Chargers Fall to 0-2 With Sloppy Loss to Raiders

The Los Angeles Chargers lost 26-14 to the Raiders at SoFi Stadium, dropping to 0-2 amid turnovers, penalties and injuries at tight end.

The Los Angeles Chargers lost 26-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium, falling to 0-2 to open the season. The defeat was marked by self-inflicted errors, including dropped passes, a bad snap into an in-motion receiver, a bobbled exchange and consecutive false-start penalties by right tackle Joe Alt.

Quarterback Justin Herbert threw two interceptions and lost three fumbles, mistakes that hindered any comeback attempt. He is still adjusting to offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's motion-heavy scheme and has not looked comfortable running it through two weeks.

Running back Omarion Hampton rushed for 94 yards on 23 carries with a one-yard touchdown, but lost his second fumble in two weeks. The Raiders' offense connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Tre Tucker after a coverage miscommunication between safeties Genesis Smith and RJ Mickens.

Injuries hit the tight end room hard. David Njoku (fibula) and Charlie Kolar (forearm) are expected to be placed on injured reserve, leaving rookie Oronde Gadsden II, who caught a 10-yard touchdown against the Raiders, as the only healthy tight end on the active roster. Rookie edge rusher Akheem Mesidor led the team with four pressures and shared a first-quarter sack of Cousins with Dalvin Tomlinson.