The Chargers dropped to 0-2 after a loss to the Raiders on Sunday.
Once again, the Chargers looked flat and stale on both sides of the ball. A lot went wrong for Los Angeles, including multiple offensive miscues and a 54.8% pressure rate against the offensive line.
Overall, the Chargers were more of the same in Week 2 than in Week 1.
There was very little to like and a lot to dislike. Here are the studs and duds in Week 2.
Studs
Omarion Hampton
Yes, he did have another fumble that ultimately led to the Chargers' loss; nonetheless, Hampton looked far better than he did in Week 1. Hampton found the end zone again and finished with 94 rushing yards on 23 carries. He also tallied two receptions for 21 yards. The 23-year-old must do a better job protecting
the ball, as it's cost the team in back-to-back games.
TE Oronde Gadsden II
The second-year tight end provided a crucial spark in the third quarter, tracking down a 10-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to momentarily give the Chargers a 14-10 lead. With Charlie Kolar and David Njoku placed on injured reserve, he will have the opportunity to serve as a vital piece in the passing game on a more consistent basis.
EDGE Akheem Mesidor
After a quiet professional debut, the first-round rookie bounced back in a big way against Las Vegas. Mesidor logged three tackles, two quarterback hits, and registered his first career partial sack (splitting it with Dalvin Tomlinson). He led the team with four pressures and secured a strong 79.4 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Derwin James Jr.
James had himself a solid game, recording seven tackles in Sunday's loss. He did it despite playing through a fractured left pinky finger. While James didn't have a game to forget, he was blunt afterward, telling reporters the Chargers "looked like trash."
"We got to look each other in the eye, man, and just tell the truth and just get better. Because right now, that s*** just looks trash," James said.
"I'm angry, but being angry don't fix anything."
His post-game comments could be what the Chargers need to get the team on track. It won't be easy, as they have a gauntlet of a schedule ahead; however, we've seen Los Angeles win games they aren't "supposed to."
Duds
Justin Herbert
Herbert looked uncomfortable more times than not in Week 2. The stats alone are alarming, as he recorded 15 of 27 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Herbert was also asked three times, and he fumbled the ball three times. In an offense expected to take the NFL by storm, the Chargers have averaged 290 offensive yards per game, ranking 22nd in the league.
Joe Alt
Alt had a very uncharacteristic game. The star tackle was called for three false starts and a holding penalty that was called a safety late in the fourth quarter.
After a stellar Week 1, Alt's Week 2 was forgettable.
Quentin Johnston
At this point, Johnston may be what he is. It was another contest where he dropped the ball multiple times.
In total, Johnston had one catch for seven yards on five targets.
Cameron Dicker
Dicker has not been the same since the 2026 season commenced, and that's talking about the preseason as well.
Dicker missed an early 58-yard field goal attempt that disrupted early momentum. He's 0-for-1 in field goal attempts to start the season.
Tuli Tuipulotu
Tuipulotu failed to generate pressure against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon. He was nowhere to be found as he recorded only one tackle and only one quarterback hit in the contest.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers' studs and duds in Week 2 loss to Raiders
