The Colts were a runaway train on offense before coming to SoFi Stadium in Week Seven.
That train arrived in Los Angeles jacked up with nitrous and a full blown rocket ship strapped to the roof.
After averaging 32.3 points per game prior to Sunday, the Colts improved on that number by scoring 38 points behind a massive game from running back Jonathan Taylor who may have placed himself squarely in the NFL MVP conversation with three touchdowns on the day,
By the time the Chargers offense found their groove, they were already down by three scores. Even when the Justin Herbert led the Bolts to three consecutive scoring drives, the Colts were able to two of them with touchdowns of their own.
The Chargers had their shot at a comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, but they ultimately fell short of converting on their fourth consecutive fourth down scenario which gave way to the Colts to be able to run out the clock.
Herbert finished the game with a career-high 420 passing yards to go with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Those numbers were inflated in part to a non-existent run game that finished with 54 yards on 16 carries. Herbert also led the ground game with 31 yards on six scrambles.
On the day the Chargers inducted former tight end Antonio Gates into their Hall of Fame, rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II caught seven passes for a career high 164 yards and his first career touchdown. Keenan Allen also went over the 100-yard mark (11 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD) and the two became the first Bolts teammates to both go over 100 yards in the same game since 2013.
In his return from IR, Khalil Mack sacked Daniel Jones in what would be the Chargers’ only takedown of the quarterback all game long. Derwin James led the defense with seven total tackles while Jamaree Caldwell and Teair Tart each posted a tackle for loss.
The Chargers fall to 4-3 on the season and have a short week before hosting the 3-3 Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football.
For an entire recap of today’s game, check it out below!
First Quarter
The Chargers won the coin toss and chose to defer. The Colts offense was up first.
On the third play of the opening drive, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones faked a handoff to running back Jonathan Taylor before turning and firing a pass to tight end Tyler Warren who was left uncovered and the rookie took it for a big 29-yard gain. Several plays later, Taylor took a handoff off the right tackle and sprinted nearly untouched for a 23-yard touchdown to put the Colts up 6-0 early in the first quarter after former Bolts kicker Michale Badgley missed the extra point attempt.
On the first play of the Chargers’ opening drive, left tackle Austin Deculus was injured and taken to the sideline. Foster Sarell replaced him and the Chargers were already down to their sixth and seventh offensive tackles of the season.
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston drew a pass interference flag that moved the Chargers 25 yards all the way to the Colts 29-yard line. Two plays later, facing a third-and-one, right guard Mekhi Becton was called for a false start. That penalty was then followed by a hold on left guard Zion Johnson. The second penalty ended up being declined by the Colts to force a 43-yard kick from Cameron Dicker who hit it home to minimize the early Indy lead to 6-3.
The Colts continued to get whatever they wanted on the ground during their second drive. On the final play of the quarter, Indy faced a fourth-and-two but chose to let the clock hit zero before the break.
Second Quarter
On the opening play of the second quarter, Colts head coach Shane Steichen dialed up a nifty RPO that got receiver Michael Pittman Jr. wide open underneath for a walk-in touchdown. The score put the Colts up 13-3 after a 17-play drive that took over eight minutes off the clock.
The Chargers offense was quickly subdued after just four plays. Indianapolis then responded with another touchdown drive that stretched eight plays and 80 yards, capped off by a touchdown pass from Jones to Warren who beat linebacker Dayian Henley over the middle. The score put the Colts up 20-3 with nearly nine minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Herbert “threw” his fifth interception of the season on the ensuing drive when defensive tackle Grover Stewart swatted a pass attempt to himself.
Unfortunately, the bad beats didn’t stop there.
After forcing the Colts into their first three-and-out of the game, the Chargers looked like they may finally find the end zone after pushing the ball all the way to the Indy 11. On third-and-seven from the eight-yard line, Herbert scanned the field for some time before letting loose a bullet towards Johnston but Colts safety Nick Cross had great positioning and managed to snag the pass with one arm to secure Herbert’s second interception of the day (sixth on the year).
The Colts went to work and pushed the ball into field goal range before the half to tack on three more points and head into the locker room with a 23-3 lead over the Bolts at the half.
