Observations from Day 3 of Chargers camp:

Ramping up the contact, the team worked in pads for the first time in eight months.

Playmaking from Brandon Mebane and pass blocking from Joe Barksdale stood out.

Newcomer Mebane stopped Danny Woodhead on a run play and disrupted a pass play.


In 1-on-1s, Barksdale looked polished.

Melvin Gordon lost twice to rookie Josh Perry in a pass-rush drill, giving the sophomore running back teaching material. A blocker who lunges tends to lose. Gordon is long-armed and powerful, giving him good tools to pass-protect if he develops trust in his form.

With Denzel Perryman not practicing, rookie Jatavis Brown and second-year player Nick Dzubnar rotated alongside Manti Te’o.

Perryman stayed involved, discussing football with Te’o between team drills.


When Keenan Allen muffed a punt, the crowd moaned. Allen snapped off 10 pushups as punishment.

Pass of the day: A Philip Rivers rainbow hit Tyrell Williams in stride and over the shoulder, allowing the 6-foot-3 1/2 receiver to gain 25 yards against snug coverage from Craig Mager.

The pace was brisk, the effort strong.

Was it a loud, pad-popping practice? No. Were players chippy? Not really. Was there a diet of inside runs and fierce collisions? Nope.


× Chargers Practice Day-2

A day after Stevie Johnson sustained a knee injury, Rivers and Williams continued to build a rapport. The two seldom worked together last year because Williams, then an undrafted rookie, was low on the depth chart.

Rookie center Max Tuerk, who had reconstructive knee surgery in October, snapped to Kellen Clemens in team drills.

Defensive players performed a drill near fans lined up against a chain-link fence.


When Perry got close, a fan’s comment drew chuckles from nearby bystanders. “Ohio,” a fan said, “where’s your boy at?”

The reference was to Perry’s former Ohio State teammate Joey Bosa, the No. 3 pick of this year’s draft. Bosa has missed all three practices of training camp due to a contractual impasse.

Medical report: As expected, Johnson (knee) didn’t practice. Nor did ILB Perryman, WR-PR Javontee Herndon, OLB Ben Gardner or DT Bruce Gaston.

1 / 14 Charger Hunter Henry comes up with the pass against Adrian Phillips during passing drills at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 2 / 14 Chargers third day of practice began with shoulder pads, Chargers Tyrell Williams takes a brief water break before beginning drills. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 3 / 14 Chargers Tim Semisch runs a few passing drills during the Chargers third day of practice which began with shoulder pad. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 4 / 14 Chargers Branden Oliver runs past Darrell Stuckey during passing drills at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 5 / 14 Chargers Josh Lambo practices with his place kicking with Drew Kaser during the Chargers third day of practice which include wearing shoulder pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 6 / 14 Chargers Philip Rivers and Kellen Clemens take a brief break during the Chargers third day of practice which included wearing shoulder pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 7 / 14 Chargers Philip Rivers takes a brief break during the Chargers third day of practice which began with shoulder pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 8 / 14 Chargers Adrian McDonald goes up for the interception drill during the Chargers third day of practice which included wearing shoulder pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 9 / 14 Chargers Manti Te’o warms ups before on the field during the Chargers third day of practice which included wearing shoulder pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 10 / 14 Chargers Antonio Gates is swarmed at the scrimmage during the Chargers first day wearing protective pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 11 / 14 Chargers Hunter Henry comes up with the pass against Adrian Phillips during passing drills at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 12 / 14 Chargers Danny Woodhead workouts at the line during short passing drills at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 13 / 14 Chargers Manti Te’o comes off the field after the team’s first day wearing shoulder pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda) 14 / 14 Chargers Javontee Herndon chats with reporters as he comes off the field after the team’s first day of practice wearing shoulder pads at the Chargers Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda)