, playmaking identity. Daiyan Henley anchored a standout Week 2 with 10 tackles, a sack, and an interception; Derwin James’ versatility and Tarheeb Still’s tackling galvanize a unit that pressured Geno Smith effectively, producing three picks in the Chargers win. The defense has flourished despite the temporary loss of Khalil Mack, who left Week 2 with an elbow injury and is expected to miss multiple weeks, forcing internal depth to elevate. In the immediate term, Bud Dupree, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Caleb Murphy step into larger roles as edge pressure persists. Slater’s absence on the line also tests protection, though Herbert’s time to throw remains favorable.

Injury-wise, Khalil Mack’s dislocated elbow will shape pass-rush plans, and Rashawn Slater’s absence dents pass protection and run blocking. The roster thickens behind them, with the Broncos visiting SoFi in Week 3 as the Chargers chase a 3-0 start. For fantasy and betting, Herbert’s accuracy and the Johnston-Allen duo provide ceiling, while the run game offers upside only with greater efficiency and better protection. The trajectory remains bright if the defense sustains its bite and the offense keeps executing with discipline.

Notes: Week 3 opponent Denver at home: Herbert’s pace is historic for the franchise through two games; Mack’s absence will test the edge rotation and overall defense. Bolt up!

Love that QJ had a deep completion for a score.
Love that Alt is already one of the best Offensive Tackles in the NFL 20 games into his career even better ❤️🥹#TDUFilm🎥 #RockofGibrALTer🪨 pic.twitter.com/aMqKsDBR7F

— Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast (@TDU_Chargers) September 18, 2025