Third Quarter
On the second play of the half, Herbert fired over the middle to Gadsden who broke multiple tackles and sprinted upfield for a massive 53-yard gain. That gave the rookie a new career high of 105 receiving yards on just three receptions.
Stopped short of the sticks on third down, the Chargers rolled the diced and went for it on fourth-and-seven. Herbert faked a handoff to Vidal before ripping a pass to Johnston for their first touchdown of the game. The score minimized the deficit to 23-10 with 13:01 remaining in the quarter.
After the much-needed score, the Chargers let up an 80-yard kickoff return to veteran back Ameer Abdullah. Two plays later, Jonathan Taylor took a jet sweep and beat everyone to the pylon for his second touchdown on the ground. Someone missed their assignment on the two-point try as Pittman Jr. was left wide open.
So just like that, the Bolts were again down three scores with the scoreboard showing 31-10.
Herbert pushed the offense right back down the field, going 76 yards in 10 plays. Keenan Allen did a lot of work on the drive, catching two different passes of 17 yards before hauling in the touchdown to cap it all off. Once again, the Chargers minimized the lead to 14.
But alas, the Colts train could not be stopped on the other side.
Indianapolis went 73 yards in just five plays thanks to big0time efforts by their stars. Warren got the drive going with a 29-yard catch and run on the first play and Taylor went nearly untouched for a 19-yard score to put the Colts back up by three touchdowns.
Fourth Quarter
Oronde Gadsden continued his career day by scoring the first touchdown of his career from 15 yards out. Herbert stepped up in the pocket, floated to his right, and rifled a pass to the rookie to once again being the score back within two touchdowns at 38-24. Gadsden was now up to 156 yards on only six receptions.
For one of the few times in this game, the Chargers forced another punt from the Colts. Needed to score two touchdowns, the Bolts had all the pressure on them to march down the filed once more after finding the end zone on the previous three drives.
Herbert and Co. faced a fourth-and-seven deep in their own territory early on. Rookie wideout Tre’ Harris got open on a quick slant to convert and the drive continued.
The final drive for the Chargers lasted 21 plays but ultimately ended with a turnover on downs as they could not convert a fourth-and-27 (their fourth fourth down of the drive). The Bolts had first-and-10 at the Indy 28 but a sack from DeForest Buckner set them back to second-and-22. That was then followed up by an incompletion on third and a delay of game penalty to back them up even further. The final play for the Chargers was a 23-yard gain by Johnston who could not make the line to gain.
Once the Colts got the ball back, they never relinquished it thanks to Taylor’s legs. Indianapolis would go on to kneel out the clock and improve to 6-1 while the Chargers fell to 4-3.
- Chargers vs. Colts: How to watch, game time, TV schedule, streaming, and more
- Chargers-Colts Final Injury Report: Joe Alt doubtful vs. Indy
- 3 things to watch for in Chargers-Colts: How does one simply stop Jonathan Taylor?
- 5 Questions with Stampede Blue: Colts wants to stop Justin Herbert and score a ton of points
- Chargers-Colts Thursday Injury Report: It got even bigger
- Chargers Daily Links: Chargers-Colts prediction thread
- Chargers sign 2 to practice squad, release C Josh Kaltenberger
- Chargers vs. Colts By The Numbers: Indy’s runaway train is coming to SoFi
On Tuesday afternoon, he Chargers announced a trio of roster transactions.
First, the team is placing defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia on IR with an elbow injury he sustained this past Sunday against the Colts. In a corresponding move to fill his spot on the active roster, the team is signing long snapper Rick Lovato.
In their third move of the day, the Chargers are signing running back Trayveon Williams to the practice squad with Hassan Haskins nursing an injury that would have kept him out of practice if one had taken place on Monday.
The 28-year old Williams is a former sixth-round pick of the Bengals in 2019 out of Texas A&M. In six professional seasons, he has 307 career rushing yards and 74 receiving yards. Most recently, Williams has spent stints on both the Patriots and Browns practice squads this season.
If Haskins is not able to go on Thursday night, the Chargers will be down to Kimani Vidal and Nyheim Miller-Hines as the top rushers. Amar Johnson could also be elevated from the practice squad, as well.
It’s a short week for the 4-3 Chargers who will welcome the 3-3 Vikings into SoFi Stadium on Thursday night.
