The Los Angeles Chargers are ready to embark on a new era in team history as Jim Harbaugh has taken over as head coach. Fams are just days away from seeing this new-look squad host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.
There will be plenty to follow with this team in 2024 as the Chargers look for a quick bounce-back after a disappointing 5-12 season. Predictions from around the NFL media are all over the place, but on Tuesday, nearly every panelist on Good Morning Football put them in the playoffs.
We're here to help you get ready for the season. Here are the top storylines to follow in 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers top 2024 storylines
How long will it take for Jim Harbaugh's brand of football to find success?
This team is going to be much different than what you saw last year under Brandon Staley, it will be like day and night.
Jim Harbaugh has been in many places both in college and the NFL as a head coach and he has found success everywhere. That hasn't happened by chance, it's because he has a plan and he sticks to it.
Harbaugh starts with an overwhelming offensive line and pounds the rock with the running game. But he's also never coached a quarterback as talented as Justin Herbert, so this could turn into something big. How long that takes is the question.
Justin Herbert's foot
This preseason, Chargers fans heard way more than they ever wanted to about the backup quarterback position . But that was much more about Herbert than it was any of them.
If Herbert's plantar fascia injury poses any trouble for the team down the road this season, it's a situation that could certainly come back to haunt the team.
Chargers wide receivers... or lack thereof
For those out there who are scoffing at the idea of the Chargers finding success in year one under Harbaugh, the first argument is generally the fact that the team doesn't have enough depth at wide receiver.
The Chargers moved on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason (as well as tight end Gerald Everett) and the consensus is that the team didn't do enough to replace them.
Names like D.J. Chark and Joshua Palmer could be called up in key situations this year, but the Chargers don't seem concerned with their group, and big things are expected out of rookie Ladd McConkey.
Health of the running back room
There are questions at all the key positions on offense for the Chargers, and there is no exception at running back.
The Chargers signed Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency, and they are expected to carry the load. But both have an injury history and the only other running backs on the roster are sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins, who has 93 career rushing yards.
The Chargers can't afford for their former Ravens running backs to spend the majority of this season on the sideline.
Former Titans players
The Chargers will have plenty of new names and faces this year and for a group of former Tennessee Titans , those names and faces could greatly dictate how this season goes. Since the 2023 season ended, the Chargers have added these former Titans:
- Kristian Fulton, CB
- Bud Dupree, Edge
- Teair Tart, DL
- Hassan Haskins, RB
- Elijah Molden, DB
- Dez Fitzpatrick, WR (practice squad)
Most of these players should see significant playing time in 2024 and all of them are part of the overall rebuilding project being led by Joe Hortiz and Harbaugh.
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