Grades & Snap Counts: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Nikko Reed shine in Hall of Fame Game

Results from the Los Angeles Chargers’ preseason win over the Detroit Lions.

Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) grades have been released in their victory over the Detroit Lions.

Here’s what stood out:

• Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith excelled in a small sample size. He played 24 snaps, was targeted twice, caught both for a total of 43 yards and a touchdown. According to PFF, he was out wide on 20 of his snaps. The Chargers are looking for more impact from the outside receiver and Lambert-Smith showed promise in his first action. He finished the game with a 90.0 offensive grade. He also earned an impressive 84.8 run block grade on 11 snaps.
• Undrafted rookie cornerback Nikko Reed earned the highest grade of any rookie (92.9). His coverage grade of 95.3 was the highest of any player. In 26 coverage snaps, Reed was targeted just twice. He broke up one pass and intercepted (and then ran it back for 60 yards). Reed’s interception was the highest-graded play of the game with a +1.5 coverage grade.

• Quarterback Trey Lance excelled, earning a “career-best 74.3 passing grade.” He was wise in decision-making and finished with zero turnover-worthy plays. Lance finished the game going 13-for-20 passing for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
• Offensive guard Jamaree Salyer finished the game as the highest-graded offensive lineman, earning an 81.6 overall grade. He earned a 79.7 pass block grade on six snaps, and a 76.8 on six run block snaps.
• Center Zion Johnson graded well in pass protection, earning a 76.8, but struggled in run blocking, earning a 67.4.
• Tight end Will Dissly earned the highest grade on offense of any player with a 82.4 overall grade. But, he played in just five snaps. He caught a five-yard touchdown on 4th & Goal from the 2-yard line.
• Offensive lineman Nash Jones earned the lowest grade of any offensive player with a 31.1 overall grade. In 14 pass block snaps, Jones finished with a 0.0 grade.
• In the offseason, the Chargers signed UFL offensive tackle Ryan Nelson. Nelson played the second-most snaps of any player on offense and finished with a 56.7 overall grade. He struggled in pass protection, finishing with a 29.8 grade, but finished with the third-best run block grade of any Chargers lineman (65.0).
• Running backs Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins and Omarion Hampton all earned above a 70.0 run grade.
• The secondary for the Chargers featured four players with a 90.0+ grade. Safety Tony Jefferson (95.2), Reed (92.9), Myles purchase (91.7) and Eric Rogers (91.3) were exceptional. The first three also earned above a 91.0 coverage grade. Meanwhile, Rogers earned the highest run defense grade of any defender with a 92.4.
• The lowest-graded defenders for the Chargers were defensive linemen Josh Fuga (29.9), Da’Shawn Hand (30.5) and Christopher Hinton (30.5).
• Safety R.J. Mickens earned the highest tackle grade of any Charger with an 82.7, likely due to a touchdown-saving tackle on running back Craig Reynolds in the open field.