Both teams are coming off losses. The Bolts were handled at home against the Colts and the Vikings were exploited through the air by Jalen Hurts and the Philly offense.
Minnesota is once again starting Carson Wentz at quarterback. He’s been nothing more than a game manager for them thus far and, fortunately for the Chargers, hasn’t been doing that great of a job. There’s a chance here for the Bolts to get in his face early and often. That may end up being a key factor in this game given that star wideout Justin Jefferson will also be
With that said, here’s a quick screenshot of how these two teams fare on paper after the first six weeks of the season.
Let’s dive in!
Chargers Offense
Total yards per game: 372.2 (4th)
Points per game: 21.6 (20th)
Passing yards per game: 261.6 (3rd)
Rushing yards per game: 111.1 (16th)
Top Performers
Passing: QB Justin Herbert – 1,913 passing yards, 13 touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Omarion Hampton – 314
Rushing touchdowns: RB Omarion Hampton – 2
Receiving yards: WR Keenan Allen – 435
Receptions: WR Keenan Allen – 44
Receiving touchdowns: WR Quentin Johnston – 5
Chargers Defense
Total yards allowed per game: 315.9 (13th)
Points allowed per game: 23.3 (18th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 192.3 (8th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 123.6 (19th)
Top Performers
Tackles: LB Derwin James – 49
Tackles for loss: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 7
Sacks: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 5
Passes Defended: CB Tarheeb Still, CB Benjamin St-Juste – 5
Interceptions: S Tony Jefferson – 2
Forced fumbles: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, DT Teair Tart – 1
Fumble recoveries: DT Teair Tart – 1
Vikings Offense
Total yards per game: 318.7 (20th)
Points per game: 24.2 (15th)
Passing yards per game: 214.8 (17th)
Rushing yards per game: 103.8 (20th)
Top Performers
Passing: QB Carson Wentz – 1,072 passing yards, 5 touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Jordan Mason – 380
Rushing touchdowns: RB Jordan Mason – 4
Receiving yards: WR Justin Jefferson – 528
Receptions: WR Justin Jefferson – 34
Receiving Touchdowns: TE Josh Oliver – 2
Vikings Defense
Total yards allowed per game: 301.7 (9th)
Points allowed per game: 20.8 (11th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 184.0 (7th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 117.7 (18th)
Top Performers
Tackles: LB Eric Wilson – 41
Tackles for loss: EDGE Jonathan Greenard – 6
Sacks: DT Jalen Redmond – 3
Passes Defended: S Josh Metellus – 3
Interceptions: S Josh Metellus, CB Isaiah Rodgers – 1
Forced fumbles: CB Isaiah Rodgers, LB Eric Wilson – 2
Fumble recoveries: 5 players tied w/ 1
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Chargers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Heading into Week 8, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!
Truly great performances in the NFL never go unnoticed. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden’s magnificent outing against the Colts this past Sunday was the talk of the football world in the days that followed because, well, how often does a day three rookie go for 164 yards and a touchdown on just seven catches? Especially a guy who wasn’t even active for the first two games of the year?
Well, the NFL was finally put on notice about the potential of the young Chargers pass catcher and the league gave him his flowers by naming Gadsden the Pepsi Rookie of the Week.
Gadsden’s postgame accolade is the latest in a young season that also saw rookie running back Omarion Hampton earn the Angry Runs scepter from NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt via his show Good Morning Football following his ferocious charge through the Giants defense in Week Four.
With plenty of season left, I don’t think it’s crazy to expect much more from Gadsden as the season rolls on.
Will he break 1,000 yards? Become a bigger focal point of the offense? I sure can’t wait to find out!
The Los Angeles Chargers are back in the win column with a 37-10 victory against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8’s edition of Thursday Night Football.
In the win, quarterback Justin Herbert threw for three touchdowns — one each to tight end Oronde Gadsden II, wide receiver Ladd McConkey and rookie wideout Tre’ Harris. Kimani Vidal also ran for 117 yards and a touchdown of his own.
While the Chargers got a big win, they lost a few players due to injury, continuing a theme that has been all too familiar for the team this season. Defensive back Derwin James, safety Tony Jefferson, offensive lineman Mekhi Becton and cornerback Tarheeb Still each left the game with an injury, putting the Chargers even further behind the 8-ball.
