Dallas Cowboys at Chargers: The latest news from the L.A. side of things

What’s happening with the L.A. Chargers?

• By
  
  TCDeckard
  
• on October 13, 2023 8:00 pm

Chargers QB Justin Herbert (finger) expects no restrictions on Monday vs. Cowboys – Kevin Patra, NFL.com

The Chargers’ signal-caller doesn’t look ahead to any setbacks this Monday evening.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert doesn’t be expecting the injured finger on his non-throwing hand to have an effect on him in Monday evening’s showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.

“I think there’s so much going on during the game that you’re probably not going to be worrying about it too much,” he mentioned, via ESPN. “I think you’re just going to be worried about not getting tackled or not taking those hits. Whether it’s a scramble, it’s about being safe and getting down. That’s in the back of your mind.”

Herbert suffered the injury after throwing an interception in Week 4. The QB completed the recreation with a big splint on his hand and took snaps out of the shotgun. Having a bye remaining week helped be sure Herbert can be wholesome for the matchup towards offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s former membership.

“I think it gets better every day,” Herbert mentioned. “It’s nice having the bye week to get our bodies back. I think it’s getting better every day.”

Both Herbert and trainer Brandon Staley mentioned the harm wouldn’t prohibit the under-center play calls Moore could make Monday. Still, the utilization is one thing to trace throughout the contest, particularly if Herbert is taking a beating from the Cowboys move rush.

Jerry Jones compares Brock Purdy to Kellen Moore ahead of Cowboys’ clash with Chargers – Austin Nivison, CBS Sports

Jones notes that the Cowboys subsequent opponent is very similar to their remaining opponent in soccer IQ.

“I have dreaded seeing Kellen on this occasion,” Jones mentioned. “Kellen is one of my favorites, as far as individuals. He’s a talented coach. Make no mistake about it.”

This previous offseason Moore left the Cowboys to take the Chargers’ offensive coordinator activity. Asked about why Moore left for the similar function on any other workforce, Jones took accountability for that.

“I had everything to do with that,” Jones mentioned.

Jones defined that he sought after head trainer Mike McCarthy to name performs, which is one thing he most often would have performed if Moore hadn’t been on the team of workers when McCarthy were given employed in 2020. Now, Moore gets the likelihood to actual some revenge on his former workforce this weekend.

Chargers’ reasons for optimism vs. Cowboys – Alex Katson, USA Today

Aside from a Kellen Moore “revenge game,” the Chargers produce other assets of self belief.

Offensive woes

McCarthy’s criticisms of Moore in March, after the Cowboys parted techniques with the coordinator, were very public. The Cowboys head trainer bemoaned Moore’s need to “light the scoreboard up” somewhat than controlling time of ownership and mentioned, “I don’t desire to be the No. 1 offense in the league. I want to be the No. 1 team in the league with several wins and a championship.”

Well, thru 5 video games, Dallas has neither. They are 3-2, however their lackluster offense has been the greatest speaking level this season, with a number of deficient performances after a forged begin to the season towards the Giants. Dak Prescott has thrown 4 interceptions, 3 towards the 49ers remaining week. CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks’ usages were irritating, each for enthusiasts of the workforce and the gamers themselves.

Injuries galore

Do you assume the Chargers are coping with a ton of accidents? Dallas put seventeen gamers on the harm document on Thursday, with seven extra on injured reserve. A couple of of the ones are rest-related – veterans Stephon Gilmore, Johnathan Hankins, Demarcus Lawrence, Zack Martin, and Tyron Smith have been all DNPs with relaxation designations – but it surely’s nonetheless a long listing of gamers Dallas could also be with out on Monday evening.

The maximum notable gamers are cornerback Trevon Diggs, returner KaVontae Turpin, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, and working again Tony Pollard. Diggs is on injured reserve with a knee harm. Turpin, who returned a punt and a kickoff for a landing in the preseason towards the Chargers remaining season, didn’t apply Thursday with an ankle harm. Vander Esch didn’t apply because of concussion protocol and has a neck harm. A shoulder factor restricted Pollard.

Monday Night Herbert

Justin Herbert is 3-1 on Monday Night Football, together with his most effective loss coming as a rookie in 2020 towards the Drew Brees-led Saints in a 30-27 time beyond regulation duel. In 4 profession outings, Herbert has finished 66.3% of his passes for 959 yards and 7 touchdowns on ESPN’s primetime programming.

Chargers News: This Defensive Weakness Could Come Back To Bite LA Vs Cowboys – Matt Levine, Sports Illustrated

The Chargers have a evident weak spot that Dallas will most likely attempt to exploit.

Dallas prospers off working the soccer, and they’ll glance to do exactly that towards the Bolts this week. The Chargers haven’t been excellent at preventing the run, and the Cowboys can be good to milk all of it recreation. If they are able to set the rhythm early via working the ball, it might finally end up being an extended evening for the LA devoted.

In a recent piece, Gavino Borquez of Chargers Wire takes a glance at LA’s struggles with run protection and the way it can come again to chunk them this week, in the shape of Cowboys working again Tony Pollard.

“Pollard hasn’t been that efficient in fresh motion, as he has totaled not up to 50 dashing yards in his remaining two video games. And whilst the Chargers were lovely forged at protecting the run, opposing working backs in the passing recreation have brought about problems for them. Los Angeles is permitting the fifth-most receiving yards to working backs, with their most up-to-date recreation being the place Josh Jacobs stuck 8 passes for 81 yards. Pollard may well be utilized in the similar method.

Per Gavino Borquez of Chargers Wire

If the Chargers can comprise the run, it could power Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott to have to overcome them. Prescott is a superb participant, however he will get into bother when the workforce is pressured to depend on him for the whole thing.

It will probably be as much as the Chargers defensive entrance to restrict the injury from the Cowboys working assault, and if they are able to, it might lead to a win. This will probably be a big phase of this recreation to look at, and can most likely dictate who wins.

Friday’s harm document for the Cowboys.

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