RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 13: Wide Receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith of the Los Angeles Chargers runs with the ball after a reception during the NFL preseason game between Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers on August 13, 2026, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Chargers racked up almost 400 yards of offense (379) against the Texans which is an impressive feat given how good DeMeco Ryans has been at coaching up that unit in recent years. Defensively, they were top notch, as well. Houston recorded just 209 yards and turned the ball over three times while mainly being quarterbacked by veteran Davis Mills.
Across the board, there were standouts everywhere at almost every position. Below are six players I thought stood out the most during Thursday night’s win over the Texans.
OG/C Jake Slaughter
Slaughter started the game at center and eventually moved to left guard in the second quarter. He looked comfortable at both positions, mainly in pass protection where he showed the capability to dissect and pass off stunts/twists by the defense.
Right away, Slaughter looked the part with his high football IQ and elite athleticism. He needs to keep his pad level down a bit which is always comes with being a taller interior lineman, but that will naturally come with time.
Regardless, this was a great first step.
#Chargers @PFF pass blocking grades vs Texans: Travis Burke: 40.1 (0 sacks/2 pressures) Branson Taylor: 84.2 (0 sacks/0 pressures) Jake Slaughter: 72.5 (0 sacks/1 pressure) Kayode Awosika: 81.2 (0 sacks & 2 pressures) Logan Taylor: 62.0 (0 sacks/1 pressure) Josh… pic.twitter.com/9Xr6yctHk4
— RIBH (@RunItBackHerbo) August 14, 2026
DT Jahmeer Carter
Carter entered a crowded interior defender room when he was signed this year as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia. He was always going to need to make a huge impression in camp to stand out in any way, and I believe he did just that on Thursday night.
The 6’2, 311-pounder was stout in the run game and made two of the biggest plays on defense with a knifing tackle for loss and the only sack recorded by the Chargers on the night.
QB D.J. Uiagalelei
In the first chance for an impression in the battle for QB2, it was Uiagalelei that made the bigger impression with a cleaner and more efficient outing against the Texans. With six completions on nine attempts, DJU racked up 120 yards mainly aided by a 55-yard catch-and-run by running back Amar Johnson. Still, the throw hit Johnson in stride which allowed him to reach top speed in a moment before coasting nearly untouched up the sideline.
Later on in the second half, Uiagalelei escaped a sack, hit a 180, and broke the pocket to the right before lofting a pass to Dalevon Campbell. The tall wideout brought it down and went for a gain of 33 yards (before, you know, the fumble).
While Uiagalelei may have had the benefit of playing against the third-stringers and some easy yards, it’s hard not to come away from this game feeling like the battle to backup Justin Herbert just became a bit more heated.
RB Amar Johnson
Johnson was the star of Thursday night’s win with his 85-yard, two-touchdown performance.
The second-year player out of South Dakota State scored the first two touchdowns of the game and authored the longest play between either team with a 55-yard catch-and-run that helped set up his second score. Johnson possesses sub-4.40 speed and he showed it by beating second level defenders to the corner multiple times.
Johnson was a preseason darling for the Packers last year before the Bolts signed him and I think he may have played his way into the team’s RB4 role as a lock for the practice squad.
Amar Johnson Shines. Forever A Jackrabbit. 💙🏈🐰 Incase you missed it. 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/MnN6iOFl1X
— GT SD Jack’s 🐰🐰 (@realredsd) August 14, 2026
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
As a rookie, Lambert-Smith was the favorite target for Trey Lance during the preseason. That relationship picked back up right where it left off on Thursday night.
KLS hauled in a team-high four receptions for 58 yards (second on the team) while tying Brenen Thompson for the team lead with six targets. He was also almost on the end of a would-be play-of-the-game when Lance lofted a deep ball up the right sideline on a third-and-long. It was thrown behind, but KLS’ adjustment allowed him to box out the defender which made the ball soar perfectly into his chest. Unfortunately he could not secure it and it ultimately fell incomplete.
Still quite the night for KLS who continues to be right there on the fringe of making the active roster depending on just how many the staff wants to keep in their initial 53.
TE Jake Pascuzzi
A former Iowa tight end which doesn’t make me biased at all here, Pascuzzi finished his career at Tulane where he was a one-year starter. The receiving numbers were never there in his career, but it seems like those Hawkeye fundamentals were drilled in thoroughly nonetheless.
Pascuzzi actually finished second behind KLS with three receptions for 39 yards, also good for third on the Bolts offense. Two of those receptions went for first downs which is nice efficiency for the undrafted rookie.
The tight end room is stacked, but there’s a potential path for Pascuzzi to stick around as the team’s backup fullback behind Alec Ingold. Scott Matlock has been getting reps at tight end and offensive tackle this camp due to the fullback position now being a totally different role in Mike McDaniels’ offense. Pascuzzi now fits much better there with his skillset over Matlock.
Backup fullback is not a rosterable position in the NFL, but it is good enough to be a practice squad lock.
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