The Los Angeles Chargers won their first preseason game last night, but the performance of Brenen Thompson may be something some fans are concerned about.
The Los Angeles Chargers had a strong performance in their first preseason game on Thursday night as they defeated the Houston Texans 27-7 on the road. However, rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson did seem to struggle a little bit, which is something that could cause some Chargers fans to be a little concerned.
On Thursday, Thompson totaled two receptions for 30 yards on six targets. As far as Thompson's yardage goes, his 30 receiving yards finished fifth on the team which is something he will be looking to improve assuming he does suit up next week.
Additionally, Thompson got some action on special teams as he returned one punt for 12 yards and showcased his speed which could be something the Chargers can utilize throughout the 2026 season if they can put him in the right spots.
Throughout the game, Thompson did seem prepared for the NFL style, but was unable to clearly elevate himself above the competition. It is important to note that the Chargers did not play all of their starters, which could also be a reason why Thompson was unable to make a major impact on offense.
For most of the game, Thompson was working with backup quarterback Trey Lance, which led to some good plays but also some bad plays. Interestingly enough, both of Thompson's catches came as a result of passes from Lance, which was good to see.
On the other hand, Lance's lone interception came on a pass when he was targeting Thompson, which, regardless of whose fault it was, did not look good for the rookie wide receiver. On another note, heading into this game, Thompson was listed as the backup to wide receiver Quentin Johnston in the first unofficial depth chart of the season, which is a good place to be, but the Chargers may want to see more from Thompson if he is to secure that spot.
Throughout this next week, it will be interesting to see how Thompson attacks practice and is able to respond in the next preseason game when the Chargers take on the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.
Another storyline to monitor will be how head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel choose to manage the starters and whether or not they play next week. Specifically, the player to watch will be Justin Herbert and whether he plays on Thursday, as well as how he could mesh with Thompson if they share the field together.
As a passer, Herbert has a great ability to launch the ball deep down the field with solid accuracy, which is something that Thompson could massively benefit from with his ability to run past the defense with his blazing speed.
If Herbert does play and Thompson does get an opportunity for reps with the starters, this could be the perfect opportunity for Thompson to prove he can be an explosive part of this offense and assert himself as a dangerous weapon for the Chargers heading into the 2026 season, which would erase most concerns from Thompson's preseason debut.
