The Los Angeles Chargers will be hoping to build on a promising 2020 season at training camp. When does it start, where will it be held, and are fans allowed to attend?
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With phase 3 of the 2021 NFL offseason set to wrap up on June 18th, teams are already looking forward to training camp. It is by far the most grueling and pivotal part of a team’s preparations.
Training camps often include busy days for players and coaches, sometimes with 2 practices a day, weight training, team meetings, and film sessions.
Per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), no contact is permitted during the first 3 days of camp. Days 4 and 5 will see players at full speed in light equipment called “spiders and shells”, day 6 is a mandatory day off, and finally fully-padded practices start on the 7th day.
Along with the strenuous schedule, full-speed practices mean that both contact and non-contact injuries are very common. Regardless, training camp is mandatory for all players, unlike OTAs which are voluntary. If a player doesn’t show up, they risk getting cut by their team.
When Does Training Camp Start for the Los Angeles Chargers?
For the first time in NFL history, there will be a unified start for training camp. 29 franchises, including the Chargers, will kick off their training camps on Tuesday, July 27th. The Chargers are expected to hit the field for the first time the next day, July 28th.
However, the Cowboys and Steelers, who will play in the preseason Hall of Fame game, reported to training camp on the 21st. The Buccaneers were also allowed to start training camp 3 days earlier on the 24th, as they play the season opener against Dallas on a Thursday night.
Where is the Chargers Training Camp Being Held?
Normally, NFL teams are permitted to hold training camp at outside facilities to improve accessibility for fans, However last year, due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic, teams were instructed to conduct camp at their own training facilities.
This year, the rules have been eased, a good sign that things are getting back to normal. The Chargers will hold camp at the Jack Hammet Park in Costa Mesa.
Los Angeles Chargers Training Camp Roster: Key Position Battles to Watch
As usual, teams will start camp with 90-man rosters. They must cut down to 85 players by August 17th and to 80 by August 24th, before settling on a final 53-man r oster by August 31st.
This year, the Chargers have a new man at the helm: Brandon Staley. Coming over from the Chargers’ LA neighbors, Staley will be expected to have a winning season at the very least. His predecessor, Anthony Lynn, was fired after going 7-9, despite losing 7 games by a margin of just one score.
Although Staley is expected to be a defensive head coach, he will have some exciting position battles to look out for on offense. In particular, he needs to figure out who’s going to be the 2nd RB on the depth chart after Austin Ekeler, in the hopes of building a strong running game to complement the team’s already exceptional pass offense led by ROTY Justin Herbert.
The coaching staff will have some decent options to choose from, namely Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley. Both players have shown promise but Jackson has struggled to stay fit while Kelley couldn’t maintain his performance levels after an impressive start to the season.
Another guy who could possibly make an impact is rookie Larry Rountree III. Selected in the 6th round out of Missouri, the collegiate superstar could be seeing a lot more playing time than expected.
Will Fans Be Allowed to Attend Chargers Training Camp?
After a year without fans at training camp, NFL teams have done their best to give their fans a good experience. The Chargers will have fans at a whopping 17 practices as well as at the “fan fest” at SoFi Stadium on August 8th.
Also Read: New England Patriots Training Camp 2021: Start Date, Location, Roster Battles, and Fan Policy
