Biggest winners and losers from Chargers' joint practice with Rams

The LA Chargers had their first joint practice of the 2024 season on Sunday as the team welcomed the Los Angeles Rams to The Bolt in El Segundo.

While both teams are far from being finished products, this joint practice presented each team with a great litmus test on where they stand in the ramp-up process. Both teams have a better idea of where they are strong, where the are weak, and can now adjust from there.

As far as the Chargers specifically go, there are several winners and losers from Sunday's joint practice that will make up the fabric of the team in 2024.

Chargers' biggest winners and losers from joint practice with Rams

Winner - Kristian Fulton

The Kristian Fulton signing did not make much sense when it happened as the Chargers signed one of the few cornerbacks in the league who was statistically worse than Michael Davis last season. Fulton never quite hit his ceiling with the Tennessee Titans and considering he was the only established NFL corner the team added, fans were slightly concerned.

Fulton still has to go out and prove himself during an actual NFL game but fans have to be happy with what they have seen thus far. The 25-year-old corner has turned in several good practices and continued to make plays on Sunday.

The former second-round pick intercepted Matthew Stafford on a tip-ball he dove for and earned praise from teammate Derwin James for his ball-hawking ability. It was a good day for Fulton, who continues to make the Chargers look smarter and smarter for signing him.

Loser - Chargers offensive line

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Sunday's practice was the offensive line's poor play. To be fair, Easton Stick was under center and operated as the starting quarterback, which is naturally going to cause hiccups against a talented offensive line.

However, this offensive line is being sold as the foundation of this offense, especially after taking tackle Joe Alt with the fifth pick. Alt was not the issue on Sunday as he was the highlight in an otherwise disappointing day both in pass protection and in establishing the run for the O-line.

It is early for this group, which consists of a rookie, a new center, and a middling right tackle who is playing right guard (who was inactive for Sunday's practice). It was never going to gel perfectly right away, but fans did expect better than this.

Winner - Chargers defensive line

Like the Rams, the Chargers had a good showing in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. That is not uncommon this early in the season as offenses are still establishing their identity while defense can thrive on pure talent.

The entire Chargers' defense can be considered a winner after Sunday but the defensive line was the main talking point. The defensive line set the table for Fulton and the secondary to feast as the Chargers were able to force several takeaways against the vaunted Sean McVay offense.

It all started on the defensive line, especially on the edge where the thunderous duo of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack went to work. Unfortunately, though, Bosa suffered an apparent hand/wrist injury and was forced to leave practice early.

Loser - Easton Stick

Once again, this kind of goes hand-in-hand with the offensive line. Stick certainly had an impact on how the offensive line played and the pressure he was faced with certainly had an impact on how he played as a result.

If anything, Sunday's practice was a reminder that Stick is not anywhere close to being in the same realm as Justin Herbert (not that anyone thought he was). Stick himself admitted he is not going to do the same things Herbert can do and just wants to communicate as effectively as the starting quarterback.

This should raise an important question, though. If Herbert is going to potentially miss a week or two, or has an elevated risk of re-injury, then are the Chargers really comfortable with Stick being the backup plan? The Chargers won't make any kind of Super Bowl run without Herbert, but they might need to stay afloat and not tank the season in a one-month stretch if he misses time.

Perhaps the Chargers should give Ryan Tannehill a call. At the very least, he knows how to operate in a run-heavy offense and won't actively lose games for the Chargers.