Chargers' 2024 training camp opens with drama as rookie Tre Harris holds out and Mike Williams hits the PUP list. Can Ladd McConkey lead the WRs?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The long wait is over, Bolt Fam. Training camp officially kicked off today, bringing the familiar sounds of helmets and pads back to the field. But the optimism of a new season was immediately met with a dose of drama, as second-round wide receiver Tre Harris is reportedly holding out, making him the first player from his draft class to do so. With the ink barely dry on the offseason, the Chargers already face their first major test.
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The biggest bombshell of Day 1 is the absence of rookie wideout Tre Harris. As the first official second-round holdout of the 2025 draft class, his decision sends ripples through an already uncertain receiver corps. With Keenan Allen gone and Quentin Johnston looking for a bounce-back year, Harris was expected to compete for a significant role immediately. The situation is compounded by veteran Mike Williams, who begins his Chargers reunion on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. While Williams' issue isn't considered serious, having two key receivers sidelined to start camp puts immense pressure on Ladd McConkey as the presumptive WR1.
Williams isn't alone on the PUP list. He's joined by WR Jaylen Johnson, S Elijah Molden, LB Del'Shawn Phillips, and OT Savion Washington. Molden's placement was expected as he recovers from a significant leg injury, but his return will be crucial for the secondary. The good news? All five can be activated at any point during camp. In a major sigh of relief, running back Najee Harris was *not* placed on the list. After a scary fireworks accident on July 4th, his agent confirmed he's ready to go, clearing the way for him to form the anticipated 1-2 punch with rookie Omarion Hampton.
With camp underway, all eyes are on defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and how he'll retool a unit that lost star pass-rusher Joey Bosa. The veteran presence of Khalil Mack, now entering his 12th season, will be invaluable for a young group. Rookies Jamaree Caldwell and Kyle Kennard are expected to get long looks, while veterans like Da'Shawn Hand and Tuli Tuipulotu will be integrated into the rotation. How Minter schemes pressure without Bosa will be one of the most compelling storylines of the entire preseason.
Amidst the roster drama, the team delivered some major fan service by unveiling two new alternate uniforms and a slick navy blue alternate helmet. The new lid, featuring the classic gold lightning bolts, is a direct nod to the beloved 1988-2006 design. As president A.G. Spanos stated, the organization knows it has the best threads in the league. While uniforms don't win games, the fresh look adds a jolt of energy and excitement as the 2025 campaign officially gets underway.
Day one of training camp has set the stage perfectly for the weeks to come. The immediate priorities are clear: resolve the Tre Harris holdout and get key players like Mike Williams and Elijah Molden back on the field. Beyond that, the real work begins as new faces on defense find their roles and the offense builds its identity. The questions are many, but for the first time in months, the answers will start to unfold on the practice field.
