It might have been just a preseason game, but after not reaching the end zone his entire rookie season, San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon finally hit pay dirt in his team’s exhibition opener against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in Nashville.
Gordon corralled a checkdown pass from Philip Rivers and raced 44 yards for San Diego’s first score of the contest. He finished with only 12 rushing yards on three carries, playing in just the first series for the Chargers.
But overall, Gordon ran hard and aggressively finished runs.
“Melvin was hungry to get into the end zone,” San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers said. “You can’t make too much of these preseason games. But it was nice to come out crisp and score on that first drive.”
San Diego played the Titans in the preseason for only the second time in team history, losing 27-10. In the 1997 exhibition season, San Diego defeated Tennessee 21-7 in Nashville. The two teams are scheduled to meet again during the regular season, Nov. 6 at Qualcomm Stadium.
The Chargers travel back to San Diego, where they will host the Arizona Cardinals on Friday in the teams' second preseason game. San Diego also will compete against the Cardinals in two days of controlled scrimmages next week.
QB depth chart: Rivers played just one series, finishing 2-of-3 for 64 yards and a touchdown pass. Backup quarterback Kellen Clemens played the rest of the first half, completing 9-of-16 passes for 96 yards. Competing for the No. 2 job with Clemens, Zach Mettenberger struggled in his return to Tennessee, finishing 2-of-8 for 22 yards and an interception. Undrafted rookie Mike Bercovici also threw a pick, completing 3-of-6 passes for 46 yards.
Maybe that dude could start: A lunch-pail-effort guy, reserve nose tackle Damion Square finished with two sacks against the Titans. Brandon Mebane isn’t going anywhere as San Diego’s starting nose tackle, but perhaps with Joey Bosa still unsigned, Square could work in as a rotational player at defensive end.
Who got hurt? LB Tourek Williams suffered an elbow injury in the second half and had to go back to the locker room to have it evaluated. Williams later returned to the field. Wide receiver Tyrell Williams, WR Travis Benjamin, WR Javontee Herndon, G Orlando Franklin, C Spencer Pulley, LB Jatavis Brown, CB Greg Ducre, DE Tenny Palepoi, NT Sean Lissemore, WR Rico Richardson and DT Zamir Carlis did not play Saturday due to injuries. Kenny Wiggins started at left guard in place of Franklin, and Dontrelle Inman started in place of Williams.
A surprise player who impressed: Kenneth Farrow, an undrafted rookie running back out of Houston, did a nice job, finishing with 60 yards rushing.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Chargers looked ... Solid but unspectacular. The first-team offense led by Rivers scored a touchdown on the opening drive. And while the first-unit defense gave up a couple explosive plays, they ultimately stiffened up and held the Titans to a field goal on Tennessee’s opening drive.
One reason to be concerned: San Diego gave up 4.8 yards per carry last season, 31st in the league. That trend continued Saturday as the Chargers' defense allowed nearly 300 rushing yards to Tennessee. The Chargers also had seven penalties for 65 yards in the first half, including two each by offensive linemen Tyreek Burwell and Max Tuerk.
Derek Watt proving he belongs: The game did not look too big for fullback Watt, the younger brother of Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt. A sixth-round selection in this year’s draft for the Chargers, Watt played physical as a run-blocker and also flashed on special teams. The only hiccup for Watt was a dropped pass out in the flat.