Column: San Diegans Lloyd, Olave build on NFL success

The NFL isn’t too fast for Chris Olave.

The receiver from San Diego County leads all NFL rookies with 268 receiving yards and has averaged nearly 16 yards per catch and six receptions per game.

Injuries to teammates have forced the San Ysidro-born Olave, 22, into a larger role. He responded Sunday with nine catches for 147 yards in New Orleans’ 22-14 loss to the Panthers in Charlotte, N.C.

Stationed mostly on the perimeter, he’s become an NFL deep threat, just five years after leading Mission Hills High to a CIF-San Diego Section title game. Across the three NFL games, he’s drawn throws of at least 20 yards on nearly 40 percent of his targets, catching four of 10.

Facing two fellow first-round draftees Sunday, he fared better against speedster E.J. Henderson (3 catches in three targets, 72 yards) than physical Jaycee Horn (0 for 2).

Olave, who left Ohio State as the school’s career leader in touchdown receptions with 35, seeks his first TD.

Sunday, he’ll go against a Vikings team whose head coach, Kevin O’Connell, quarterbacked La Costa Canyon and San Diego State.

SD success v. Team Spanos

Three former San Diegans aided Jacksonville’s 38-10 win over a Chargers team favored at home.

Rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd (Otay Ranch) lent versatility to a defense that, exploiting injuries at quarterback and up front, held Team Spanos to its third-lowest point total in 35 games started by Justin Herbert.

Lloyd played all 61 defensive snaps. Leading to a field goal, he intercepted a pass that bounced off two players. He pressured Herbert on two of three pass rushes and broke up a pass toward tight end Gerald Everett.

For a defense that stands fourth in fewest points allowed, Lloyd ranks first in tackles (24), interceptions (two) and passes defensed (six). Believing he’d learn fast after logging 47 games for Utah, the Jaguars rose six spots to draft him 27^th.

Sunday’s game at Philadelphia (3-0) should pose the toughest NFL test yet for Lloyd, who turned 24 this week. The Eagles, coached by former San Diego Chargers offensive assistant Nick Sirianni, are fifth in scoring (28.7 points).

Also in the Kroenke Dome, the Jaguars got an 11-yard reception from Jamal Agnew (Point Loma High, University of San Diego) and sharp work from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whose position coach is former San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy.

The quick-pass game McCoy helped install factored into Lawrence completing 71.8 percent of his passes, taking no sacks for just the second time in 20 career starts and logging his second-best passer rating (115.5). His average distance of throw was just 5.6 yards, but he recorded his sixth-best total of passing yards (262) and tied a career-high with three TD passes.