Alex Insdorf
alexinsdorf99.bsky.social
Alex Insdorf
@alexinsdorf99.bsky.social
@gacpodcast17 host of Bolt Breakdowns,
@BB_chargers contributor,
med student

inquiries: [email protected]

Formerly:
@thechargerswire for USA Today
Pinned
New Chargers Q + A pod:
-Is Salyer playing left tackle realistic?
-3-5 realistic changes the Chargers can make after the BYE week
-offensive and defensive needs for 2026
-attempting to set realistic expectations for the team going forward as far as the playoffs are concerned
youtu.be/vaxeTF5ROTE
Chargers BYE Week Q&A: Remaining schedule, OL reshuffling, and realistic playoff expectations
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
The Chargers’ dynamic RB duo was supposed to be Omarion Hampton + Najee Harris. Harris tore his Achilles in Week 3 while Hampton (ankle) hit IR in October.

Now-It’s Hampton and second-year breakout RB Kimani Vidal. And they have a chance to be dangerous.
boltbeat.com/omarion-hamp...
Chargers RB Omarion Hampton teases
At one point this season, the true 1-2 punch for the Chargers was supposed to be Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton. The tandem was developing nicely into the Wee
boltbeat.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Sunday: break your hand
Monday: surgery
Thursday: practice

Such is life for Chargers QB Justin Herbert. He was listed as a limited participant today.

Greg Roman said they're "really optimistic" he plays-also, will Trey Lance still get under center?

boltbeat.com/justin-herbe...
Justin Herbert takes massive step towards playing on Monday vs. Eagles
Chargers QB Justin Herbert did not practice on Wednesday. He participated in the teams' walkthrough and was on the field. But just 48 hours or so after surgery
boltbeat.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:11 AM
New: Justin Herbert is (probably) going to play in a game on MNF against the Eagles barely one week after having stabilization surgery on his left hand.

Cracked ribs. High ankle sprain. Broken fingers, bones-we shouldn't take his toughness for granted.
boltbeat.com/justin-herbe...
Justin Herbert's injury history all but confirms his status for Chargers-Eagles
Chargers QB Justin Herbert says he plans on playing vs. the Eagles despite a hand fracture. And history says we should believe him.
boltbeat.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Alex Insdorf
NEW POD: Chargers sweep the Raiders in 2025!
-Kimani Vidal has the best game of his career💙
-Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu bounce back from the Jacksonville game
-Justin Herbert's hand injury: what we know and how the offense will be different going forward🏥
youtu.be/FKo59-Hgkic
Chargers sweep Raiders 🧹: Vidal DOMINATES, defense steps up, and the status of Justin Herbert's hand
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEW POD: Chargers sweep the Raiders in 2025!
-Kimani Vidal has the best game of his career💙
-Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu bounce back from the Jacksonville game
-Justin Herbert's hand injury: what we know and how the offense will be different going forward🏥
youtu.be/FKo59-Hgkic
Chargers sweep Raiders 🧹: Vidal DOMINATES, defense steps up, and the status of Justin Herbert's hand
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
RB Omarion Hampton's return was delayed at least one more week after being ruled out for Sunday vs. LV. Harbaugh said he remains "on track".

Hampton practiced Friday with a "noncontact" jersey-he did not wear one in Tuesday or Wednesday's practices.

boltbeat.com/omarion-hamp...
Chargers shockingly rule Omarion Hampton out vs. Raiders despite positive steps
Chargers RB Omarion Hampton seemingly took a small step back in his quest to return from his ankle injury on Friday.
boltbeat.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:08 PM
New Chargers Q + A pod:
-Is Salyer playing left tackle realistic?
-3-5 realistic changes the Chargers can make after the BYE week
-offensive and defensive needs for 2026
-attempting to set realistic expectations for the team going forward as far as the playoffs are concerned
youtu.be/vaxeTF5ROTE
Chargers BYE Week Q&A: Remaining schedule, OL reshuffling, and realistic playoff expectations
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 6:07 PM
CHARGERS BYE WEEK: Like I've done the last two years on Bolt Breakdowns, opening the floor to questions for this week's mailbag episode✉️

