Chargers Coach Harbaugh Regrets Preseason Approach After Week 1 Loss

The Los Angeles Chargers opened their season with a 26-14 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 14, 2026, a defeat that prompted head coach Jim Harbaugh to publicly express regret about his preseason preparation. Harbaugh stated Monday that he wished he had played his starters more during the preseason to provide them with additional game repetitions. "We made some preseason type of mistakes," Harbaugh told reporters. "Now I wish we played our starters more in the preseason to give them some game reps." The Chargers had limited their starters to brief appearances in the second and third preseason games, a strategy aimed at avoiding injury while providing some live work. The loss marked a disappointing start for a team that had spent the offseason positioning itself as a contender in the AFC. Arizona, which finished the previous season with a three-game losing streak, outgained Los Angeles 393-268 in total yards and controlled the ball for over 37 minutes. The Chargers' offense struggled throughout, committing two turnovers, seven penalties, and having a punt blocked in the fourth quarter.