The San Diego Chargers will conduct their first training camp gathering Thursday at Chargers Park, with 88 players expected to participate in a planned two-hour-plus practice, which will be open to the public.
The gates at Chargers Park, 4020 Murphy Canyon Road, will open at 8:20 a.m. The practice will be conducted from 9:20-11:30 a.m. But if you miss Thursday there are opportunities all this weekend and several days next week too.
The Chargers will conduct nine other practices open to the general public, including this whole weekend:
- Friday, 2:50-5 p.m.
- Saturday, 9:20-11:30 a.m., and
- Sunday, 2:50-5 p.m.
The Chargers other practices at Chargers Park open to the general public will be held July 31, 9:20-11:30 a.m.; Aug. 4, 2:50-5 p.m., Aug. 9, 9:20-11:30 a.m., Aug. 11, 2:50-5 p.m., and Aug. 12, 9:20-11:30 a.m. FanFest at Qualcomm takes place Aug. 2.
Practices Wednesday and Aug. 1 at Chargers Park are open to season ticket holders only.
In their first season under coach Mike McCoy, the Chargers were 9-7, winning their final four regular-season games to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Nate Davis of USA Today Sports projects the Chargers to be 8-8 this season and miss the playoffs.
The keys to the Chargers’ hopes for success in 2014 include avoiding injuries to quarterback Phillip Rivers and their offensive line, Bill Cowher, an analyst on CBS’ “The NFL Today,” said.
“The offensive line was huge last year,” said Cowher, who coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 seasons. “They kept him upright. If they stay healthy, I think they’ll be good.”
The Chargers will begin preseason play Aug. 7 when they play host to the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. They will begin the regular season Sept. 8 at Arizona in a Monday night game.
Their regular-season home opener will be Sept. 14 against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Parking and admission to all training camp practices at Chargers Park are free. On weekdays, parking is available only on Murphy Canyon Road. For weekend practices, fans will be allowed to park in the Kearny Mesa Business Center, just south of the park.
– City News Service
