In preseason game number two most teams let their starters play a little longer than they did in the exhibition opener. Expect that to be the case for the Chargers when they host the Cardinals at Qualcomm Stadium on Friday night.
How much longer head coach Mike McCoy allows them to play is up for debate. Odds are it will be at least the first quarter. Of course, if Philip Rivers and company score touchdowns on their first two drives and the defense forces a couple of 3-and-outs McCoy might say we’ve seen enough and pull everyone that has a roster spot secured.
Even among the projected starters there are a few guys we’d like to get a look at, which brings us to our three players to watch:
Travis Benjamin, WR
The free agent acquisition sat out the exhibition opener in Tennessee so we still don’t know what Philip Rivers will be able to do with him in a game. Or, for that matter, in practice. Benjamin has been dealing with a hamstring issue and missed more time than he’d like to miss. He is expected to be active against Arizona and if he is it will be interesting to witness. Benjamin has the kind of game-changing speed that the Bolts have not had in a long time. If he’s able to “take the top off the defense” as the kids say then the Bolts attack will have a whole new dimension.
Dwight Lowery, S
He was late rotating on a couple of passes against the Titans and was, like the rest of the San Diego defense that allowed 288 rushing yards, not exactly great a tackling. The Chargers need Lowery to grow in his role and start getting to the spots where he’s supposed to get to and they need him to learn to do it fast. He’ll likely only have this game, then the third one against the Vikings, to get acclimated to the way his secondary works and how defensive coordinator John Pagano likes to call plays.
Casey Hayward, CB
Every time you watch a workout, this kid makes a play. During the joint practice with the Cardinals Hayward was covering Arizona wideout Michael Floyd when he leapt up, grabbed the ball with one hand right out of Floyd’s grasp, and landed with both feet inbounds for an interception. Hayward, statistically speaking, the best slot cornerback in the NFL but he might be playing his way in to a role on the outside opposite Pro Bowler Jason Verrett.
