The Sports Xchange

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers got through the preseason and please hear them roar.

No, we’re not talking about their season-opening opponent, the Detroit Lions.

Or maybe we are as the Chargers could open their last season in San Diego on Sept. 13.

But really this camp and preseason was about getting out without any significant injuries to significant players.

Now it’s time to rock, so let’s get rolling.

You ready, Eric Weddle?

“Yeah, the real games start, so now everything you’ve done in the offseason is toward this moment,” the Pro-Bowl safety said. “It’s exciting because now you have something to build towards and prepare for.”

The Chargers have spent most their time in the offseason being in the news for all the wrong reasons: a possible move to Los Angeles.

So it’s like a breath of fresh air that the focus returns to the field and not some field of dreams 100 or so miles to the north.

Although the Chargers would love to go some 400 miles north to Santa Clara for Super Bowl 50.

You ready for that, Weddle?

“If you look too far ahead, or have too many goals throughout the season, you lose track of the process and the daily goals you have to obtain and work toward,” Weddle said.

“You’re just trying to get through each day really. It’s a long season, so if you look too far ahead you’ll miss out.”

The Chargers might miss Weddle after this season. He blasted them throughout the offseason as they declined to offer him a contract extension.

A team captain, and one of the more popular players in the locker room, Weddle said that won’t cloud his contributions this year. If a youngster needs a tip, like they’ve always done, they can seek Weddle’s counsel.

“They lean on me, just every week showing them the way, about preparing and being a pro, taking care of your body,” Weddle said. “Focusing each week because this is serious.

“This is our livelihoods, this is our jobs. Each week is that important and relaying that and helping them understand it.”

The Chargers comprehend how critical a fast start will be. They eyeball the first quarter of the schedule and see home games against the Lions and Browns; road trips to Cincinnati and Minnesota.

There’s a case to be made that the Chargers could bolt from the gate fast.

Yikes! Is Weddle giving us the stink eye. We know, we know — one week at a time and that starts on Sept. 13 with only one goal.

“Win, that’s all,” Weddle stressed. “That’s all; by any means. Obviously you want to play good, but the ultimate goal is to win, or be in the game at the end and have a chance to win. That’s all that matters to me.”

–Kicker Josh Lambo made the team and Nick Novak didn’t and that was the biggest surprise of the last round of cuts. Lambo, in his comments before the cut, didn’t know if he had done enough to oust Novak. Lambo was confident he had showed well enough, but he wasn’t sure.

“I think so, but whatever happens, whether this is my last football game ever or if it is just the end of my first preseason, I am going to be fine whether I continue to play football or not,”‘ said Lambo, an undrafted rookie. “I know that there are greater and bigger plans for me, that I can plan out for myself.”

–Defensive tackle Ryan Carrethers had a solid camp and should get to see increased playing time this season. That was true during the preseason. “I felt more comfortable in there,” he said. “I felt the flow of the game, especially being more in there. Confidence does increase with more repetition.”

–Inside linebacker Manti Te’o is healthy and ready to go. The Chargers didn’t push him too much in the preseason games, hoping he could avoid any time down. He was compromised his first two seasons because of a broken foot.

Notes: Kick returner Jacoby Jones looks as if he will return punts as well. The Chargers are eager to get a boost from both areas of their return game. … Running back Melvin Gordon, who had a sore ankle at one point during camp, didn’t play in the final preseason game. But he is fit and ready to go. … Outside linebacker Jerry Attaochu is slowed by an undisclosed leg injury and he didn’t suit up for the last preseason game. But it’s believed he will be OK for the opener. … Strong safety Jahleel Addae won the starting role. He was in a pitched battle with Jimmy Wilson for the position. … Left guard Orlando Franklin was limited in the preseason games because of an undisclosed leg injury. He’s worth watching once the regular practice week begins.