Justin

Jake Slaughter’s teammates could only laugh as the rookie center was swarmed by reporters asking him questions in the Chargers’ locker room.

“I don’t think he does too good with the cameras and stuff,” Isaiah World said as he recorded the spectacle with his phone. “He’s real old school.”

Whether he minds it or not, the precocious 23-year-old is living in the spotlight. Slaughter enters the Chargers’ season opener against the Arizona Cardinals as the starting center.

The second-round pick out of Florida took over the role after Tyler Biadasz, who signed a three-year deal with the Chargers last offseason, tore an anterior cruciate ligament in practice last month.

“Jake didn’t bat an eye,” offensive tackle Rashawn Slater said. “The way he’s built … he’s not going to hesitate.”

The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Slaughter, who started 33 games at center at Florida, is ready for his moment.

“You’re kind of foolish if you go into a football season not thinking you’re going to be the guy at some point,” Slaughter said. “You got to prepare like you’re going to play every snap of every series, every game … and that’s kind of been my approach since I’ve been here.”

At the time of Biadasz’s injury, Slaughter was a leading candidate in the team’s left guard competition. But the Chargers knew from the day they drafted him that he was fully capable of playing center if needed.

“Truthfully, I was like, dude, he’s going to be able to do either one,” general manager Joe Hortiz said.

Chargers defensive end Akheem Mesidor isn’t surprised by Slaughter’s seamless adjustment to center. The former edge rusher at the University of Miami remembers Slaughter’s time at Florida well.

“When we would scout him … it was always like … ‘I don’t like him,’” Mesidor said. “But then you get to meet him in person — he’s a great guy, bro. … Nothing like we portrayed him.”

Slaughter has shown the most important trait in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s system: conviction.

Grasping all of McDaniel’s concepts is no easy feat — even if they’re all Slaughter knows at the professional level. Yet the Chargers’ newest playcaller has been impressed with Slaughter’s comprehension and attention to detail.

“You can’t really compliment him. Not because he turns it down; he’s just not interested in hearing about his good play,” McDaniel said. “He wants to be corrected, and he wants to do the job right for the team. I feel like he’s wise … where he gets that regard, respect and trust of veterans — the end-all, be-all for rookies; he understands that.”

“You can tell he’s confident out there,” offensive tackle Joe Alt added. “We trust him. He trusts us.”

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert built trust with Slaughter this preseason.

(Ryan Sun / Associated Press)

Slaughter also has built trust with the franchise’s most important player: Justin Herbert.

The Chargers need to do a better job of protecting the seventh-year quarterback — and Slaughter needs to play a key role in that effort.

“He’s been awesome,” Herbert said. “He’s done such a great job of picking up the offense and playing like a veteran out there. Great to have a guy like that. He’s playing a lot earlier than I think he would have thought, but that hasn’t slowed him down.”

Slaughter credits his teammates and coaches for getting him up to speed after he was thrown into the fire.

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey said the locker room has “bought into” the Chargers’ new starting center. Offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III, meanwhile, took his praise for Slaughter a step further.

“He might be one of the smartest rookies I’ve ever seen,” Pipkins said.

Slaughter, however, earned veteran approval long before any cameras were crammed in his face. Coach Jim Harbaugh insisted he knew Slaughter was a starting-caliber player in early August.

“You know when you see it,” Harbaugh said.

But before the rookie can lose himself in any pressure or nerves on Sunday, he’s simply happy for the opportunity.

“That’s an experience I hope I’ll never forget,” Slaughter said about his upcoming NFL debut. “Something I really never thought I’d get to do growing up. It’s a really unique honor, and I’m really thankful I can be out there and play ball.”

After an ugly loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week, Jim Harbaugh wanted to see a better showing from his team in its final preseason test.

The third-year coach had his wish somewhat granted, as the Chargers presented several encouraging performances in a 20-18 loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium on Thursday.

“It was important football being played,” Harbaugh said. “Many good things. Lot of good. … “I liked the response from the entire team from Week 2 to Week 3 of the preseason.”

