Takeaways from Chargers’ preseason win over Saints: Caleb Murphy rising up depth chart

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers beat the New Orleans Saints, 27-13, on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in their second game of the preseason.

Coach Jim Harbaugh highlighted a few players by name in his postgame news conference: cornerback Eric Rogers, edge rusher Caleb Murphy, linebacker Marlowe Wax, receiver Dalevon Campbell, quarterback Trey Lance and safety Kendall Williamson.

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“It just brings a smile to my face,” Harbaugh said. “I love guys that play like they want to be on this team. They want to show that they belong.”

Let’s dive into some of the standout performances from Sunday and what those mean as the Chargers inch closer to finalizing their 53-man roster.

Murphy is making his case

The Chargers entered training camp last month with the top three spots in their edge rusher group solidified: Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree. They drafted Kyle Kennard in the fourth round in April, and it seemed Kennard had an inside track to earning the fourth spot. Murphy has flipped that expectation upside down.

Murphy has been working on the Chargers’ core-four special teams units throughout camp and the preseason. He has made plays on special teams in each of the first two preseason games. He assisted a tackle that led to a forced fumble on the opening kickoff of the Hall of Fame Game. Murphy added a tackle Sunday in punt coverage. His capabilities in this phase were already pushing him toward the 53-man roster, as coordinator Ryan Ficken looks for reliable pieces.

Murphy’s performance this preseason has stretched beyond special teams, though. He is showing up on defense. And now Murphy is poised not just to make the 53-man but has a chance to jump Kennard on the depth chart and be the fourth edge rusher behind Mack, Tuipulotu and Dupree. Kennard has not practiced since the Hall of Fame Game, and he did not dress Sunday.

Murphy officially had two sacks against the Saints, including a sack-fumble early in the second quarter that defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe recovered. He was dominant in one-on-one situations. Harbaugh said he believed Murphy should have been credited with three sacks. Murphy agreed with Harbaugh. Wax was credited with a sack on a third-and-9 in the third quarter, but it was really Murphy who finished the play on Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.

“He’s making a good case,” Harbaugh said of Murphy. “A really good case.”

let's goooooo 📺 | CBS2 LA pic.twitter.com/VxwdfHHQQ0 — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 10, 2025

This game was a step forward for Murphy. Against the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame Game, Murphy flashed as a run defender. On Sunday, he produced in the pass rush.

“Definitely feels like things are clicking,” Murphy said.

Harbaugh said he predicted Murphy’s big game to the team. Harbaugh made Murphy a game captain for the coin toss.

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Murphy joined the Chargers practice squad in October, after he was waived by the Tennessee Titans. He was active for three games with the Chargers in the middle of the season, playing 12 defensive snaps and 37 special teams snaps.

When asked in the postgame locker room about the case he is making for the 53-man, Murphy replied, “That’s not my job. My job is to come out here and perform. Just do my job to the best of my ability, and that’s that.”

‘Rocket’ launches

Running back Najee Harris remains on the non-football injury list with an eye injury he sustained in a July 4 fireworks accident. With Harris out, rookie Omarion Hampton has been the clear lead back in training camp practices. The battle behind Hampton has turned into an interesting one. If Harris misses any regular-season action, the Chargers will need a second back to pair with Hampton within the offense.

Raheim Sanders, who goes by the nickname Rocket, is now firmly in that mix.

Sanders led all running backs Sunday with 42 rushing yards on 10 carries. His vision and patience jumped out in the game, two attributes he had shown in practice. Sanders had a run of 14 yards in the third quarter. He let the blocking develop in front of him before hitting the hole and finding open field to his left. Sanders has a great feel of how to change speeds to make the most of his blocking. He also can be physical and drive through contact when necessary.

Sanders capped his day with an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, extending the Chargers’ lead to 14 points. This is exactly what coaches want to see in a four-minute situation. The Chargers got the ball back with 3:38 remaining in a one-score game. They drove 65 yards on four plays to put it away. Rookie quarterback DJ Uiagalelei connected with Campbell on a 51-yard go ball to expedite the drive.

