The Los Angeles Chargers were already slated to face a formidable gauntlet of opponents in 2026, especially in the first half of the season.
Following a pair of (should-be) lay-up matchups in Weeks 1 and 2 against the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles is set to face off against the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens.
Thankfully, this slew of opponents is separated by a Week 7 bye, granting Los Angeles a bit of reprieve before they need to face the final three opponents on that slate. Unfortunately, a skid at the start of the season combined with a lack of rest in the back half of the season could make for a tough outcome for the Chargers.
Each of these opponents presents their own dangers. The Seahawks, Broncos, and Texans each boast some of the league's best defenses, while the Bills, Chiefs, and Ravens should each find their offensive grooves again this season.
But to top it all off, one of the league's most frightening defensive playmakers was just added to this slate. The Los Angeles Rams traded for Myles Garrett on Monday, instantly upgrading their defense and leaving them in position to be the Chargers' most formidable opponent in 2026.
Rams get even scarier ahead of Chargers matchup in Week 8 with Myles Garrett trade
While the details of the trade haven't yet been finalized, we do know that Los Angeles is sending at least edge rusher Jared Verse and a first-round pick in exchange for the 30-year-old Garrett, per Ian Rapoport.
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— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 1, 2026
Bombshell: The #Browns are finalizing a trade of Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the #Rams in a shocker, sources tell me, @TomPelissero & @AdamSchefter.
Cleveland would send Garrett to LA in exchange for star edge Jared Verse, a first-rounder, and more. pic.twitter.com/sQkTsV7QLD
The Rams defense was already stacked in its own right. They added Trent McDuffie this offseason, and they boasted Verse and Byron Young in their young pass rush. Verse posted 7.5 sacks last season, and he's made the Pro Bowl in each of his two NFL campaigns.
As good as Verse is though, Garrett is a major upgrade. Even at the age of 30, Garrett is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted 84 total pressures and an NFL-record 23.0 sacks. With Matthew Stafford at the helm, the Rams were already going to be a major challenge for the Chargers coming off their bye.
Now, their defense looks like it could be the deciding factor in an absolutely pivotal game.
The Rams matchup, and many of the matchups surrounding it, will represent a major test for the Chargers' re-tooled offensive line. Now that Garrett has suddenly been added to the slate, though, that test seems a lot more daunting.
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