Disturbing images have emerged from Los Angeles Chargers practice, where many players opted to wear masks amid dangerous levels of air quality as they prepared for their first playoff game in Houston on Saturday.
Of course, it wasn't the masks that made the scene so shocking, but rather the brownish-yellow haze hanging in the air as the Palisades fires continue to burn along the Pacific coast. Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and offensive tackle Joe Alt were among the players seen working in the apocalyptic scenario, which looked like a scene from Terminator 2.
ESPN's Kris Rhim and Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the LA Times were among several reporters who shared the haunting photos from Thursday's practice in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had the Chargers' offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. The air quality at the team complex was 185 on Wednesday. Anything over 150 is considered unhealthy.
“Heavy prayers go out to all those who have been affected by this tragedy,” Harbaugh told media Thursday while wearing an LAFD baseball cap. 'Also, I have been very inspired by the first responders, firefighters and residents who have come together and supported each other. That has been tremendously inspiring.
'So even though we've been on mission,' he continued, 'abundant prayers and thoughts to all who are in this fight. We see neighbors on top of their houses helping other neighbors, it's really inspiring.”
QB Taylor Heinicke, defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and right tackle Joe Alt were among the players seen working in the apocalyptic scenario, which looked like a scene from Terminator 2.
Smoke from recent fires obscures the sun at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Rams will host the Minnesota Vikings at the stadium in a wild card round playoff matchup on Monday.
Jim Harbaugh addressed the media Thursday wearing an LAFD baseball cap.
Three large fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex after two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat erupted Wednesday afternoon in the Hollywood Hills, near the heart of the entertainment industry, but was contained Thursday morning.
About 180,000 people are under evacuation orders and the fires have consumed about 45 square miles (117 square kilometers), about the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
The Rams and Los Angeles Chargers train in areas that are not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring air quality and its potential impact on their workouts.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players' time outdoors on the El Segundo coast. The Chargers leave after Thursday's practice for Houston and their AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Rams sent a statement to season ticket holders and fans Thursday morning reiterating that Monday night's NFC wild-card round playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings remains scheduled to be played as per scheduled Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The NFL said Wednesday night that if the game had to be moved, it would be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.