Here are four defensive storylines to watch for the Los Angeles Chargers during training camp.
Deciphering crowded secondary
The Chargers have one of the most talented secondaries in the NFL, but the unit is jam packed with players vying for playing time.
Nasir Adderley, Los Angeles’ second-round pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, had high expectations heading into the summer, as many thought that he would make a nice tandem alongside safety Derwin James. But he was derailed by a lingering hamstring issue that had been ongoing even before he was drafted.
Meanwhile, Rayshawn Jenkins emerged in 2019 as a long-term solution at that position. This offseason, they signed Chris Harris Jr. to play in the slot, which has also left Desmond King with limited options to find playing time.
One possibility is playing Adderley at dimebacker — the sixth defensive back in the dime packages. Or he could play free safety in those packages, with Jenkins moving to dimebacker. In either of those scenarios, King likely wouldn’t be able to see the field.
The bottom line is that having a crowded secondary is a good problem to have. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.