The Chargers will luckily have a little more time to heal ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the struggling Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2.
The Chargers got excellent news following Thursday’s win over the Vikings as safety Derwin James — who left the contest early with an ankle injury — was diagnosed with a low ankle sprain. He’s expected to undergo an MRI on Friday and could very well miss little to know time depending on what they find.
With the Chargers coming off a Thursday Night Football win, the team gets a mini bye week before traveling to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans on the road. The Titans enter this week at 1-6 and if needed, the Chargers may feel as if James could miss that game to give him more rehab time before they host the Steelers at home the following week.
James is currently second on the team with 49 total tackles. He also has five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and an interception in what has been a well-rounded and productive season for the veteran.
The Chargers beat the Vikings with a full team effort, including some notable performances by the youngsters on the roster.
After being a non-factor for most of his rookie season, defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe sacked Carson Wentz twice, doubling his sack total on the year in one game. Rookie seventh-round safety R.J. Mickens also picked off Wentz late to all but seal the game.
Second-year back Kimani Vidal also pulled the wagon plenty in his third start, once again rushing for over 100 yards with a score.
A game like Thursday night’s shellacking deserves a lot of player spotlights, so let’s get into it. Here are five winners and three losers from the Chargers’ win over the Vikings in primetime.
Winners
QB Justin Herbert
Apart the almost-interception to begin the game — and the other actual interception later on — this was another stellar performance from Herbert over the Minnesota Vikings.
After nearly gifting the Vikings a touchdown on his first pass attempt, Herbert responded by throwing for just under 200 yards and two scores in the first half. He could have had an even bigger day, but the run game was churning along so well that the Chargers did not have to lean on Herbert at all in the final 30 minutes.
RB Kimani Vidal
For the second time in three games, Vidal has eclipsed the century mark. On Thursday night, he rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown. He ran hard and looked as if he was only getting better and better as the game went on. He had numerous runs of over 10 yards and he made Justin Herbert’s job a lot easier in the second half.
Who kept the faith in Kimani Vidal after last week and started him?pic.twitter.com/ENAWhQ3UUc
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) October 24, 2025
DL Justin Eboigbe
Eboigbe has taken over the mantle as the best interior pass rusher for the Chargers after leading the defense with two sacks of Carson Wentz. He now has four sacks on the year to go with four tackles for loss. He’s play has been huge with former starter Da’Shawn Hand still on IR since Week Five.
TE Oronde Gadsden II
Gadsden continued his first-year breakout by catching five passes for 77 yards and a second touchdown in as many games, all of which came in the first half. He unfortunately couldn’t stack on any more yards in the second half but the Chargers essentially ran the ball for the final 30 minutes so he’s certainly not to blame for falling off.
With the lowly Titans on the docket for Week Nine, I’d expect another standout game for Gadsden.
LIKE THIS IF YOU WERE ABLE TO PICK UP ORONDE GADSDENpic.twitter.com/Dc9dScNIYK
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 24, 2025
WR Ladd McConkey
McConkey caught another touchdown and led the Chargers in both receptions (six) and receiving yards (88). After going scoreless through the team’s first four games of the year, McConkey has caught a touchdown in three of the last four outings and has 255 receiving yards over the last three.
For those that thought McConkey’s time as WR1 was over, he’s right back where he left off as a rookie.
POV: Ladd McConkey scores six points right in front of you️ pic.twitter.com/wweYzLIIE3
— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2025Losers
WR Quentin Johnston
I’m not sure what happened to Johnston’s use in the passing game but we just saw the team leader in touchdown receptions — and truly the team’s top wideout through the first month of the year — go without a single target while playing the entire game on Thursday night.
Johnston played 38 snaps on the night, just a little more than half the total opportunities possible. His step back in production is almost understandable with the way McConkey and Gadsden have been performing, and I think it’s safe to say the Chargers somehow have a pretty large group of pass catchers just one season after having serious questions regarding the weapons around Herbert.
C Bradley Bozeman
Bozeman allowed three pressures from the Vikings defense and ended the game with the team’s lowest pass block grade game (19.1). That’s REALLY bad.
