Los Angeles Chargers rookie shines in debut with team

Travis Wakeman

Los Angeles Chargers rookie shines in debut with team image

The Los Angeles Chargers got Ladd McConkey on the field for the first time this preseason, but another of the team's draft picks made the biggest impression. 

McConkey made his first catch in a Chargers uniform but Kimani Vidal, a running back the team selected in the sixth round, looked terrific in limited action. He led the team with 11 carries for 49 yards and added two receptions for eight yards. 

He looked elusive and powerful simultaneously and appears to be a player who can really pack a punch for this offense in 2024. 

Vidal saw the field before Jaret Patterson and Isaiah Spiller in this game, bringing back the thought that he is the team's true No. 3 running back. 

Kimani Vidal the most encouraging part of loss to Rams

The Chargers fell to 0-2 in the preseason and have only scored 12 points in two games following a 13-9 loss in the 'Battle of L.A.'. 

Vidal was considered a late-round gem when the Chargers drafted him in the sixth round back in April. He is the all-time leading rusher in the history of Troy University, but his small stature (5-foot-8) led to him being overlooked by many teams in the draft process. 

Now, the Chargers seem to have found their running back of the future. 

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Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.