Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley is in his first year in charge in LA. He's wasting no time implementing his own strategies and ideas and that includes playing time for preseason games.

On Thursday, Staley announced that Chargers running back Austin Ekeler wouldn't be playing in the preseason. Then he expanded on it by including Justin Herbert, Derwin James, Kennan Allen, Corey Linsley, Bryan Bulaga, Linval Joseph and Jared Cook on that list as well.

Herbert is coming off a sensational and somewhat unexpected rookie year where he bursted into the spotlight. Entering his second year, expectations are sky high both internally and externally for the Chargers' signal caller.

Derwin James hasn't played since 2019. After an exceptional rookie campaign in 2018, the versatile safety hasn't been able to stay healthy. He missed 11 games in 2019 and missed all of the 2020 season for the Chargers. When healthy, he projects to be one of the best safeties in the league. Opting to sit him out of the preseason feels like a wise chose from Staley.

A lot of the offensive starters will be watching from the sidelines in the exhibition games for LA as they focus in on the regular season. The Chargers are a sneaky pick to make some noise in the AFC with Herbert entering year two at the helm and additions across the board both in free agency and the draft. The AFC West goes through Kansas City but LA will try and deliver a few punches of their own this year.