Is it finally time to give Andre James a look or are the Chargers going to wait until something seriously bad happens?
OG/T Foster Sarell
Sarell allowed a team-high six pressures while filling in for starter Mekhi Becton at right guard. He played all but six snaps and struggled against the likes of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Usually backup Jamaree Salyer was inactive despite being a participant in practice all week.
Here’s to hoping Becton can get healthy fast and stay that way sooner rather than later.
Good morning, Chargers fans!
You know what to do!
And now for today’s links.
Chargers News:
Five takeaways from the Chargers’ win over the Vikings on Thursday Night Football (Chargers.com)
It was a group of Chargers rookies that propelled the Bolts to victory on Thursday Night (Chargers.com)
Five more takeaways from LA’s latest victory (Chargers Wire)
What we learned from the Chargers’ blowout of the Vikings on Thursday Night Football (CBS Sports)
NFL News:
J.J. McCarthy is nearing his return to the field, expected to play against Lions in Week Nine (ESPN)
Tyreek Hill is undecided on retirement after latest injury (ESPN)
Aaron Rodgers confirms he will retire as a member of the Packers (CBS Sports)
Ranking the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL as of Week Eight (NFL.com)
The NFL is still sensitive about a field goal hitting a television wire in London (Pro Football Talk)
Carson Wentz apologized for slamming his helmet on the sideline on TNF (Sports Illustrated)
Justin Herbert and the Chargers came out Thursday night needing to prove to themselves that the recent four-game stretch was not a true showing of who they are as a team. The 1-3 record following a 3-0 start was filled with uncharacteristic mistakes and bad play that led them to dropping games they shouldn’t have.
Against the Vikings, under the lights of primetime, the entire Chargers team came together to dominate Carson Wentz and the Vikings from the first drive until the last.
For the first time under Jim Harbaugh, the Bolts scored on the first two drives of the game to build an early 14-0 lead. That lead was never threatened by the Vikings who couldn’t find any groove on offense throughout the night. They found the end zone once, but that was more of a fault on the Chargers defense and penalties than Wentz simply beating them.
Herbert finished with 227 passing yards (196 in the first half) and three touchdowns to one interception. He also chipped in 62 rushing yards on seven carries, showing a real feel for when to take off and utilize his legs.
Running back Kimani Vidal went over the 100-yard mark for the second time in three games since taking over the starting job. He finished with 117 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He ran hard all night long to post a strong night after a slow start.
Ladd McConkey led all receivers with six receptions and 88 yards to go with a touchdown. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II continued his productive streak with 77 yards and a touchdown on five catches, all of which came in the first half. Rookie wideout Tre’ Harris also caught his first career touchdown on two catches for eight yards.
Defensively the Chargers got after Wentz, sacking him five times and breaking up seven of his passes. Defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe posted a team-high two sacks while Khalil Mack, Odafe Oweh, and Tuli Tuipulotu each chipped in one. Cam Hart was sticky in coverage with three pass breakups on his own.
The Chargers will now enjoy a mini bye week before hitting the road to face the Tennessee Titans in Week Nine.
For an entire quarter-by-quarter recap of tonight’s game, check it out below.
First Quarter
The Chargers won the toss and chose to defer. The Vikings would begin the game on offense.
After two stops for no gain on first and second down, quarterback Carson Wentz found wideout Justin Jefferson for 16 yards while getting decked by linebacker Daiyan Henley on a delayed blitz. Three plays later, the Chargers defense forced a throwaway on third-and-one to get the Vikings to punt.
On the second play of the Chargers’ opening drive, Herbert was pressured off the edge and was forced to throw hot with safety Josh Metellus barreling down on him. Herbert was hit as he attempted a throw to Ladd McConkey but it sailed behind and seemingly was picked by Rodgers who stood up and raced to the end zone. Fortunately for LA, the call was reviewed and overturned as an incomplete pass.
From there, the Chargers marched 12 more plays down the field where Herbert found tight end Oronde Gadsden II three times, including an eight-yard touchdown pass. The score of Gadsden’s second of the year and it put the Bolts up 7-0 in the opening period.
