Austin Ekeler helps Chargers adjust with scoring frenzy versus Steelers

INGLEWOOD — Running back Austin Ekeler said this week that the Chargers needed to make counter adjustments to break out of their offensive funk.

The Chargers adjusted Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers by getting wide receiver Mike Williams involved early, converting on third downs and quarterback Justin Herbert extending plays with his legs.

The adjustments benefited Ekeler, who had four total touchdowns in the Chargers’ wild 41-37 victory against the Steelers at SoFi Stadium. Ekeler had 50 rushing yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns and six catches for 65 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Ekeler caught his 21st career touchdown in the second quarter with a 10-yard reception and added his 22nd in the third quarter with a 17-yard catch. Ekeler recorded a 6-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter and had a 5-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a complete player,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said about Ekeler. “I think that’s the thing I love about the guy, that he’s a complete player. He’s a threat in the run game, a threat in the pass game, pass protection. He has real toughness. That’s how we’re trying to build this program, with guys like him that are tough ball-playing Jessies. That’s what he is. He had four touchdowns in an NFL game, which is really hard to achieve. It’s going to help his fantasy (football teams) and all that. He’s into that.”

The Chargers only had three possessions in the first half, but they made them count with two touchdowns and a field goal. The Chargers had eight possessions in the second half amid the offensive explosion from both teams.

The Chargers’ offense entered Sunday with disappointing performances in three of their prior four games. They stalled against the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings because of dropped passes, lack of yards after contact and struggled to sustain long drives.

Ekeler assisted on the offensive adjustments by making multiple Steelers defenders miss on his second touchdown reception. The Chargers had a season-high 533 total yards against the Steelers.

THIN DEFENSIVE LINE

Defensive tackle Linval Joseph was one of the Chargers’ seven inactives Sunday night versus the Steelers.

The interior of the Chargers’ defensive line has struggled this season, but Joseph has done his part as a productive pass rusher and run stopper.

Defensive tackles Jerry Tillery and Christian Covington were also sidelined because they’re on the COVID-19 reserve list. Justin Jones was the lone starting defensive tackle on the field for the Chargers against the Steelers.

The short-handed Chargers’ defense contained Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris to 39 rushing yards and one touchdown. The Steelers had 55 total rushing yards.

CROWD ASSESSMENT

Many gold towels were waved at SoFi Stadium after Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found wide receiver Chase Claypool for a 37-yard completion in the second quarter.

The Steelers likely had more fans in the stands, but there was a good mix of powder blue jerseys in support of the Chargers.

It wasn’t a lopsided split like the last time the Steelers and Chargers faced each other in Southern California. The Steelers defeated the Chargers in 2019 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

HERBERT’S MILESTONE

Herbert surpassed 7,000 career passing yards in the second quarter. He tied Hall-of-Fame quarterback Kurt Warner as the second-fastest player to reach that milestone with 25 career games.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the fastest to reach 7,000 passing yards with 21 career games.

OTHER NOTES

Chargers rookie cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. exited in the fourth quarter with a concussion. It’s his second concussion of the season. …

Chargers assistant offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett wasn’t available to coach Sunday night because of a non-COVID illness.

Sarrett spent the past nine seasons as an assistant coach for the Steelers, with the last two as the offensive line coach.