Overview
- The Chargers held a moment of silence and wore blue circular “BR” decals on white practice helmets during their San Diego practices to honor former linebacker Billy Ray Smith Jr.
- Smith, a No. 5 pick in the 1983 draft who spent 10 seasons with the Chargers, died at 64 and his family has linked his dementia to chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
- Head coach Jim Harbaugh led the team back to the University of San Diego for two days of camp work and publicly praised Smith as one of the franchise’s great competitors.
- Practice included 7-on-7 and full‑squad padded drills, a USAA Salute to Service Boot Camp for 200 local military members, and an injury-related early exit by left tackle Rashawn Slater that has no update yet.
- The tribute reconnects the team with San Diego fans and amplifies questions about long-term brain injuries in football as former players and communities continue to seek answers about CTE.