The Chargers defense continued their hot start by forcing the Vikings to go three-and-out on their next drive. Defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe got loose and notched his third sack of the year by taking down Wentz on third down.
As the quarter ticked away, Kimani Vidal burst up the middle on second-and-three to move the chains.
Second Quarter
On the first play of the second quarter, Herbert broke out the front of a murky pocket and scrambled up the left sideline for again of 18. Two plays later, he scrambled six more yards to move the chains again. From there, Kimani Vidal took a handoff and burst into the end zone for his first rushing touchdown of the year. With 13:08 in the quarter, the Chargers held a commanding 14-0 lead.
The Vikings found some life on the next drive thanks to Wentz’s connection Jefferson who caught two passes for 21 yards. Minnesota was able to push the ball to the LA 35-yard line where Will Reichard banged home a 54-yard field goal to minimize the deficit to 14-3.
The next drive for the Chargers started off with a bang as Gadsden was hit in stride by Herbert for a 40-yard catch-and-run. Unfortunately the drive ended with zero points for the Bolts as a bad snap by Rock Lovato resulted in a missed 49-yard field goal by Dicker, his first miss of the 2025 season.
Minnesota began their next drive with a holding penalty on rookie left guard Donovan Jackson which pushed them back to a first-and-20. Wentz and Co. could not find their way out of the hole and were forced to punt yet again. A holding penalty on Chargers cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor brought the short return by Derius Davis back and the Bolts would start at their own six-yard line.
Herbert led the Chargers on a nine-play, 94-yard drive that was capped off by a beautiful 27-yard touchdown pass that was dropped into a bucket for McConkey. His second touchdown pass of the game put the Chargers up 21-3 with 45 seconds left in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Dicker booted a ball that went almost nowhere, nearly hitting one of his teammates in the back of the leg. The penalty called for not kicking into the landing area gave the Vikings the ball at their own 40-yard line. Luckily the Chargers defense got two sacks out by Eboigbe and Odafe Oweh which forced Minnesota to line up and attempt a kickoff without any timeouts. Reichard’s 53-yard kick looked good the entire time l it somehow fell short of the crossbar.
The Bolts entered the locker room with their 21-3 lead still intact.
Third Quarter
The Chargers came out of the break to march right down the field with some strong runs of seven, eight, and nine yards by Vidal. Herbert then completed a pair of passes for 21 yards but the Chargers were eventually stopped short of the end zone which forced another Dicker kick that sailed through from 43 yards out.
The Vikings finally got into the endzone thanks to some ill-timed mistakes by the Bolts. After the Chargers stopped the Vikings on third down, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste was called for an illegal contact penalty in fourth-and-two. On the next play, St-Juste was beat by Jordan Addison on a crosser and Wentz delivered a perfect ball.
Before the intermission, the Chargers were driving on the Vikings behind more strong running by Vidal. The second-year back ripped off carries of 21 and 18 yards to get them into enemy territory.
Fourth Quarter
The Chargers began the final quarter with first-and-10 at the Vikings 14-yard line. A Herbert scramble and nine-yard run by Vidal put them at the two-yard with a fresh set of downs. After a false start by Foster Sarell on what would have been touchdown via quarterback sneak, Herbert threw his second touchdown of the night to rookie Tre’ Harris after maneuvering a collapsing pocket. The touchdown put the Chargers up 31-10 early in the final period.
On the second play of the ensuing Vikings drive, Wentz dropped back and fired a deep pass over the middle but it sailed far and away into the arms of rookie safety R.J. Mickens for his first career interception.
Los Angeles leaned into their ground game with the game all but in hand. Vidal and Jaret Patterson combined for five carries on the six-play drive before Dicker came on to extend their lead to 34-10.
The Chargers would force a turnover on downs on the next Vikings drive and Dicker would add one more field goal to total his to increase their lead to 37-10.
The Vikings played out the final drive but couldn’t put up anymore points as the Bolts would go on to win at home in dominant fashion.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers, October 23, 2025, 5:15 p.m. PT
Location: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video
The Los Angeles Chargers face a big matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on a national stage with Thursday Night Football.
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The Los Angeles Chargers are eyeing another win as they travel to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 9.
