Here are seven Los Angeles Chargers storylines to watch for during the lead-up to the team’s Week 12 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals:
No Nas
The Chargers will be without Nasir Adderley, who was ruled out due to a thumb injury. Brandon Staley said Adderley suffered the injury last Sunday. Staley added that it impacts the middle part of his hand, and he still can’t grip his hand the right way to tackle.
With Adderley out, Alohi Gilman will start alongside Derwin James. Gilman has made one start this season, which came in Week 5 against the Browns, the game where Adderley was benched. In that contest, Gilman had a season-high seven tackles and an interception.
Backing up Gilman will be rookie JT Woods. Woods has been getting more playing time in recent weeks. He played the most defensive snaps of the season thus far last weekend, with 14. In addition, Raheem Layne was promoted from the practice squad.
Containing Kyler
Kyler Murray is returning as the starter after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.
With Murray back in the mix, the Chargers’ defense will have to account for his ability to win with his legs. Murray has four scrambles of more than 15 yards this season.
Los Angeles has done a solid job of keeping scrambling quarterbacks contained this season. But it has its slip-ups here and there in key moments, including Patrick Mahomes’ 16-yard scramble on the game-winning drive last week.
Second-half scoring
The Chargers offense has struggled to keep their foot on the gas after starting hot. They rank third in first-half scoring, averaging 15.2 points. In the second half, however, it is the polar opposite, as they’re 28th with an average of 7.2 points.
This will be a good opportunity for Los Angeles to change the narrative in the second half, as they’re set to face a Cardinals defense that’s not good defensively. Arizona is 24th in defensive DVOA. Further, they’re 30th in red zone defense.
More explosive plays. Less negative plays.
Keeping the heat off Herbert
While the Cardinals have not been good defensively as a whole, they’re having success at one thing on that side of the ball, with that being blitzing opposing quarterbacks.
Arizona has blitzed the third-most of any team in the NFL at 36.9%. They are third in quarterback hurries (39) and sixth in pressures (102).
In previous seasons, Herbert was good against the blitz. But that has not been the case this year, as he ranks 31st among qualified quarterbacks in EPA/dropback against the blitz.
Kelley is back
The Chargers got some offensive reinforcements with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (before he got hurt again) last weekend. They get another on Sunday with the return of Joshua Kelley, who was activated from the injured reserve.
Kelley has been out since Week 6 after suffering a sprained MCL. Before getting hurt, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry on his 23 rushes and hauled seven of 10 targets for 56 yards.
Kelley’s presence should provide a spark in the backfield, as Los Angeles continues to seek consistency on the ground outside of Austin Ekeler. They rank 30th in rushing offense, averaging 87.9 yards per game.