Chargers therapy, playoffs, free agency, the draft, non-football talk even-whatever you got, send in Q's via the comments👇
November 19, 2025 at 1:23 PM
New pod: disaster strikes once again in Duval.
-Everyone stunk except like four players
-Greg Roman: what the hell was that?🤔
-Jesse Minter's defense rerun of the Colts game😬
-Where is the Harbaugh edge for this team?
youtu.be/oYhRkeaFNHE
Chargers stomped by Jaguars: Horrible offensive gameplan, Minter's defense collapses, no "revenge"
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
New: while the Chargers have played down the return to Jacksonville revenge narrative, Khalil Mack let the media know it's on his mind.

"It's just certain things you gotta keep in your pocket and bring them out when the opportunity presents itself."

boltbeat.com/chargers-kha...
Chargers' Khalil Mack reveals feelings about Jaguars ahead of playoff rematch
Chargers' star pass rusher Khalil Mack didn't hold back when asked if he had any feelings on going back to Jacksonville this week.
boltbeat.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:20 PM
New: the Chargers got it done vs. the Steelers. Both NFL NGS + the Upshot model have LA at 82% to make the playoffs.

They now play their highest stakes playoff probability game this week, per The Athletic's Upshot.

W vs. JAX: 📈 93%
L vs. JAX: 📉 68%
boltbeat.com/chargers-pla...
Chargers playoff chances spike after massive SNF win over Steelers
The Chargers are sitting pretty in the playoff race after a big AFC win over the Steelers, but the job's not finished yet.
boltbeat.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
New pod: everything from the Chargers' dominant win over the Steelers
-Keenan Allen shattering *the* record👑
-Justin Herbert getting the job done through some pain
-Kimani Vidal showing up big once again 😤
-Minter's defense sends Aaron Rodgers on a darkness retreat👴
youtu.be/rJZ8kNyaX1Y
Chargers dominate Steelers: Keenan Allen makes history, Ladd gets hot 🔥 + Minter's defense smothers
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 PM
New: 2 years ago, the Chargers were close to the top of every special teams metric. It earned Ryan Ficken a spot on Harbaugh's staff.

Now, the team is bottom of the league in key ST stats-how did we get here? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
boltbeat.com/chargers-unf...
Chargers' unfathomable regression on special teams has (and will) cost them games
Chargers' unfathomable regression on special teams has (and will) cost them games
boltbeat.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Chargers trade deadline-My 13 targets mentioned on the pod:
RB Jerome Ford
RB Tony Pollard
RB Breece Hall
OG Kevin Zeitler
OT Max Mitchell
G/C Cesar Ruiz
T/G Evan Neal
OG Ben Cleveland
T/G Dillon Radunz
OG Joel Bitonio
DT T'Vondre Sweat
OT Jack Conklin
DT Shelby Harris

On YT:
youtu.be/Up_4KhLxbbw
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
New: The Chargers may still trade for a Breece Hall or Jerome Ford at the deadline-they’re in the RB market.

But Harbaugh threw his support behind Kimani Vidal in a way he hadn’t before: “He's been playing like a #1 running back in the entire league."
boltbeat.com/chargers-jim...
Chargers' Jim Harbaugh throws support behind Kimani Vidal ahead of NFL trade deadline
With or without RB Omarion Hampton going forward, Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh's most recent comments bode well for Kimani Vidal.
boltbeat.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM
New: It was announced that Justin Herbert had broken Peyton Manning's completions record for a QBs first six seasons. He didn't even react after being congratulated by Denzel Perryman.

He is also 1653 yards from breaking Manning's passing yards record.
boltbeat.com/chargers-qb-...
Chargers QB Justin Herbert not satisfied after breaking huge Peyton Manning record
Chargers QB Justin Herbert not satisfied after breaking huge Peyton Manning record
boltbeat.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:42 PM
New: Secondary injuries have piled up for the Chargers. For at least the Titans game, they'll likely be without their 2 top slot defenders in Derwin James + Tarheeb Still.

