INGLEWOOD — Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after the Chargers’ lackluster 32-18 loss Saturday to the opportunistic Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium dropped them to 0-2 in exhibition play.
FIRST-HALF FOLLIES
Coach Brandon Staley expected more from the Chargers after two crisp joint practices with the Cowboys earlier in the week at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa. What he saw Saturday in the game was a series of first-half mistakes that resulted in a 29-10 deficit.
There were two turnovers, including an interception on Easton Stick’s first pass of the game. There were two returns for touchdowns, both by the Cowboys’ KaVontae Turpin. There were too many instances of breakdowns haunting the Chargers. Little plays ended up costing them big-time.
“It was a really poor first half for us,” Staley said. “About as poorly as you can play. I didn’t like the way that first half felt or looked. It was in all three phases. When you have two turnovers and you give up two special teams touchdowns, that’s the way the score is going to look.”
If the Chargers thought they had cleaned up their special teams play, well, they were mistaken. Turpin took a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown after Dustin Hopkins had given the Chargers a 3-0 lead with a 22-yard field goal 6:17 into the game. Turpin later returned a punt 86 yards for a TD to make it 22-10.
Stick then had the ball stripped from him in the closing seconds of the half, and the Cowboys turned that turnover into a 29-10 lead on Malik Davis’ one-yard run with 23 seconds left. Stick had dropped to pass, but Trysten Hill knocked the ball from his grasp on a first-and-10 play from his own 25.
“I think I was disappointed because that’s not the way we practiced this week,” Staley said of the Chargers’ special teams play. “That’s not the way those guys performed in practice. To come out and play that way, they’re going to learn a lot from that.
“They’re going to learn the entire NFL is watching. We’re watching the entire NFL. That’s why these games are important. You’ve got to make sure you’re going to perform. Or else we’ll find someone else who can.”
RUNNING ON EMPTY
Stick led the Chargers in rushing with 24 yards on two carries, including a 25-yard scramble that kept alive a drive that produced his 18-yard touchdown pass play to wide receiver Joshua Palmer. He was the only Chargers runner to average more than three yards per carry.
Staley wasn’t pleased with the play of any of his running backs.
“It’s all 11 guys, but all five running backs didn’t do much tonight,” Staley said. “I don’t think any of the five of them played very well. We’ll have to look at it (on video), but just being there out on the field, I didn’t think any of them played very well tonight.”
INJURY UPDATES
Staley said running back Isaiah Spiller suffered an unspecified ankle injury in the first half. The coach also said he didn’t know the severity of it, but “it should not be anything serious.” In addition, safety Deane Leonard left the game after Turpin’s punt return for a TD because of a soft-tissue injury.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Another round of roster cuts, from 85 to 80, looms Tuesday, before the Chargers play their third and final exhibition game Friday against the Saints in New Orleans. The Chargers return to their practice facility for practice this week. They closed up shop after 16 practices at Jack Hammett Sports Complex.
The final round of roster moves is scheduled for Aug. 30, when teams trim to 53 players.
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