Chargers news: Jim Harbaugh's Carolina plan, LA signs a CB, Alohi Gilman update

The LA Chargers opened the 2024 season exactly as planned with a gritty win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Los Angeles won the Jim Harbaugh way in Week 1 and while it was not a perfect game, the outcome has fans excited for what is in store for the remaining 16 games.

Los Angeles will play its first road game of the season in Week 2 against a Carolina Panthers team that was punched in the mouth by the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. On paper, this is a team the Chargers should handle with ease to start 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

While there may not be as much news surrounding the team as there is heading into Week 1 of the NFL season, there certainly are quite a few updates Chargers fans should stay up-to-speed about between Week 1 and Week 2.

Alohi Gilman headlines lengthy Chargers injury report

After a relatively thin injury report for Week 1, the first Chargers injury report for Week 2 looked more like the injury reports fans are used to seeing from the team. A total of 10 players were on the injury report, three of which were full participants on Wednesday, five were limited, and two were out.

The most notable name on the injury report was Alohi Gilman, who has really blossomed into one of the best young safeties in the league dating back to last season. Gilman did not practice due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor did not practice due to a fibula injury.

Losing two starters in the secondary would be a daunting task for the Bolts. AJ Finley would likely start alongside Derwin James at safety while Tarheeb Still or even Elijah Molden would get slot corner snaps over Taylor.

Chargers staying out east after Week 2

The Chargers have back-to-back early road games in Week 2 and Week 3 as the team is scheduled to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. In his continued effort to differ from previous Chargers' regimes (whether intentional or not), Harbaugh decided the team will stay on the East Coast between the two games.

Harbaugh told reporters the Chargers would stay in Carolina after playing the Panthers in preparation for playing the Steelers. This is not something the Chargers have done in recent years but is not that uncommon for West Coast teams who have to travel East.

The Chargers return home for one game against the Kansas City Chiefs after the brief road trip before heading into the team's bye week.

Chargers sign DiCaprio Bootle to practice squad

The Chargers added to the practice squad on Wednesday by signing cornerback DiCaprio Bootle. There was an extra spot on the practice squad after the team signed tight end Eric Tomlinson to the active roster prior to Week 1.

Bootle went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Nebraska and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Bootle spent his first two years in the league with the Chiefs and played for the Panthers in 2023.

Bootle has appeared in a total of 15 games in his NFL career and it is unlikely he will play for the Chargers in Week 2. The timing of signing a former Panthers player the week leading into a game against the Panthers is interesting, however.