EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — A week into theLos Angeles Chargers'training camp, an unexpected hole has quickly become a coaching staff and front office focal point. It's a void that measures 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, was previously inhabited byveteran wideout Mike Williams, and now needs a sizable presence to step into an opportunity. That was the primary takeaway after visiting Chargers camp Saturday, just days after Williams abruptly retired on the first day of practice and pushed the franchise to start mulling limited options. It's a roster concern that exacerbates an early — but somewhat typical — camp theme for many teams: The defense is ahead of the offense; the installation process is just now getting traction; and conversations are intensifying behind closed doors about roster questions that will need to be answered from inside the current depth chart or supplemented with an outside addition. For the Chargers, nothing represents that reality more than the starting "X" receiver spot, which not only lost Williams' prototypical size and strength at the position, but also his baked-in chemistry with quarterbackJustin Herbert, whom Williams played with from 2020 to 2023. All of that drove Los Angeles to reunite with Williams in free agency last March, bringing some important depth and options to the position alongside rising young starLadd McConkey. Unfortunately, with Williams battling lingering health issues from the spring, the reliable free-agent signing ended up being the least reliable development in the first week of camp. "Nothing's shocking to me — I was definitely disappointed, though," Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said of Williams' retirement. "I really enjoyed my time with Mike. I've watched him throughout the years, obviously coming out of the draft and watched him flourish here over the years. … I don't know that it changes things a lot. You know, you lose a Mike Williams, that is what it is. It's not easily replaceable. But we like where everybody is going. We like the guys we have. We've just got to work to keep getting better. I like the trajectory we're on." [Get more Chargers news: Bolts team feed] So what now? Well, a few things are in play. First and foremost, the Chargers have the option on the table of adding one of the free-agent wideouts who are currently waiting for the right opportunity to open. Among them are former Chargers starKeenan Allen, who makes the most sense given that he's still productive and has also played with Herbert, as well as veteransAmari CooperandGabe Davis. All would be expected to be bargain price options at this stage. Even with the veteran options on the table, the Chargers seem intent on getting a good look at other players who could step in and potentially replace Williams in the aggregate. Third-year receiverQuentin Johnstonfaces a referendum of sorts this season, despite growing in production during his first two seasons with the Chargers. Coming off a rough performance in aplayoff loss to the Houston Texans, Johnston is going to have to showcase more consistency and reliability across the course of the season if he's going to develop into the bona fide No. 2 next to McConkey. He'll also now have to contend with a pair of rookies who are already stalking opportunities to take a bite out of the snaps opened up by Williams' departure: second-round pickTre Harris, who has already flashed some of the big-play ability he showcased at Ole Miss, and fifth-round pickKeAndre Lambert-Smith, whose top-tier speed and early groove with Herbert already has the coaching staff and front office excited. Barring a free-agent signing or trade, one or more of that trio is going to get a slew of snaps to help fill the gap left by Williams' departure. The only question now is who steps up from Day 1 to the next to earn the trust of Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh. Putting together a preseason watch list for my All-Pro vote, the Chargers' brass advanced two of their youngest players: wideoutLadd McConkeyand right tackleJoe Alt. Interestingly, one member of the braintrust said McConkey's superb rookie season is not perceived as anything close to his ceiling internally. One thing that has the staff buzzing? McConkey opens camp a little bigger and stronger than anticipated. While it's not via a big weight gain, the staff noted that McConkey is visibly stronger. As for Alt, the Chargers think he and a healthyMekhi Bectoncould form one of the better right guard/right tackle duos in the league this season. The team is also confident that Alt could swing to left tackle if injuries necessitate it, making him one of the most versatile young anchor tackles in football. How much did the Chargers like wideoutTre Harrisin the draft? I was told that while running backOmarion Hamptonwas the team's target with the 22nd overall pick, there was a trade-back scenario that could have come into play if Hampton had come off the board board early. While there were various options on the table, if Hampton was gone by No. 22, the Chargers would have entertained moving to the bottom of the first round (likely to thePhiladelphia Eagles'original pick at No. 32), where they would have been comfortable taking Harris to close out the first round. Instead, they got Hampton and then white-knuckled Harris making it all the way to the 55th overall pick in the second round. Another rookie to watch this season: fifth-round tight endOronde Gadsden II, who a team source says has made strides getting stronger and bigger only a few months since the draft. Despite players likeSam LaPortaandBrock Bowerspopping as rookies in recent years, tight ends usually have a slow build in terms of production. But Gadsden has already had flashes in camp as a receiver and could factor more than expected as the season moves along.
