https://www.ocregister.com/2022/12/02/chargers-asking-a-lot-from-patchwork-offensive-line-vs-raiders/

By Elliott Teaford | eteaford@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: December 2, 2022 at 2:48 p.m. | UPDATED: December 2, 2022 at
2:56 p.m.

COSTA MESA — The numbers don’t look good for the Chargers’ offensive
line lately.

Neither do the medical reports from the training room.

The Chargers won’t be at their best when they face the Raiders on Sunday
in Las Vegas. Center Corey Linsley won’t play because of a concussion.
Right tackle Trey Pipkins III won’t play because of a knee injury. Left
tackle Rashawn Slater won’t play because of a season-ending biceps injury.

That’s bad news for quarterback Justin Herbert, who largely avoided the
intense pressure of opposing defenses during the season’s first nine
games. The hits have been fast and furious in the past two, though. He
was sacked four times in a victory over the Arizona Cardinals last
weekend and a career-high five times in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs
on Nov. 20.

Overall, Herbert has been sacked 21 times in 11 games, which isn’t a
particularly high number, given that only three of the NFL’s top-10
passers have been sacked fewer times. He trails only Kansas City’s
Patrick Mahomes, Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady and Detroit’s Jared Goff, who
have been sacked 17 times each.

It’s only the past two games that have given the Chargers reason for
concern.

Now, here comes Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, who is fourth in the
NFL with 10½ sacks. Asked how much planning this week has gone into
keeping Crosby as far away from Herbert as possible Sunday, Chargers
offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said, “A ton. A ton.”

“He is a guy who can just completely ruin your day,” Lombardi said of
Crosby during Thursday’s session with reporters. “Just someone that we
are going to be aware of. Him being on the field and where he is and
what play we are running, we are taking a player like that into account
every single play.”

Chargers coach Brandon Staley said Crosby and Chandler Jones “are as
good as it gets” at the defensive end position in the NFL.

Will Clapp will start at center in place of Linsley.

Foster Sarell will start at right tackle in place of Pipkins.

Jamaree Salyer, a rookie, has been starting since Slater was hurt in Week 3.

So, facing another in a series of must-win games if they are to stay in
the AFC wild-card race, the Chargers (6-5) will start a patchwork line
of two backups in Clapp and Sarell and two rookies in Salyer and right
guard Zion Johnson along with veteran left guard Matt Feiler against the
Raiders (4-7).

“Staying out of known passing situations,” Staley said when asked how
best to avoid the Raiders’ pressure Sunday. “Just staying ahead of the
chains, getting a lead, playing with good pace. Then, obviously,
everyone is working together from a protection plan, receivers running
the routes on time. There is no one better than Justin at protecting the
football, feeling the rush.”

Sometimes, it’s OK to take a sack, to protect the football, to avoid an
errant pass.

“Each sack has a story and you have to make sure you look at it,” Staley
said. “I just think the one thing that Justin has proven is that he is
an outstanding decision-maker and that he’s really strong with the ball.
I think, although we have had nine sacks (the past two games), we have
had zero fumbles. That is important, to be strong with the football.
That’s how you win games in the league, protecting the football and
taking it away. We have done a good job of that and we’ll keep working
hard at protecting the passer.”

As ever, Herbert will be asked to protect himself from sacks, too.
Herbert blamed himself for his inability to return to the line of
scrimmage on some recent scrambles, which has boosted his sack total.

“I think there are times where I could get back to the line of
scrimmage, where I’ve gone down before the line of scrimmage, and that
counts as a sack,” Herbert said. “The offensive line has done a great
job of protecting me, where I’ve had enough time to get the ball out.”
INJURY REPORT

Linsley, Pipkins and wide receiver Mike Williams (sprained ankle) were
ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. … Safety Nasir Adderley
(thumb), defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko (illness) and linebacker Drue
Tranquill (illness) were listed as questionable to play, although Staley
said he expected each of them to play. Staley said Adderley would wear
protective padding on his injured thumb.