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On the touchdown, Sanders showed off his vision. He started up the middle before bouncing to the outside and winning the race to the corner of the end zone. Sanders said after the game that he knew the bounce to the right would be available based on the Saints’ front. He also drew the Saints safeties into the box by initially starting up the middle, which left no one on the back end to cut off his angle to the end zone.

rocket sanders 🚀 📺 | CBS2 LA pic.twitter.com/mQJCYaKnL2 — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 10, 2025

Sanders said he “blacked out” as soon as he crossed the goal line. He had not played in a real football game since Nov. 30, when his South Carolina Gamecocks beat Clemson. He had not scored a touchdown since a Nov. 23 game against Wofford.

“I trusted my read,” Sanders said. “After that, it was history.”

Sanders is competing with Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson for that No. 2 spot behind Hampton. Haskins also ran well Sunday, finishing with 33 yards on six carries. Vidal had 16 yards on six carries. Patterson did not play after suffering an injury in Thursday’s practice.

“There’s a lot of good players there,” Harbaugh said. “They’re showing that.”

Sanders participated in the first practice of training camp. But after suffering an injury, he missed the next eight practices and did not play in the Hall of Fame Game.

Now he is back and performing, and he could be carving out a role on offense — especially if Harris misses time early in the season. Sanders also made a quality adjustment on a third-and-2 conversion reception in the second quarter.

“Every opportunity I get,” Sanders said, “just take advantage of it.”

Lance uses his legs

Lance started the Hall of Fame Game and was very solid throwing the ball in the win. He came off the bench Sunday, replacing Taylor Heinicke, and showed off a different element to his game.

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Lance led the Chargers in rushing with 48 yards on seven carries. The protection up front was spotty, but Lance was able to mitigate that by escaping the pocket and scrambling to keep drives alive.

Lance engineered a 14-play, 85-yard touchdown drive late in the second quarter. On back-to-back plays, Lance scrambled for first downs. The first came on a third-and-7 and went for 14 yards. The second scramble went for 17 yards. Both were down the left sideline. Lance played on time and in structure in the Hall of Fame Game. On Sunday, he was forced to improvise when the protection broke down around him, and he created explosive plays with his legs.

“It helps me out a lot getting out of sticky situations,” Lance said.

Lance capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.

“He was a good presence and poised and in control,” Harbaugh said. “You make the right decisions. That’s really what it comes down to. Not everybody can do it.”

trey lance is quick 📺 | CBS2 LA pic.twitter.com/qXoE8bW9BK — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 10, 2025

Heinicke started Sunday’s game after not playing in the Hall of Fame Game. He completed just 1 of 5 pass attempts for 8 yards. He missed a potential explosive play when he threw high to tight end Tyler Conklin off play action on the opening drive of the game.

Lance has looked like the better quarterback. He is trending toward being Justin Herbert’s backup this season.

When asked about that battle, Harbaugh said, “I’m not going to talk about a second-string quarterback competition.”

Rogers emerges

Rogers, an undrafted rookie, had two interceptions in Sunday’s game. The first came on a third-and-6 in the third quarter, and it showed Rogers has a chance to play at this level. The Chargers were in a Cover 3 look, and Rogers was responsible for the deep outside third to his side. However, from his depth in the zone, he could see Shough gearing up to throw an out route to receiver Dante Pettis to the right sideline.

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Rogers trusted his instincts and went to make a play, even though tight end Treyton Welch was running a corner route behind him into his zone. Rogers timed his break perfectly. He jumped the pass attempt to Pettis, picked it off and tumbled to the ground. He was not touched. He got up and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown.

“That was as good of a play as I’ve ever seen,” Harbaugh said.

house call 📞 📺 | CBS2 LA pic.twitter.com/ZIEqOH745C — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 10, 2025

Rogers intercepted quarterback Jake Haener in the fourth quarter. He also had a pass breakup on a third-and-7 in the fourth quarter.

Late in the game, Rogers injured his ankle while playing on the kickoff team. He was on crutches in the locker room after the game.

(Photo of Caleb Murphy: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)

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