Here are five takeaways from the Chargers’ final tune-up before 53-man rosters must be finalized Sunday:

Starters show up

The Chargers’ starters on defense, without safety Derwin James Jr. and outside linebacker Khalil Mack, did its part against the Rams’ second-stringers.

Chris O’Leary’s unit forced a punt on its first drive. And despite the Rams’ second drive starting at the Chargers’ 14-yard line, the defense limited the damage to three points.

“I just felt the energy,” outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu said. “That’s what I felt from [our] defense.”

Mike McDaniel’s bunch, meanwhile, started on the wrong foot. Quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled a handoff to running back Omarion Hampton on the Chargers’ second play from scrimmage, leading to a Rams field goal.

Herbert and the starting offense, though, made sure they left something pleasing on film. On the second play of the Chargers’ second possession, Herbert connected with wide receiver Quentin Johnston over the middle on a sensational 65-yard touchdown pass.

“I knew it was a touchdown,” said wideout Ladd McConkey. “I looked up [and] saw Q running free, so I knew he was going to make a play.”

Herbert’s pass traveled 57.6 air yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

“Double wow,” Harbaugh said.

DJ Uiagalelei outduels Trey Lance

Lance, the incumbent backup quarterback, used his legs well and earned 22 yards on four rushes. Uiagalelei, however, looked like he could become the Chargers’ new backup signal-caller.

Uiagalelei made some nice, quick reads and completed 11 of 18 passes for 141 yards. He lost a fumble to seal the loss, though, after being strip-sacked by Rams outside linebacker Darryl Peterson.

“I felt solid out there,” Uiagalelei said. “I mean, I wish we would’ve won, man. … I’m pretty frustrated, pretty upset. … Just tough to go out like that on a fumble.”

Lance, who’s more familiar with McDaniel’s system from their shared time in San Francisco, looked rushed on most of his snaps and didn’t connect on his two throws, one of which was a drop by Derius Davis.

There hasn’t been much separation between Lance and Uiagalelei throughout training camp, but the St. John Bosco product was better on Thursday.

Rookies Rodney Shelley, Greg Desrosiers Jr. make strong cases

Shelley, an undrafted cornerback, and Desrosiers, an undrafted running back, are on the bubble of making the Chargers’ 53-man roster.

Even with an unnecessary roughness penalty in the fourth, Shelley made his reps count, making five tackles and breaking up a deep pass from Rams quarterback Ty Simpson intended for Tyler Scott.

Desrosiers erupted for 118 yards on nine rushes, including a 34-yard touchdown run in the fourth.

“I kind of just put in my heart to go out there and ball,” Desrosiers said. “I feel like I did everything I needed to do to kind of put all the teams on notice [and] put the front office here on notice. And hopefully I’ve made it hard for them to make the decision.”

Left guard race still going?

Kayode Awosika is the favorite to win the Chargers’ starting left guard job, and he played there during the first two series.

But when Lance and the second-stringers replaced the starters, Awosika moved to right guard. Trever Penning replaced Awosika at left guard.

“The entire preseason, with the offensive line, we like the way it’s coming together,” Harbaugh said.

Maybe Trey Pipkins III, who McDaniel said remained in the left guard competition, still has a shot. He played left tackle with the starters Thursday. Another candidate, Logan Taylor, started at right tackle.

Special teams not sharp

Cameron Dicker missed an extra-point attempt in the Chargers’ preseason win over the Houston Texans. Scott made unfavorable headlines against the 49ers after an abysmal tackling effort during Jacob Cowing’s 83-yard punt return for a touchdown.

On Thursday, Dicker missed a 49-yard field goal to end the first half, a distance he’s usually sharp from. And Scott, although he didn’t have to make any tackles, shanked a punt 20 yards down the right sideline from the Chargers’ 9-yard line, setting up a 29-yard Rams touchdown drive.

Dicker was spotted going into the sideline medical tent early in the game for an undisclosed reason. But Harbaugh said it’s nothing to worry about.

“He’s the most accurate kicker in NFL history,” Harbaugh said. “That’s not something I’m worried about.”