Chargers frustrated, disappointed by penalty-filled loss to Commanders

INGLEWOOD — The Chargers’ offensive linemen were seated in front of their lockers, still wearing their power blue uniforms and staring into space when reporters were granted access to the locker room after a lackluster 27-10 loss Sunday afternoon to the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium.

“Everybody who went in there fought their (butt) off and did everything they could,” Chargers right tackle Trey Pipkins III said, acting as a spokesman for his fellow linemen. “As long as we have that, and everybody is working their (butt) off, that’s first and foremost what we need.”

Safety Derwin James Jr., also still in uniform while standing across the room from Pipkins, sounded every bit as defiant, and maybe a little more so after the Chargers’ second sloppy and ineffective performance after a three-game sweep of their AFC West rivals to start the season.

“We won’t make any excuses for why we didn’t play clean football,” James said. “It’s our job to get it fixed. We’re the players. We’re out there. We need to get it fixed. It just wasn’t an all-around clean game. You see those penalties show up in those big situations.

“It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing.”

One week after the Chargers were penalized 14 times during a 21-18 loss to the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, they were penalized 10 times against the Commanders. One week after they turned the ball over twice against the Giants, they turned it over twice again Sunday.

Quarterback Justin Herbert stood behind a lectern in the postgame press conference room and sought to explain how and why it all went haywire for the second week in a row. It wasn’t a difficult assignment. He said the obvious part first.

“You can’t expect to win games like that when you have penalties like that,” Herbert said of the mistakes that blunted their all-too-brief momentum. “I think it’s out of character. It’s up to us to focus in and dial in. Every play is equally important, and we have to limit those penalties.”

Minutes earlier, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh did his best to provide reasons for their latest stumble. He started with the penalties. He declined to pin the reason for the Chargers’ loss on their many injuries, especially to their offensive line. The glaring absences were hard to ignore, though.

Left tackle Joe Alt sat out because of a sprained right ankle sustained in the first quarter of the Chargers’ loss to the Giants. Austin Deculus replaced Alt. Right guard Mekhi Becton returned from a one-game absence because of a concussion, but then he injured his hand in the third quarter.

Pipkins moved in and out of the game because of a knee injury. Jamaree Salyer played a number of positions after Becton and Pipkins were hurt; however, they were briefly sidelined. It made for disjointed protection for Herbert, who was sacked four times and threw for a season-low 166 yards.

Compounding matters, running back Omarion Hampton sprained his left ankle and couldn’t finish the game. He was seen wearing a protective walking boot after the game, after he had 37 yards of his 44 yards and 10 of his 12 carries in the first half. Harbaugh didn’t have an update on him.

“No excuses,” Harbaugh said. “We have the license and ability to be a good football team, and things we’re usually good at, which is just playing better, as opposed to penalties and the other team capitalizing on them. … So, no excuses. We need to get better. We’re a good football team, but we’re not good enough in some of the areas you need to win games. Back to work.”

The Chargers started with good intentions, scoring a touchdown on Herbert’s 2-yard pass to Ladd McConkey and Cameron Dicker’s 55-yard field goal on their first two possessions. They never scored again, though, and Jayden Daniels and the Commanders reeled off 27 straight points.

Wide receiver Quentin Johnston’s fumble after a 19-yard gain gave Washington the ball at its own 26. Jacory Croskey-Merritt then capped a 74-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. After a roughing the punter penalty inside the final minute of the half, the Commanders drove for a tying field goal.

Daniels, a graduate of Cajon High School in San Bernardino, completed 15 of 26 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown overall in his first game after a two-game absence because of a knee injury. Croskey-Merritt rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries.

The Chargers had no answer.