When the Chargers take the field on Sunday against the Raiders, it could be the last home game in the blue and gold for some notable players.
On Wednesday, running back Austin Ekeler acknowledged that it’s not just those social media that are wondering who’s going to be on the team when they move into their new stadium next year.
“I think upstairs they’re trying to keep that on the down low until the season’s over because it’s about to be a frenzy in our locker room, especially on the offensive side with all the contracts that are coming up.
Everyone’s kind of looking around like, ‘Hey, what do you guys think is going to go on?’ None of us know. We don’t know what they’re going to do upstairs. We know what we want. But that’s a different story,” Ekeler said.
After this season, quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Melvin Gordon, guard Michael Schofield, tight end Hunter Henry, and fullback Derek Watt will all become unrestricted free agents.
Ekeler is among the few who will be a restricted free agent.
Rivers is the member that will be monitored the most. The veteran quarterback, who’s started 233 consecutive games in his 16-year stint, knows that this could be his last two games with the Bolts.
His remarks regarding his future following the loss to the Vikings raised eyebrows, but he clarified what he meant while stating he’s still focused on the rest of the season.
“I think I was just acknowledging the obvious. I think in anybody’s circumstance you better focus on the present. It’s not like I’m in Year 2 of a six-year contract.
You want to approach every week like it could be your last because you never know. Anything can happen. You never really want to take anything for granted. But you can’t over-dramatize each week based on the ‘what ifs,'” Rivers said.
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