While the Chargers suffered a frustrating 26-14 season-opening loss to the Cardinals, several things provided strong building blocks for the rest of the season.
Here are five silver linings from the Week 1 game.
Return of the tackles
The most important development for the Chargers' long-term outlook occurred along the offensive line. Tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt both made their highly anticipated returns, played the entire game, and left the contest completely healthy. Slater allowed just two pressures, while Alt allowed none on 39 pass-blocking snaps. Last season's injury-riddled campaign severely handcuffed the offense. With both cornerstone blockers back, quarterback Justin Herbert has the edge protection he needs.
Ladd McConkey's return to rookie season form
Any questions about who would serve as the
focal point of the passing attack were answered. McConkey looked like his highly productive 2024 rookie self, leading all Chargers pass-catchers with five receptions for 82 yards. He was spectacular on the team's opening drive, hauling in three catches for 60 yards to get the offense humming. McConkey later kept the Bolts within striking distance with an incredibly athletic eight-yard touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone in the third quarter. He is day-to-day with a rib injury, and it's unclear if he will play this weekend against the Raiders. But it's clear the chemistry between him and Herbert is as strong as ever.
Ladd McConkey: one of the few Chargers who showed up to the dance yesterday.
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) September 14, 2026
Hope he's not out for long...cause if he is😨 pic.twitter.com/DshoYTyIfA
David Njoku's impact
No one knew who would emerge as the top pass-catching tight end, but it was Njoku who stepped up in the first game. He led the group in every receiving category, catching all five of his targets for 58 yards while also running the most routes (17) of any Chargers tight end. Oronde Gadsden II was efficient in a smaller role (2-for-2, 32 yards), and Charlie Kolar ran a solid number of routes (12) but wasn't targeted in the passing game that week. Njoku's ability to get open and create yards after the catch gave the Chargers another much-needed spark in a rather underwhelming offense on Sunday. It'll be worth monitoring the tight end target share as the weeks go on.
Jake Slaughter in pass protection
With veteran center Tyler Biadasz suffering a season-ending injury, Slaughter, the second-round pick, was thrown straight into the fire for his first career regular-season start. The 23-year-old experienced some lows, logging two costly penalties during a sequence late in the fourth quarter that ultimately left the offense stranded in a third-and-30 situation. But the former Florida product held his own in pass protection for most of the game, allowing zero pressures against a solid Cardinals interior.
Interior defensive line
Despite the overall defensive struggles, coach Mike Elston's group played well. They contained the Cardinals' rushing attack, ultimately limiting them to 3.4 yards per carry. Teair Tart's ability to absorb double teams and clog running lanes earned him a 70.3 PFF grade, making him one of the Chargers' top five defensive performers for the game. Building off his active rookie campaign, Jamaree Caldwell was also highly active. He recorded five tackles and broke through for a quarterback hit on Jacoby Brissett.
The Chargers defended the inside run against the Cardinals very well. Teair Tart and Jamaree Caldwell, in particular, stood out.
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) September 15, 2026
Just had to highlight this pass-rush rep from Caldwell. This is phenomenal flexibility to flatten his pursuit of the QB for someone who's 340 pounds. pic.twitter.com/WrCZW1PBaw
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 5 major silver linings from the Chargers' Week 1 loss to the Cardinals
