Chargers’ top draft picks make their marks in NFL debuts

EL SEGUNDO — If there were nervous moments, they weren’t apparent Sunday. If there were moments of indecision or uncertainty, they weren’t on public display at SoFi Stadium. If there was any reason to doubt the play of the Chargers’ top draft picks in their NFL debuts, it wasn’t evident.

Joe Alt, Ladd McConkey and Junior Colson, the Chargers’ top three picks in the draft in April, were every bit as impressive at their positions as Coach Jim Harbaugh and General Manager Joe Hortiz could have hoped. They weren’t flawless, but they certainly didn’t look out of place.

Alt, a right tackle who was a first-round pick from Notre Dame, had perhaps the toughest assignment. He was matched against Las Vegas Raiders pass rushers Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. He didn’t flinch in the least, though, protecting quarterback Justin Herbert from start to finish.

Alt played all 57 offensive snaps Sunday, plus four more on special teams. He had 19 pass-blocking snaps against Crosby and Wilkins and gave up zero quarterback pressures, according to figures compiled by Pro Football Focus. Crosby was credited with one sack of Herbert, but it didn’t come against Alt.

“Joe Alt, tremendous in pass protection, and things to get better at in the run scheme,” Harbaugh said. “We had only one sack. That was great. Justin saved us two or three or more just by his courage, stature, creativity of getting the ball out. He led us to victory, managed the football.”

McConkey, a wide receiver who was the Chargers’ second-round pick from the University of Georgia, emerged as a favorite target of Herbert. He ran precise routes, just as he had in the preseason, and caught five passes on seven targets Sunday, totaling 39 yards and one touchdown.

Most impressive were the slippery moves McConkey made after catching a short pass from Herbert in the fourth quarter. He turned what might have been a short gain into a 10-yard touchdown play that gave the Chargers a commanding 22-10 lead with 3:40 left.

“That’s what we expect from him,” Herbert said. “He’s going to make plays like that and that’s what makes him so special. That’s why we think so highly of him. You just have to give him a shot and get the ball to those guys. (It’s like) being a point guard (in basketball) and something special happened.”

McConkey was on the field for 38 of 57 offensive snaps (67%).

Colson, a linebacker who was a third-round pick from the University of Michigan, was part of a linebacker rotation that started with Daiyan Henley and Denzel Perryman but wasn’t limited to those three. Troy Dye also played a role in the Chargers’ inside linebacking corps against the Raiders.

Colson was credited with three tackles during his 35 defensive snaps. He also played an additional 12 snaps on special teams, an important role that could lead to more playing time. It likely helps that he played for Harbaugh while both were at Michigan, including together for last season’s national championship.

Harbaugh said Colson shared play-calling duties with Henley and Perryman.

“Something we talked about before the game, anybody’s lack of experience is going to be more than made up for … just by the fire in the belly, wanting to prove themselves,” Harbaugh said of the rookies. “I thought that really showed with not only Joe Alt but Ladd McConkey and Junior Colson.”

Next: The three rookies will join their Chargers teammates for a Week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s another chance for Alt, McConkey and Colson to show why the Chargers placed so much faith in them by selecting them with their first three picks in the draft.

INJURY REPORT

Safety Alohi Gilman sat out of Wednesday’s practice because of a knee injury. Cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor didn’t practice because of a fibula injury. Perryman (thigh), edge rushers Joey Bosa (back) and Khalil Mack (rest), running back Hassan Haskins (toe), wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee) were listed as limited.