For the second day in a row the San Diego Chargers hosted the Dallas Cowboys as the two teams practiced against each other on Tuesday morning. The Chargers then had a team walk-through in the evening.
“We accomplished what we wanted to get done,” coach Norv Turner said. “Today we got a lot of different situations covered, red zone, two-minute and a bunch of blitz work. They have a totally different blitz scheme than we do. So, I think both teams benefitted from practicing these two days.”
What stood out: C Nick Hardwick left practice early. It was later revealed that Hardwick suffered a concussion. Hardwick is considered day-to-day, but more information regarding the severity of the concussion should be available on Wednesday.
The two teams avoided any extracurricular activity on Monday, but there were a few scuffles on Tuesday. Tensions rose when Cowboys TE Andrew Szczerba (undrafted, Penn State) and Chargers OLB Melvin Ingram (first round, 18th overall) got in each other’s faces after a play.
The dispute escalated when Szczerba pulled Ingram’s helmet off and swung it at Ingram’s head; fortunately, Szczerba narrowly missed. This sparked a confrontation between the teams that had to be broken up by coaches. Szczerba took responsibility for the incident after practice and apologized.
A few minutes later, Chargers CB Quentin Jammer annihilated Cowboys WR Dwayne Harris following a reception. “I definitely think it was a cheap shot,” Harris said of the tackle. The two sides again came together for some pushing and shoving, but tempers quickly cooled.
“When you got two days and you have two teams with 90 guys, you are going to have a couple issues,” Turner said. “I thought our guys handled it extremely well.”
QB Philip Rivers lightened the mood when he ran into the end zone and then spiked the ball. “I’ve seen that one before,” Turner said of the spike. “[Rivers] does that one for his son, Gunner. He’ll probably take that tape and show it to him tonight.”
Position battles: CB DeAndre Presley (undrafted, Appalachian State) took the majority of the reps with the first team at nickelback during the practices with the Cowboys. Presley received the opportunity because CB Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright were out with hamstring injuries.
“It truly means a lot,” Presley said. “The main thing I am trying to show with this opportunity is that I can play with the first team. Whatever the situation I am in, I can do it. It’s been a big blessing. It’s boosted my confidence. Now I need to just slow everything down and go out and play football.”
Presley will not likely make the 53-man roster, but the last two days have dramatically increased his chances of the making the practice squad.
Injury updates: DE-DT Garrett Brown (left foot), RB Curtis Brinkley (strain), DT Antonio Garay (left foot), LT Jared Gaither (back spasms), CB Gilchrist (hamstring), LG Tyronne Green (unknown), RB Ryan Mathews (clavicle), TE Dante Rosario (unknown), G Johnnie Troutman (pectoral) and Wright (hamstring) worked out on the side and did not practice. Also not practicing: WR Vincent Brown (ankle), G-T Brandyn Dombrowski (foot, cyst) and WR Eddie Royal (leg, personal).
LG Green , TE Rosario , ILB Demorrio Williams and QB Wright were new additions to the non-participants list. Rosario missed practices last week but then played on Saturday and practiced on Monday.
WR Eddie Royal has been attending to the health of his mother and is expected to return to practice on Wednesday.
What’s next: The Chargers completed two-a-day practices on Tuesday. The team will conduct one full practice on Wednesday afternoon. All practices are now closed to the public.
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