As is the tradition during the NFL preseason, teams got together throughout the league to hold joint practices this week. The Chargers hosted the New Orleans Saints, who the team will play in Week 2 of the preseason on Sunday.
These joint practices aren't quite game speed but they are different from the preseason games. Most notably, the Chargers' starters got plenty of reps against another NFL defense in these joint practices, whereas in the preseason it is mostly the second unit and depth players.
These practices are not only a great opportunity for the Bolts to improve before the regular season but also to gauge certain players on the roster. And with the two practices in the books, there are certain Chargers who stood out above the rest.
Chargers' 3 biggest winners from joint practices with Saints:
Derius Davis
The Chargers selected Derius Davis in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and he has already made his presence felt on the team. Davis returned a punt for a touchdown in the first preseason game of the year and showed off his freakish athleticism in the process.
There was never a doubt that Davis would impact the special teams side of the ball as that is why he was drafted. The real question has been whether or not the Chargers would actually utilize him on offense as well.
There is a lot of talent in front of Davis at the receiver position so it may be hard to log many snaps as a rookie. That being said, Davis has proven that he can make a difference if given the opportunity. Davis looked great in the joint practices with the Saints, making several big plays on offense.
That boy fast pic.twitter.com/RDxLeSOYO2
— 𝓐 𝓷 𝓽 (@SlipperySpilly) August 18, 2023
Davis' speed jumps off the screen but his route-running is also crisp and concise as well. Reps like this against legitimate NFL competition are getting fans excited about what Davis can do offensively in 2023 and beyond.