The Titans are projected to be one of the worst teams in the league at the end of the season after starting the year 1-7. Their only win came in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Chargers as a 10.5-point favorite over the Titans.
The Chargers are fresh off of a big 37-10 win against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football, which improved their record to 5-3.
The recovery from last week’s Thursday Night Football gives the Chargers a little more time to get right on the injury front. Meanwhile, the Titans are one of the most injured teams in the league, losing four players on defense to injury in their Week 8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
On top of that, the Titans are could be without defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is also on injured reserve after hurting his quad.
Because the Titans are banged up and bruised, the Chargers have to take advantage. This is arguably the easiest game left on their schedule, so a loss could derail team morale and make things sticky when looking at the playoff picture later in the season.
Kickoff between the Chargers and Titans is set for Sunday at 10 a.m. ET from Nissan Stadium. Fans can watch the game on CBS or stream it on Paramount Plus.
Good morning, Chargers fans!
You know what to do!
And now for today’s links.
Chargers News:
Here’s how Oronde Gadsden and other rookies propelled the Chargers to victory on Thursday night (Chargers.com)
The latest win for the Chargers impressed a number of NFL pundits (Chargers.com)
Have the Chargers finally found a pass rush? (Chargers Wire)
Did the Broncos inadvertently hand the Chargers a franchise player? (Bolt Beat)
NFL News:
Jordan Love and the Packers out-dueled Aaron Rodgers on Sunday Night Football (ESPN)
Justin Fields helped beat the Bengals to earn Aaron Glenn’s first win as a head coach (ESPN)
Adrian Peterson was arrested over the weekend on DWI, gun charges (CBS Sports)
What we learned following this weekend’s slate of games in the NFL (NFL.com)
Tyler Lockett plans to sign with the Raiders on Monday (Pro Football Talk)
Bold predictions for this week’s Monday Night Football matchup between the Commanders and Chiefs (Sports Illustrated)
On Tuesday morning, the Chargers announced a handful of roster transactions following a group workout to begin the week.
Defensive depth is on the way as the team signed veteran safety Marcus Williams and defensive tackle Kyle Peko. In a pair of corresponding moves, the Chargers are releasing both wide receiver Luke Grimm and running back Nyheim Miller-Hines from the practice squad.
Williams is an eight-year veteran who has enjoyed two long stints with both the Saints and Ravens. Most recently, Williams started 30 games or the Ravens from 2022-2024. From 2017-2021, Williams started all 76 games he played in for the Saints. Williams brings 20 career interceptions and 56 pass breakups to a secondary that’s currently dealing with some bumps and bruises.
The 32-year old Peko was most recently with the Lions where he started one game and played in five total during the 2024 season. He has 14 career starts in seven years to go with two sacks and five tackles for loss.
The Chargers (5-3) are in the midst of their mini bye between last Thursday’s win over the Vikings and this week’s game against the lowly Titans (1-7). They’re coming off their most complete game in weeks to help right the ship following the lopsided loss to the Colts and a game against Tennessee is just what the doctor ordered to help keep that positive momentum going.
A win this week would push the Chargers to 6-3 before they host the Steelers in primetime in Week 10. If they can pull off a win there, they’re 7-3 and have games against the Jaguars and Raiders.
A record of 9-3 before the final five-game stretch of the season — one that includes dates with the Eagles, Chiefs, and Broncos, would give the Chargers a lot of room for error.
Here’s to hoping they handle business the next four games!
With that said, here’s a quick screenshot of how these two teams fare on paper after the first eight weeks of the season.
Let’s dive in!