LA also worked out DBs this week as James, Jefferson + Molden deal w/ injuries.
boltbeat.com/chargers-get...
Chargers get unfortunate Tarheeb Still injury update piled onto secondary woes
Tarheeb Still could miss a few weeks as the Chargers' secondary continues to take some injury hits after Thursday Night Football.
boltbeat.com
October 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
New pod, ICYMI:
ICYMI yesterday, new pod:
-Oronde Gadsden is a top 5 TE sooner rather than later😮‍💨
-A tone setting performance for the defense
-Herbert flashing more as an improviser🧑‍🍳
-under the radar performances: Tre' Harris as a run blocker and Kimani Vidal's pass blocking💪
youtu.be/LnZk3Dk9vUA
Chargers Wreck Vikings: Oronde Gadsden II is a star, surgical Herbert, and another Vidal showcase!
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 8:27 AM
New: the Chargers have gotten *some* positive injury news with Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins making progess on their eventual returns.

But elsewhere on the roster, the depth at RB and DT has been gutted-they'll have to weather the storm on a short week.
boltbeat.com/chargers-con...
Chargers continue to weather injury storm before Thursday Night Football vs. Vikings
The injury hits keep on coming for the Chargers as they get ready for the Vikings on a short week.
boltbeat.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Bolts beat Fins, 4-2cast:
-Justin Herbert's heroics
-KIMANI VIDAL AND ORONDE GADSDEN LEGACY GAMES
-a defense that still looks undermanned
-A quality day for the special teams unit, praise Ryan Ficken

On YT:
youtu.be/_98oRLzgxb4
Chargers bounce back to beat Dolphins: Herbert is a winner, Vidal legacy game + improved ST play!
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
October 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
New: The Chargers are making calls at running back. Wrote about a handful of names that might make sense at the deadline.

Which RB would you want to see the Bolts trade for?

boltbeat.com/latest-nfl-r...
Latest NFL rumors tease a much-needed trade for the Chargers
It's been an unrelenting wave of injuries at the running back position for the Chargers. First, Najee Harris tore his Achilles in Week 3 against the Broncos. Om
boltbeat.com
October 12, 2025 at 1:34 AM
New: The Chargers now have 7 players designated for return from IR after placing DT Da'Shawn Hand on injured reserve today.

They already have 3 players on season-ending IR and have just 1 more available return spot left for 3 months.

It's Week 6.☹️
boltbeat.com/chargers-rea...
Chargers reaching unprecedented territory with rapidly growing IR list
As part of their Week 6 roster moves for Sunday's game vs. the Dolphins, the Chargers placed DT Da'Shawn Hand on IR. He left last week's loss vs. the Commanders
boltbeat.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Herbert's frustration with Bozeman's "MA" boiled over.

He tried to diffuse the situation: "A common mixup-we're going to be better. We talked it through as soon as we got off to the sideline, we said 'you know we're not going to let that happen again.'"
boltbeat.com/chargers-qb-...
Chargers QB Justin Herbert explains viral presnap mishap from Commanders loss
Chargers QB Justin Herbert had a rather frustrating miscommunication with center Bradley Bozeman in Sunday's loss vs. Washington.
boltbeat.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Harbaugh on S R.J. Mickens in the wake of the Gilman trade:
"He has a real quality of covering the field, sideline to sideline. He's got great range and good ball skills, understanding of the defense. That's come along very well. It's his time to shine."
boltbeat.com/jim-harbaugh...
Jim Harbaugh believes this Chargers rookie is built for the moment just handed him
Expect to see more action for Chargers rookie safety R.J. Mickens following the Alohi Gilman trade.
boltbeat.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I hate talking about the same things, but we're talking about the same things this week.
-Offensive line musical chairs
-24 penalties in two games
-bad tackling, bad special teams
-...can they even muster a turnaround?

sigh. new pod.
youtu.be/wJ6dToka4Jw
Chargers embarrassed by Commanders: O-Line musical chairs, bad coaching, and undisciplined football
YouTube video by Guilty As Charged
youtu.be
October 6, 2025 at 1:28 PM