Eric Smith

The rookies were in the spotlight Monday afternoon.

The Chargers are back to Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices but with a catch, as Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh dismissed the veterans after last week's mandatory minicamp.

The Bolts will hold two more OTA practices this week before turning their attention to training camp.

Here are three observations from Monday's OTA practice:

1. All eye on the youngsters

The Chargers only had 24 players on the field for Monday's practice.

Some of that was due to the vets being gone, but a handful of youngsters also worked off to the side rehabbing injuries.

And that meant some position groups only had a single player. DJ Uiagalelei, for example, was the lone quarterback in attendance while Marlowe Wax was the only linebacker.

The offensive line group featured five players as they lined up, from left to right, with Corey Stewart, Branson Taylor, Josh Kaltenberger, Nash Jones and Tyler McLellan.

There were also five defensive backs present but every other position group featured three players or fewer.

Omarion Hampton and Raheim "Rocket" Sanders were the running backs as the pair traded off reps in the backfield.

2. Bridges snags INT

Monday's session lasted just over an hour as the bulk of it was focused on individual drills and specialized 1-on-1 work.

But Harbaugh did let the group get in some full-team drills at the tail end of the practice.

Rookie defensive back Trikweze Bridges stood out as he snagged an interception on an out-breaking route off of Uiagalelei.

Bridges, a recent seventh-round pick out of Florida, tallied a team-high 70 tackles (38 solo) in 2024 to go along with two interceptions, six pass breakups, one tackle for loss and two forced fumbles.

Bridges also did not allow a touchdown when targeted in 2024, ranking third among all SEC defensive backs with at least 400 snaps in passer rating against when targeted (29.9), according to Pro Football Focus.

Bridges, who is offers good size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, played the first five years of his college career at Oregon.

3. Lots of special teams work

The reality is that most of the 24 players on the practice field Monday will likely have to earn their way onto the roster via special teams.

That's probably why they spent a good portion of Monday's session with Chargers Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken and assistant special teams coach Chris "Beep" Gould.

Wide receivers and defensive backs worked with Gould as gunner and at the vice position on punt coverage, while bigger-bodied players worked with Ficken as blockers along the line of scrimmage on punt coverage.