Chargers Offense
Total yards per game: 378.5 (4th)
Points per game: 23.5 160th)
Passing yards per game: 255.4 (4th)
Rushing yards per game: 123.1 (12th)
Top Performers
Passing: QB Justin Herbert – 2,140 passing yards, 16 touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Omarion Hampton – 314
Rushing touchdowns: RB Omarion Hampton – 2
Receiving yards: WR Keenan Allen – 479
Receptions: WR Keenan Allen – 48
Receiving touchdowns: WR Quentin Johnston – 5
Chargers Defense
Total yards allowed per game: 296.9 (7th)
Points allowed per game: 21.6 (12th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 184.53 (6th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 112.4 (17th)
Top Performers
Tackles: LB Daiyan Henley – 52
Tackles for loss: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 9
Sacks: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 6
Passes Defended: CB Tarheeb Still – 6
Interceptions: S Tony Jefferson – 2
Forced fumbles: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, DT Teair Tart – 1
Fumble recoveries: DT Teair Tart – 1
Titans Offense
Total yards per game: 248.8 (32nd)
Points per game: 13.8 (32nd)
Passing yards per game: 168.4 (31st)
Rushing yards per game: 80.4 (32nd)
Top Performers
Passing: QB Cam Ward – 1,615 passing yards, 5 touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Tony Pollard – 424
Rushing touchdowns: RB Tony Pollard – 2
Receiving yards: WR Calvin Ridley – 290
Receptions: TE Chig Okonkwo – 27
Receiving Touchdowns: WR Elic Ayomanor – 2
Titans Defense
Total yards allowed per game: 358.4 (26th)
Points allowed per game: 28.8 (29th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 215.8 (17th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 142.6 (26th)
Top Performers
Tackles: LB Cedric Gray – 76
Tackles for loss: DT Jeffery Simmons – 8
Sacks: DT Jeffery Simmons – 4.5
Passes Defended: S Amani Hooker – 6
Interceptions: LB Cody Barton – 2
Forced fumbles: DT Jeffery Simmons – 1
Fumble recoveries: 3 players tied w/ 1
The Chargers practiced for the first time in Week Nine and it came with an injury report that’s a bit longer than most would like during a mini bye. Even with an extended rest between their last game and this first practice, there are still 11 players who carried an injury designation on Wednesday.
Five players were non-participants with right guard Mekhi Becton the most notable name who sat out with a knee injury. Tight end Will Dissly (illness), running back Hassan Haskins (hamstring), safety Tony Jefferson (hamstring), and cornerback Tarheeb Still (knee) were the other DNPs on the day.
The other seven players on the report were all limited participants. They were headlined by team captain and safety Derwin James who is dealing with an ankle injury that kept him out for most of last Thursday’s win. The other limited participants in practice were offensive tackle Austin Deculus (ankle), cornerback Deane Leonard (knee), wideout Ladd McConkey (calf), offensive guard Jamaree Salyer (knee), and safety Kendall Williamson (achilles).
The Chargers’ injury report for Thursday got a little bit bigger over the last 24 hours as two new names were added to the list.
Cornerback Cam Hart (DNP) was added with an undisclosed illness while long snapper Josh Harris practice in a limited fashion after having his return window from IR activated earlier in the day.
Several players made improvements from Wednesday, headlined by right guard Mekhi Becton (knee) who went from DNP to limited and Will Dissly (illness) who followed the same path.
Safety Derwin James also progressed with his ankle injury as he logged a full practice after being limited the day before.
Running back Hassan Haskins (hamstring), safety Tony Jefferson (hamstring), and cornerback Tarheeb Still (knee) were all once again DNP, but luckily those were the only three who were sidelined completely.
For the second consecutive practice, wide receiver Ladd McConkey (calf), safety Kendall Williamson (achilles), offensive guard Jamaree Salyer (knee), cornerback Deane Leonard (knee) and offensive tackle Austin Deculus (ankle) were all limited.
Good morning, Chargers fans!
You know what to do!
And now for today’s links.
Chargers News:
Here’s how Chargers rookies helped shape the first half of their 2025 season (Chargers.com)
Josh Harris hopes to return soon following freak injury during the preseason (Chargers.com)
What players could be on the Chargers’ radar during this year’s trade deadline? (Chargers Wire)
Could Oronde Gadsden have pushed to make NFL history if he wasn’t inactive early on? (Bolt Beat)
NFL News:
Lamar Jackson’s return from injury was too much for the Dolphins on Thursday night (ESPN)
The Cardinals are preparing Kyler Murray to start against the Cowboys (ESPN)
Ranking the 10 scariest players for Halloween (CBS Sports)
Cameron Heyward knows the Steelers defense has to be better (NFL.com)
Mike McDaniel knows he needs to give the Dolphins fan base something worth cheering for (Pro Football Talk)
Three landing spots for Maxx Crosby if the Raiders decide to trade him (Sports Illustrated)
