EL SEGUNDO — The Chargers concluded their mandatory, three-day minicamp on Thursday afternoon at their gleaming, nearly 1-year-old practice facility. Here’s some of what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after the veterans were given a break until training camp begins July 17:
WHAT, RASHAWN WORRY?
Left tackle Rashawn Slater said he had no concerns about when his anticipated contract extension might be completed. He said he arrived as scheduled this week for minicamp because it was important to be on the field, in the weight room and the locker room with his teammates.
“I don’t want to miss any time,” he said. “It’s important. This is what we do.”
Slater also said he was content to let his agent hammer out the details of a new contract. Extensions for quarterback Justin Herbert, in 2023, and safety Derwin James Jr., in 2022, were completed during past training camps, and there’s little reason to believe the Chargers won’t do the same for Slater.
Herbert agreed to his new deal on the eve of camp in ’23.
James signed his extension a little more than a week into camp one year earlier.
Herbert ($37 million), James ($23 million) and Slater ($19 million) have the Chargers’ three highest salary cap hits for the 2025 season, according to statistics compiled by the website overthecap.com. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack has the fourth-highest cap hit at $18 million.
“My agent is having those conversations on my behalf,” Slater said. “I’m focused on training. Whatever happens happens. To be honest with you, I’m just going to continue training. That’s been my thing since Day 1. My agent is handling everything for me. I’m not super concerned about it.”
HERBERT UPDATE
After playing under three different offensive coordinators in as many seasons, Herbert and Greg Roman are back together for their second year. After a steep learning curve after Roman joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the Chargers, Herbert has found his comfort zone in the offense.
“Every day he impresses me in a million different ways,” Roman said of Herbert. “Just in how he goes about his business. He could go out and run practice. He knows this offense inside and out now. Last year at this time, it was his third system in three years, so that was a challenge.
“This year, him and some of the guys progressed through things, kind of changed how we installed the offense. This year, we prioritized different things. We understand who we are now. What we do will be a little different in how we do it, how we practice it. That kind of a thing.”
HERBERT (PART 2)
Herbert was unfazed when asked how he dealt with the Chargers’ wild-card loss to the Houston Texans, when he threw a career-high four interceptions in a 32-12 defeat, one more than he threw during the 17-game regular season. His response was short and to the point, calling it just like any other loss.
“I thought we were off to a good start in that game,” Roman said. “A couple of key things didn’t go our way. We could have handled it better. The result of that game, nobody’s happy about. Got a chance to look at it, understand it, take a hard look at it. Put it to bed and move on.
“Here we are in June. Excited about the new year.”
HENLEY HONORED
Inside linebacker Daiyan Henley showed off a certificate for being the best yapper, as judged by the Chargers’ crack social media team. It was a proud moment, to be sure, but Henley said he’s also trying for a perfect attendance certificate, so he expects to join the rookies at Monday’s OTA.
“It’s been a good week, man,” he said. “In order to be a good yapper you have to do something. You have to do something whether it’s in practice or a game because if you’re yapping and not doing anything, you’re a pretty easy target. You call me a yapper all you want. As long as I’m producing something, I’ll be that yapper.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
The Chargers will hold three days of organized team activities for their rookies on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before breaking until training camp begins July 17. The first of their four preseason exhibition games will be against the Detroit Lions on July 31 in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
