Chargers acknowledge positives from Week 1 loss to Cardinals

The Los Angeles Chargers lost 26-14 to the Arizona Cardinals in their season opener on September 15, 2026. Despite the defeat, several bright spots emerged, including the strong performance of returning tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, who provided solid protection for quarterback Justin Herbert. Ladd McConkey showed glimpses of his rookie form with 82 receiving yards and a touchdown catch, while David Njoku led the tight ends with five receptions. Center Jake Slaughter stepped up in pass protection despite facing challenges, and the interior defensive line limited the Cardinals' running attack. The Chargers' next game is against the Raiders, and the team will assess McConkey's status as he deals with a rib injury.

• 9:18 PMYahoo Sports — 5 major silver linings from the Chargers' Week 1 loss to the Cardinals