The Sports Xchange

SAN DIEGO — Three down and one to go for the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers will put a cap on their preseason schedule on Thursday, heading north to play the San Francisco 49ers.

The regulars probably won’t see much action, but has coach Mike McCoy has seen enough to get a feel where the team is headed?

Yes and no.

“I’m happy with how the team played overall,” McCoy said of the Chargers’ latest effort, despite losing 16-15 to the Seattle Seahawks. “But we still have things we need to correct.”

McCoy is upbeat with his offense, in that the receiving corps and running game seems to be on track.

But questions remain with an offensive line which is all but wearing name tags. That’s what happens when two new starters are brought in and a returning starter, flips his position.

On defense, please excuse the Chargers for feeling upbeat about their pass rush,

After notching only 26 sacks last season — the team leader, Corey Liuget had but 4 1/2 — there are signs that rival quarterbacks will no longer be able to hang in the pocket with little regard for their safety.

Outside linebacker Melvin Ingram shows he might finally live up to his first-round pick status (No. 19 overall in 2012). And Kyle Emanuel, another outside linebacker, shows that not all rookies take a long time to get up to speed.

Can the run defense match the optimism which is leaning toward the pass-rush angle? Not quite, but there is a new bounce in inside linebacker Donald Butler’s step and that’s a plus.

There still much to finalized, other than the final cuts, before the Chargers open against the visiting Detroit Lions on Sept. 15.

“We have to continue to get better,” McCoy said.

Like any other team around the league, there’s plenty of good, bad and we don’t know, coming out of camp.

But the Chargers are upbeat they are heading in the right direction. After not making the playoffs in four of the past five years, that’s a positive sign.

“I’m very happy with the way the entire team has worked to this date,” McCoy said.

The real date is Sept. 15.

–The Chargers got quite a scare when quarterback Philip Rivers banged his hand on Seattle defender Kevin Pierre-Louis’ hand when following through on a pass. Rivers would stay in for one more play right before the half, then left early to have the hand X-rayed. He was planning on playing just the first half anyway, but his reaction to his hand getting banged caused the Chargers to hold their breath.

“We looked at it just to see, but it’s good,” Rivers said about the results of the X-ray. “All is well.”

–Rookie running back Melvin Gordon saw his most extended playing time on Saturday night, rushing for 34 yards on 14 carries.

“I’m definitely getting more comfortable; it just takes reps,” said Gordon, the team’s first-round pick.

“It’s still just a process for me and I’m going to continue to get better every day.” One area that needs work is his pass protection. He whiffed on an inside blitz against the Seahawks, which lead to a sack and a spirited conversation with quarterback Philip Rivers.

Running back Branden Oliver, the team’s leading rusher last year, has taken a back seat with the arrival of Gordon. That said, Oliver continues to produce on a consistent basis and had a 70-yard touchdown reception on Saturday. It was a short pass, with most the yardage coming with Oliver running away from the Seahawk defenders. Oliver will remain a big part of the team’s plans for production from the backfield.

“You see that it is not just going to be all Melvin,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “Obviously Danny (Woodhead) and you saw what Brandon and Donald (Brown) did. It’s going to be, as the coach as always said, it’s a running back by committee crew.”

–New wide receiver Stevie Johnson was one of the better players during camp as he hooked up with quarterback Philip Rivers with regularity. But Saturday was the first time during the preseason that he did it in the game, catching four passes for 63 yards.

“Whether I have no catches for four or five catches, we still know there is a work that has to be done for the regular season,” Johnson said.

Added Rivers: “I don’t think he was getting impatient, but I know he was eager and looking forward to getting involved in the game and he did.”

The Chargers’ first cuts included cornerback Manny Asprilla, defensive lineman Cameron Botticelli and Luther Robinson, wide receiver Titus Davis, running back Jahwan Edwards, linebackers Curtis Grant and Brock Hekking (injured), tackle Forrestal Hickman, tight ends David Paulson and Logan Stokes and quarterback Chase Rettig.

NOTES: Inside linebacker Manti Te’o didn’t play against Seattle, although his undisclosed ailment isn’t thought to be serious. The team did say his feet are OK; he has suffered a broken foot in each of his two seasons. He was back practicing on Monday. … Safety Eric Weddle skipped the third preseason game with a neck injury. It is not considered serious. … Left guard Orlando Frankin didn’t play because of an undisclosed injury, but should be fine for the opener. He was not working out on Monday. … Safety Jahleel Addae moved over to free safety from strong with Eric Weddle’s absence. Addae has been locked in a spirited camp battle with Jimmy Wilson to accompany Weddle on the field. … Offensive lineman Chris Heston played left guard against the Seahawks. It was the first time he played that position at any level. … Outside linebacker Jerry Attachou left Saturday’s game early with a heavy wrap around his right knee. He didn’t work on Monday. … Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman (concussion) practiced Monday. … Cornerback Chris Davis has yet to be cleared to return after sustaining a concussion in the first preseason game.