Chargers rookie Akheem Mesidor makes strong first impression in debut

The Chargers played a complete game on Thursday in their first preseason win against the Texans.  Los Angeles was stellar for most of the game, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Chargers' defense was elite, stifling Houston's pass attack and showcasing their depth in a major way.  From top to bottom, things were going the Chargers' way, including their rookie first-round pick, Akheem Mesidor. Mesidor only played in nine snaps, but he showed what he can be in the league.  On Saturday, head coach Jim Harbaugh praised his rookie edge rusher after his preseason debut.  “That was nine really good snaps. He graded 100% out of the nine snaps on effort and technique," Harbaugh said. "Had the ball not come out quick, he was getting there.” Despite a limited sample size, Mesidor looked explosive off the line and showcased power. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished with a 74.6 pass-rush grade, which ranked second-best on the Chargers' defense.  The 25-year-old rookie has been turning heads during training camp, and he proved that was no fluke. Mesidor was all the things that he's displayed so far: disruptive, aggressive and full of energy.  The Chargers selected Mesidor with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He is expected to be in the rotation with fellow edge rushers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.  It's unclear how the Chargers will handle Mesidor's workload for the rest of the preseason.  According to BetMGM, Mesidor has the sixth-best odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.  This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers rookie Akheem Mesidor makes strong first impression in debut