It’s a different atmosphere at the Los Angeles Chargers‘ minicamp this week. The pads are off, and the intensity is evaluated. But what’s missing this year is the full-on contact drills that we saw last season. And when we heard from HC Jim Harbaugh himself, one thing was clear—this is no lazy offseason; it’s strategic.

If you listen to his words, you could feel him say, ‘There’s a reason we’re holding back.’ He’s thinking big picture. With a full season of bumps and bruises ahead, this might be his smartest move yet. It’s not about complacency—it’s about making the team ready when it counts. In September.

In Monday’s press conference, Harbaugh remarked, “Well, we won’t be instilling the physicality that we want for the season, in minicamp, or in the OTAs, or in the entire offseason.” What he’s hinting at is this: don’t mistake the calm for laziness. He’s not slowing down; he’s setting the foundation. Keeping the roster healthy, polishing the basics, and holding off the real battles for when they matter the most—the 2025 season.

We were all there last season. We saw the number of injuries. And that is exactly what has led to Harbaugh shifting his philosophy to a less physicality focused approach. If you’ve followed Jim since his Michigan days, you would know how big he has been on physicality. Adaptability is arguably the most important trait of an NFL HC, and Harbaugh taking a U-turn on his ideas screams dynamism.

All of this would start to make a lot more sense if we take a look at last season’s injuries. Last year proved costly for the Chargers and pretty much every single team. In week 14’s injury report, the Chargers saw nine players out. The list consisted of QB Justin Herbert with a plantar fascia injury, and safety Alohi Gilman landed on IR with a hamstring strain. We haven’t factored in the league-wide records yet. Lower-extremity injuries are piling up̦—approximately 60% of all injuries reported last year. Knee strains alone make up for a fifth of that.

Jim added, “Everything has been really good. The guys are in shape. There are many who have already passed the conditioning test. They’re in the kind of place where you can go to practice and not worry if you’re going to get through it.” Thanks to the reformed ideology. You can see how this decision paid off during the miniseason: no guys limping off, no bruises, nothing. The QBs were moving clean, and the tempo held steady. Almost as they can sustain 20 back-to-back practices. What makes it even matter? The return of Rashawn Slater.

Why Rashawn Slater is the cornerstone of Harbaugh’s vision

The centrepiece of Jim Harbaugh’s new philosophy is Rashawn Slater. And he’s finally back. Slater is arguably the most important tackle, or probably, player for the Chargers. Keeping him fit for the entire year would translate to a successful season. It’s that simple. And he’s looking better than ever.

“He came in great shape. He even said that the conditioning test was too easy. That was his quote,” Jim remarked. We’re not surprised. Slater is coming off a solid season. A Pro Bowler again in 2024, he logged 15 starts and 904 snaps with elite (to say the least) PFF grades—91.1 overall, 90.4 pass, 82.8 run. To add to these numbers, he only allowed three sacks all season while playing approximately 85% of all snaps. “Great to see him, everybody here — I speak on behalf of, I would think, everybody in the organisation — totally supports Rashawn, and we know what he’s trying to accomplish for himself and his family,” Jim added.

This is a pivotal season for him because this is the last year of his rookie contract. There’s also a $19.04 million cap charge and free agency right around the corner. He opted out of the OTAs amid the contract talks, but Jim isn’t too worried about it. He made it clear in his own quirky way. “I just don’t worry about it. That’s up to Joe and Rashawn’s agent. To quote the late Tom Petty, ‘(Most) things I worry about never seem to happen anyway.’ So, I don’t worry,” he said, referring to a potential contract extension.

Jim and the Chargers are focusing on the present. As of now, Slater is here. He’s healthy and is working hard. As for him and the entire roster, the goal is to keep the squad healthy and focus on the ‘polish’. How far do you think the Chargers can go this season?