COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The competition between Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley begins in earnest Saturday, with the two competing on the same field for the first time when the Los Angeles Chargers host a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams at the StubHub Center.
It’s the first opportunity for the Chargers to get some work in at the 27,000-seat facility, providing an opportunity for head coach Anthony Lynn and his staff to have a test run before his team’s first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 13.
The fully-padded practice is open to Chargers season-ticket holders and those on the wait list. Seating will be limited to the lower bowl.
“We’re going to go through our game-day routine and all of the things we’re going to do in the first game,” Lynn said. “There will be some good competition on the field in the Rams. It’s going to be a practice, not a scrimmage. … It’s going to be nice to practice against somebody else, because right about now guys are tired of seeing each other.”
Gordon said he’s never seen Gurley play in person, and he hopes to get a chance to watch the Georgia product do his thing. Gordon also embraces the competition between the two with his team’s self-proclaimed “Battle for L.A.”
Gurley had the better rookie season, totaling 1,106 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in just 12 games, earning Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Gordon failed to get into the end zone in 2015.
However, the tables were turned last year. Gordon finished with 12 total touchdowns and came just three yards short of 1,000 yards rushing in 2016, earning his first Pro Bowl invitation. Gurley struggled through a sophomore slump, totaling 885 rushing yards.
“That’s my boy,” Gordon said about Gurley. “I’m cool with him, but obviously we both want to be and are fighting to be the best. My first year I didn’t do so well, and I kind of watched him. And my second year, I did a little better than he did.
“So this year’s going to tell it all. But obviously we’ve got some bigger backs that you need to focus on. You’ve got David Johnson, Le'Veon Bell, AP (Adrian Peterson) is back, and obviously what Zeke (Ezekiel Elliott) is doing over there -- not to discredit any other backs that are in the NFC doing what they’ve got to do. You’ve also got Jay [Ajayi] -- you’ve got so many other backs.”
Koo making strides in kicking competition: An undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern, Younghoe Koo has not missed a kick in the competition for the starting kicking job against incumbent Josh Lambo, making 12-of-12 field-goal attempts, including a long of 50 yards. Lambo is 9-for-12 from the same distances, including two missed kicks at Friday’s practice, pushing one wide right from 33 yards and coming up just short from 50 yards. Lynn said the competition between the two is heated and will continue through exhibition play. “You’d love to see it come down to games, but you may not get those opportunities in games,” Lynn said. “So these practices are very important.”
Inman hits the practice field: For the first time since having sports hernia surgery in the offseason, receiver Dontrelle Inman was a full participant in practice on Friday. Inman said he still has to shake the rust off, but he looks forward to getting more reps on the field during training camp. “Once you come off an injury or surgery, it kind of builds your muscles to a new standard, so it makes you feel better in a sense,” Inman said.