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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

This photo from Chargers practice is straight out of a dystopian movie

The devastating LA wild fires impacted the Chargers at practice before the NFL Playoffs.

Ricky O'Donnell
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.

The Los Angeles Chargers are preparing for a playoff game on Sunday when they go on the road to take on the Houston Texans. Somehow, the Chargers will have to play the biggest game of their season as their home city is being ripped apart by wild fires. LA has taken on an apocalyptical feel this week as devastating fires have destroyed tens of thousands of acres around the city. The Chargers still held practice on Thursday from their home base in El Segundo, and even more than 20 miles away from where the fires burned in Pacific Palisades, the sky told an ominous story of the surrounding destruction.

Chargers players wore masks as they went through practice on Thursday. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said the team reduced time and intensity in outdoor practice because of the awful air quality. Just look at these pictures:

ESPN reporter Kris Rhim showed the difference in air quality at practice from Wednesday to Thursday. The situation has been escalating by the minute over the last 48 hours, and there’s still no end in sight.

Harbaugh said he limited players time outside to half of what it would normally be.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick reportedly lost his home in the fires. It’s unfathomable that Chargers players have to perform in a playoff game when some are likely facing crisis at home.

The NFL is already putting together a contingency plan for the Monday night game the Los Angeles Rams are hosting against the Washington Commanders in case the conditions worsen. The Chargers are hitting the road, but it will be hard to take their mind off what’s going on back home.

Read Vox.com for more updates on the fires.

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