3. Focused on eliminating penalties
Perhaps the biggest culprit in back-to-back losses has been a plethora of penalties.
The Chargers were whistled for 10 infractions Sunday for 85 yards and have now committed 24 penalties for 192 yards in the past two games.
“I’m not crediting any of that to a specific thing,” Harbaugh said when asked to put his finger on the root of the issue.
Through five games, the Chargers are tied for 19th in the NFL at 7.8 penalties per game.
That data shows that the Bolts were a disciplined team earlier in the season, which is backed up by data that shows just 15 total penalties in the first three games of the year.
“Every group has fingerprints on it, every position group, every coach,” Harbaugh said. “We’re all looking at that and wall to wall just going back, looking at every way we can attack to be better.”
4. Perryman set to return
In terms of good news, Denzel Perryman is on the mend.
Harbaugh said Monday that the team will open Perryman’s 21-day practice window sometime this week. Perryman went on Injured Reserve after Week 1 with an ankle injury and has missed the past four games.
“We’re going to open up Denzel’s window sometime this week,” Harbaugh said.
Perryman’s potential return should help a unit that has seen Daiyan Henley and Troy Dye carry the load at linebacker over the past month.
Henley, unsurprisingly, has played all 257 defensive snaps in the past four games. Dye, meanwhile, has started four straight games and played 200 of 257 snaps (77.8 percent) in that timespan.
Harbaugh was also asked about injury updates to Mekhi Becton (hand) and Trey Pipkins III (knee) along the offensive line.
Harbaugh said both players were getting treatment but added that Pipkins likely had testing done.
“I think [Pipkins] did get an MRI today. I think so,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know any of the results.”
He later added: “Probably have more as the week goes on.”
In terms of the offensive line going forward, Harbaugh said the Chargers would be “looking at all options” up front.
Harbaugh was asked about how he thought Austin Deculus and Bradley Bozeman fared against Washington. Deculus made his first start in two years Sunday as he filled in for Joe Alt.
“They were fighting the fight. A lot of good, things to be better at, too,” Harbaugh said. “Just keep attacking it and opportunity to keep having at it. Those two players in particular were fighting the fight.”
