3 winners (and 2 losers) from Chargers' preseason loss to Rams

The LA Chargers fell to 0-2 in the preseason on Saturday with a 13-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Fortunately, wins and losses do not matter in the preseason as the most important takeaways are all related to individual performance.

And as is the case with most other preseason games, there was both the good and the bad for the Chargers on Saturday. Some players made the most of the second preseason game of the year, while others were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Let's break down who exactly fell into which bucket for the Bolts.

Winners and losers from Chargers' preseason loss to Rams:

Winner: Kimani Vidal

There was some light speculation that Kimani Vidal may be on the outside looking in when it comes to the Chargers' 53-man roster for the regular season. With his preseason debut on Saturday, Vidal may have quelled any of those discussions.

The 2024 sixth-round pick not only operated as the starting running back for the Chargers in the game but he instantly made his mark. Vidal ripped off 21 rushing yards in his first two carries and finished the game with 49 yards on 11 carries.

With Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins both having massive question marks around their long-term ability to stay healthy, Vidal could end up playing a big role on the Chargers as the team's RB3. On Saturday, he proved his believers right that he may be up for the task.

Loser: Easton Stick

Any Chargers fan who consumes articles has read enough about Easton Stick at this point. The Chargers' backup quarterback has been rather dreadful in his two preseason starts, making many question his ability as a backup quarterback while Justin Herbert nurses a foot injury.

Stick will start the last preseason game of the season and he very well could be playing for his job. Nobody on the roster currently stands out as a proper backup quarterback behind Herbert but the Chargers could pursue external options to bolster the room.

Long-term, it might be better for Stick to struggle yet again in the last preseason game of the year so the Bolts don't make a brash decision off on game.

Winner: Cameron Dicker

Cameron Dicker is going to emphatically announce to the rest of the NFL that he is one of the best kickers on the planet. Dicker has been nothing but consistent in his career thus far and that has carried over to training camp and the preseason.

Dicker scored all nine of the Chargers points by drilling three field goals with a long of 55. He is accurate, is quelling any concerns about his kick power, and has been the most consistent player on the entire Chargers' roster.

At least Chargers fans can go to bed happy knowing they have one of the best kickers in the league.

Loser: Isaiah Spiller

Even though the team only scored nine points and lost its second preseason game in a row, it is hard to pinpoint very many losers for the Chargers in this game. As ugly as it looked at times, most of the onus fell on the backup quarterback situation and the lack of starters who were playing.

That being said, Isaiah Spiller still feels like perhaps the biggest loser of this game simply because of the roster implications forced by other backs on the roster. Vidal was the biggest standout of Saturday's game but he is not the only back Spiller has to worry about.

Jaret Patterson has also been getting more offensive reps (and has looked better, quite frankly) than Spiller. All Spiller was able to muster in Saturday's loss was two rushes for seven yards. A handful of special teams snaps is not going to save his spot on the roster.

Winner: Jesse Minter

Watching Jesse Minter's defense as been refreshing for Chargers fans who had to watch the team struggle week in and week out under Brandon Staley. Granted, it is the preseason and defenses usually have the edge in the preseason, but the results have been promising nonetheless.

The same players who struggled in Staley's scheme have already shown personal improvement in Minter's scheme. From an overall defensive standpoint, Minter has the guys flying around with creative packages that are not confusing the defense itself.

The jury is still out on how this Chargers' defense might hold up in the regular season against proper starting quarterbacks. The early impressions are great, though, and showcase a higher ceiling than previously expected for this Bolts defense.