Jim Harbaugh started his Monday press conference with the injury report. “Kayode should start working into practice. Brenen, not likely to practice this week. Deane Leonard still in the concussion protocol,” the Los Angeles Chargers head coach said, and the team will likely open the 21-day practice window for tight end David Njoku. It was the first update after a 24-9 loss to the Rams that dropped the Chargers to 0-7.
Asked how good it would be to get Njoku back in the mix, Harbaugh said simply, “I think it’d be good.” Njoku has been on injured reserve since Week 2, and the Chargers are 0-7 with the NFL trade deadline a week from Tuesday.
Joe Alt, “like the elite player that he is”
Harbaugh said getting several players back helped on Sunday, and he singled out tackle Joe Alt, who returned from a neck injury and moved to left tackle. “I thought he did a heck of a job moving over to left tackle and played like Joe Alt,” Harbaugh said. “Very, very impressive. Joe plays like Joe Alt, you know, like the elite player that he is.”
Mack, the trade deadline and “getting it turned”
A reporter asked whether the organization would be active before the deadline. “I’m focused on the Texans,” Harbaugh said. “I know Joe, Chad, the organization are always looking to improve the team.” Joe Hortiz is the general manager and Chad Alexander is the assistant general manager.
Then he was asked about veteran pass rusher Khalil Mack, and whether he would have a say in going to a contender. Harbaugh did not leave much room. “I want Khalil Mack here. Khalil Mack wants to be here,” he said. “He’s one of the pillars of our team.”
Pressed on how a team plans when the season has started this way, he gave the same answer twice. “Focused on getting it turned,” Harbaugh said. “Forging ahead and really, really striving in every way to play winning football. Focused on the Texans, focused on this week.”
The offense and Justin Herbert
The Chargers have gone nine quarters, 27 drives, without a touchdown, and Harbaugh was asked whether he senses frustration. “Fully aware,” he said. “We want to win. We want to get the ball in the end zone. That’s exactly what I’m focused on.”
About quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw two interceptions against the Rams, he said: “Talking about this game, for the most part Justin does his job and he does it really well. Two throws he would’ve liked to have back, but did his job very well.” He added that there is more to an offense than the quarterback.
Asked what players can take from this when the record is what it is, Harbaugh talked about responsibility. “Focused on doing one’s job, doing it within the scheme,” he said, and described the mindset he had as a player: when things are not coming easily, you focus on your responsibility, your alignment and your technique. “Those gains are small until they add up to getting us in the rhythm and in the position we want to be in,” he said.
On what the offense does well at this point, he pointed to making plays, getting first downs, converting on third down and keeping drives alive. “That’s the thing we’re striving for offensively,” he said. “Just collectively where it gets in that rhythm. And we’ll keep striving for it.”
A new look at running back?
The running game was “an area of emphasis,” Harbaugh said. “It wasn’t our best day in the running game.” The Chargers ran 25 times for 64 yards on Sunday. Asked if one back should “carry the mail” and build a rhythm after weeks of rotating three, he said: “I think that’s something that we’re looking at, and I think we’ll try that.” He called them “three very good backs” and said they are healthy and “doing very good things.” He added that the team could “go with the hot hand, so to speak,” and that he has been in that kind of rotation before and “it’s worked.”
Motivation and the defense
How does he keep the locker room motivated? “Honesty,” Harbaugh said. “That’s what I’ve found to be the best motivator.” He said everyone is working to stay motivated and dedicated, and called the players “incredible.” “It’s team-wide, everybody is accountable,” he said. “That’s where our team’s always been.”
Asked whether it is frustrating that the defense has played well but keeps getting put in difficult spots by field position and offensive turnovers, Harbaugh said you never want your defense starting on your side of the field, “and I think they responded really well.” “There’s some really good individual play that probably doesn’t get highlighted as much as it should,” Harbaugh said, and he credited that play coming without safety Derwin James.
The Chargers host the Houston Texans on Sunday, November 8, at 4:05 p.m. ET, which is 11:05 p.m. in Cairo. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 10, at 4 p.m. ET, which is 11 p.m. in Cairo.
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