Justin Herbert needs another receiver for the Chargers to be successful

Should Mike Williams initiate a comeback?

The Chargers could certainly use him now, as they are sorely lacking players who can inspire fear on defense.

That was evident in Monday night's 17-15 loss to Arizona, when they relied on five field goals from Cameron Dicker and consistently came up short in the red zone.

Williams, who was a lethal threat when he could stay healthy, was released by the Chargers after seven seasons when it became too expensive to keep him. He signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets and was recently thrown out of the squad by Aaron Rodgers for incorrect tactics in a crucial play. Now it is expected that he will lose some of the spotlight to the newly signed Davante Adams.

Will the Chargers find a trade to get Williams back? This may just be online chatter, but it's definitely worth considering. At 3-3 and 2-1 in the AFC West, they still have plenty of opportunity. Williams could also end up in Pittsburgh.

Could Mike Williams (18) be available for a trade after Davante Adams is traded to the Jets?

(Matt Freed/Associated Press)

Regardless, the Chargers need to solve their offensive problems quickly. Their receivers gathered in the locker room after the loss for an impromptu position meeting, trying to figure out how to do a better job on the other end of Justin Herbert's pinpoint passes.

“We don’t want to let our guys down,” said receiver Joshua Palmer. “We have to be more consistent with the little things.”

The little things become big things, especially when the ground game is hindered. Establishing the run is a hallmark of Jim Harbaugh and coordinator Greg Roman's offense, but the Cardinals did everything they could to prevent it, and the Chargers averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.

In moments like these, the passing game has to be right, especially with a quarterback as talented as Herbert, but the Chargers haven't managed to get any rhythm going.

There were falls and distractions and several missed opportunities. It doesn't help that the group is missing Quentin Johnston, DJ Chark Jr., Derius Davis and Hayden Hurst, all of whom are injured.

And they had let another starter go, six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, who now plays for Chicago.

Herbert got by against the Cardinals, leaning on a collection of lesser-known players, best served by under-the-radar tight end Will Dissly, who caught eight passes for 81 yards, both game highs. He came into Monday night's game with 13 catches in five games.

After a few drops early in the game, Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey got better and ended up with five catches. However, the guests rarely ventured into the red zone, and when they did, they didn't take full advantage of it.

There were a few mind-numbing plays early on that the Chargers had to overcome. On Arizona's first possession, Kyler Murray's pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage and defensive lineman Teair Tart intercepted the deflection – only to give the ball right back to the Cardinals when the ball was taken out of his hands.

The Chargers' Jalen Reagor (89) catches a 41-yard pass past the Cardinals' Starling Thomas V before fumbling into the end zone for a touchback.

(Matt York/Associated Press)

A few minutes later, Herbert made a deep pass to Jalen Reagor, who was about five yards from the goal when the ball was knocked out of his hand as he attempted to cross the goal line. The fumble rolled around the pylon and out of the end zone for a touchback, giving the Cardinals possession at the 20.

“It comes down to the details of how you finish it, whether you're an offensive player or a defensive player,” Harbaugh said. “We just have to keep emphasizing it. If you fumble near the goal line, the ball must be in your other arm. … The experience of these types of games gives you the steel in your spine.”

Herbert did what he could. He distributed the passes to nine receivers, seven of whom managed at least 31 yards. However, there is a difference between moving the ball between the 20s and operating effectively in that compact area around the goal line.

The Cardinals, at the bottom of the rushing defense, tried to stop the run – and did – and the Chargers didn't make them pay for that commitment. Aside from setting up those field goals, the passing game was more cosmetic than consequential.

This team can't just rely on Dicker's foot. It also requires hands.