Jim Harbaugh is already having second thoughts about the Chargers’ preseason strategy after their brutal 26-14 home loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. This disappointing debut performance has the new head coach looking back, wondering if they messed up their preparation for the regular season. He’s openly admitting he wished they’d gotten their guys more reps.
Preseason Mistakes Are Costing Them Already
The Chargers’ starters only saw brief stretches of action in just their second and third preseason games. Now, after that big loss, Harbaugh thinks that just wasn’t enough time. He came right out and said during a Monday press conference that Sunday’s game was riddled with “preseason type of mistakes.” Think about that: you’re in the regular season, and your coach is calling your errors “preseason type.” That’s a tough spot to be in, and it’s clear Harbaugh sees the direct line from the lack of work to the early season struggles. He explicitly stated, “Now in retrospect, I wish we’d played our guys a little bit more in the preseason and given them those reps.” It’s a blunt assessment of what went wrong, and it shows he’s not shying away from owning the early stumble.
No Going Back Now
The hard truth is the Chargers can’t rewind the clock and get those preseason reps back. They’re stuck making improvements on the fly as they try to dig out of this hole. A poor start to the year is staring them down, and their only option is to figure things out in real time, with real stakes. They’ve got to clean up those “preseason type of mistakes” fast, because every game counts now. This isn’t just about one loss, it’s about setting the tone for their entire season. Can they adapt quickly enough to bounce back? That’s the biggest question facing them after Harbaugh’s revealing comments.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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