Chargers' defense steps up in 27-13
preseason win against Saints
[August 11, 2025]
By BETH HARRIS
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Trey Lance scrambled for a 5-yard score and
rookie Eric Rogers had a 43-yard pick-6 in a mostly sluggish
offensive performance by the Los Angeles Chargers in a 27-13
exhibition win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The Chargers had a goal-line stand and a strip-sack that led to a
turnover while dominating the Saints, who committed seven penalties
for 56 yards and got sacked five times.
“They just played with a lot of want-to and I’m thrilled with that,”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I love guys that play like they
want to be on this team. They want to show that they belong. That’s
the way they practice and that’s the way they go out and play in the
game. That warms the cockles of the heart.”
Chargers rookie Jamaree Caldwell took down Tyler Shough for a 9-yard
loss in the third quarter. Rogers also intercepted Jake Haener in
the fourth before getting hurt with 1:43 remaining. Harbaugh had no
update on Rogers afterward.
“The pick-6 he made, that was as a good a play as I’ve ever seen,”
Harbaugh said.
Lance was 7 of 14 for 55 yards. He also was the Chargers' leading
rusher with seven carries for 48 yards.
“Shout out to the defense once again,” Lance said. “Excited to build
on this, this is a fun game to build on.”
Taylor Heinicke started at quarterback for the Chargers, going 1 of
5 for 8 yards. DJ Uiagalelei drew cheers with a 49-yard pass to
Dalevon Campbell late in the game.
With a four-man quarterback competition, Spencer Rattler started for
the Saints and was sacked twice by Caleb Murphy in the second.
“It’s what we practice at practice," Murphy said. "We practice ball
disruption, we preach it, so it’s just everything that comes from
practice onto the field in the game.”
Shough replaced Rattler and was intercepted by Rogers on a pass
intended for Dante Pettis on the Saints' first possession of the
third. Lance passed to Campbell for the 2-point conversion and a
17-3 lead.
Shough hit Mason Tipton for a 54-yard touchdown and Charlie Smyth
made the extra point, leaving the Saints trailing 17-10. Shough was
15 of 22 for 165 yards.
“For all three, there’s going to be some good moments, some moments
we’d like to have back, we get to learn from those," first-year
Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “I thought Spence did some good
stuff."
Cameron Dicker had field goals of 44 and 40 yards for the Chargers.
Coming off an 11-6 season and their first playoff appearance since
2022 in his first year, Harbaugh rested several starters including
quarterback Justin Herbert.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) throws a pass
during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the
New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP
Photo/Eric Thayer)
The Chargers were without Rashawn Slater, who
sustained a season-ending torn patella tendon in practice earlier in
the week. Running back Najee Harris’ status for Week 1 is up in the
air after he sustained an eye injury in a July 4 firework incident.
He has been walking laps at practice, wearing a helmet with a visor.
The Chargers were the first team to open training camp and are
playing an extra preseason game because they were in the Hall of
Fame game, beating Detroit 34-7.
Moore made his head coaching debut for the Saints, having worked as
offensive coordinator for Super Bowl champion Philadelphia last
season. He served in the same role with the Chargers in 2023.
Brandon Staley was back at SoFi Stadium as defensive coordinator for
the Saints. He was head coach of the Chargers from 2021-23.
Injuries
Saints: C/G Will Clapp was hurt on the second play of the first
quarter. He was taken off the field on a cart while sitting up with
his right shoe off. ... WR Bub Means also had his right shoe off as
he was carted off in the third. ... TE Mason Pline was hurt in the
third.
Chargers: DB Deane Leonard was injured with 1:38 remaining in the
second. He tried to get up and went right back down before walking
off between two trainers. ... G Karsen Barnhart got hurt and walked
off in the fourth.
Up next
The Saints host Jacksonville on Aug. 17.
The Chargers play the LA Rams on Aug. 16.
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