Despite No Catches, Brenden Rice Impresses in Chargers Preseason Debut

It is tough to judge the results of the Los Angeles Chargers offense in their preseason loss since Easton Stick played terribly, but the ultimate guide and undeniable football metric will always be playing time. And rookie seventh-rounder Brenden Rice got a lot .

Among offensive players, only offensive lineman Foster Sarell played more snaps than Rice, 47 to Rice’s 43. Only those two players logged more than 40.

Brenden Rice Leads All Chargers Playmakers With 43 Snaps

Snaps for the wide receivers maintained a large gap. Fellow rookie, Ladd McConkey didn’t practice at all, while Simi Fehoko got 33 snaps. The closest comparable player to Rice in terms of experience and investment is Cornelius Johnson . By contrast, he played just eight snaps on Saturday.

What exactly this means isn’t entirely clear, but as the old saying goes, you only get better playing football by playing football. Getting Rice this much work is a net benefit for the former USC Trojan .

Unfortunately for him, the Chargers quarterbacks could connect with Rice, despite attempting to get him the ball on three targets. Rice showed off his slick route-running ability and was aggressive with defensive backs. His lack of explosive speed limited his separation on the routes he was targeted.

The Chargers are in a flying rebuild and nowhere is that more evident than in the wide receivers room. They added three players at the position in the draft and added DJ Chark in free agency. They must also evaluate the players under contract, Fehoko, Josh Palmer , and Quentin Johnston . As of one week of preseason play, nothing has been revealed about the teams plan at the position.

Brenden Rice enjoyed a standout season at USC in 2023 that vaulted him up the draft boards. As a key contributor to the Trojans’ offense, he showcased impressive receiving skills, hauling in 45 passes for 791 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns.

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