Tag: Amen Ogbongbemiga

Report: Bears signing LB Amen Ogbongbemiga to 1-year deal

The Bears are signing linebacker and special teams standout Amen Ogbongbemiga to one-year deal.

The Chicago Bears are signing linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga to a one-year, $2.1 million deal, according to 670 the Score’s Chris Emma.

Ogbongbemiga, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2021, has been a special teams standout during his three-year career.

In 47 career games, Ogbongbemiga has totaled 36 tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries. He also recovered a fumble in the team’s playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022.

Ogbongbemiga comes to Chicago to serve primarily as a special teams contributor while also adding depth to a linebacker group featuring Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Jack Sanborn and Noah Sewell.

Highlight: Chargers’ AJ Finley forces the fumble vs. Bills

The Chargers special teams unit made an impact early on in Saturday’s game.

Teams often get a boost when an interim head coach takes the reigns, and so far on Saturday, Los Angeles has been no different.

After stopping Buffalo on their first two drives and engineering a field goal drive to take a 3-0 lead, it was the Chargers’ special teams unit’s turn to make an impact on Saturday’s game.

Punter JK Scott launched a bomb 56 yards with incredible hang time, but Bills returner Deonte Harty had space to return. The coverage by LA swarmed Harty after 3 yards, however, and rookie safety AJ Finley tore the ball out just before Harty’s body hit the turf.

Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga recovered the fumble, giving the Chargers the ball back on Buffalo’s 27.

Chargers 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Los Angeles stand at linebacker?

Our Chargers’ NFL draft preview series continues with the linebacker position.

After taking a steady approach in free agency, signing just one external player in linebacker Eric Kendricks and re-signing a handful of their own, the Chargers now have their sights set on the draft where they will look to bolster their roster with their selections and make a deeper run in 2023.

Before, we’re going position by position to break down where Los Angeles stands entering the draft.

Next up is the linebacker group.

Catch the previous previews here:

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Edge defender

Interior defensive line

Chargers’ updated linebacker depth chart after addition of Eric Kendricks

Here is what the Chargers’ linebacker depth chart looks like following the addition of Eric Kendricks.

The Chargers signed Eric Kendricks to a two-year deal on Monday.

Here is what Los Angeles’ linebacker depth chart looks like following the addition of Kendricks.

Position Starter 2nd 3rd 4th
ILB Eric Kendricks Nick Niemann Tyreek Maddox-Williams
ILB Kenneth Murray Amen Ogbongmebiga Damon Lloyd

The signing of Kendricks indicates that Drue Tranquill is all but gone. Tranquill could be seeking $8-9 million, rightfully so, which is out of the Chargers’ price range. Kendricks has defended the run well throughout his career, which Los Angeles needs in the middle of their defense.

Murray, the former first-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie deal after the Chargers chose not to exercise his fifth-year option. Murray is a player who has struggled to live up to his draft status so far, which is why the Bolts chose to sign a player proven like Kendricks to help the room.

This past season, Niemann and Ogbongmebiga combined for nine total tackles and 22 defensive snaps. The two were key special teamers, a role they will predominantly hold again next season.

When looking at the group, it’s not the strongest and depth is needed. The Chargers could bring back Troy Reeder and turn to the draft to take one on Day 3. Someone like Tulane’s Dorian Williams, Auburn’s Owen Pappoe, TCU’s Dee Winters or Tennessee’s Jeremy Banks would be a good addition.

LB Damon Lloyd drawing attention at Chargers training camp

Damon Lloyd has been flashing since the start of Chargers training camp.

Linebacker Damon Lloyd has been making noise at Chargers training camp.

While Kenneth Murray, who is recovering from ankle surgery, and Drue Tranquill, who is dealing with a groin issue, have been out of the action, Lloyd has made the most of his reps.

During Tuesday’s session, Lloyd made back-to-back plays in 11-on-11. First, a sack and then a tackle for loss on running back Larry Rountree.

Lloyd has made positive plays daily since the start of camp, consistently living in the backfield.

With Murray, Tranquill, Troy Reeder, and Kyle Van Noy near locks, Lloyd is competing with second-year players Nick Niemann and Amen Ogbongbemiga to fill out the depth chart.

Even if he does not make the team, Lloyd will be a strong candidate to be kept around on the practice squad this year.

A signee out of The Spring League, Lloyd spent all of the 2021 season on the practice squad.

Lloyd set a record for tackles in a single season from 2017 to 2019 at Indiana (Pennsylvania), racking up more than 110 tackles in all three seasons.

Projecting Chargers’ linebacker depth chart in 2022

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebacker room will look like in the 2022 season.

Over the next week, we will break down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Interior defensive line

Edge defender

Today, the focus is on how the linebacker room will look heading into 2022.

Kenneth Murray

Murray’s sophomore season was not all sunshine and rainbows. Murray dealt with ankle issues since training camp last year, and that stunted his development. He spent six weeks on the injured reserve and some time on the COVID-19/Reserve list. When on the field, Murray struggled with missed tackles, over-pursuing ball carriers, and struggling to shed blocks and work off contact. Murray ended up experiencing a new position as an edge defender late in the season when the team was limited with players at the spot, which was a challenge. Murray had ankle surgery in early April, and Brandon Staley said the hope is the former first-round pick will be ready for training camp.

Drue Tranquill

After a promising rookie season in 2019, expectations were high for Tranquill. Unfortunately, a broken ankle in Week 1 of his sophomore campaign forced him to miss the entire 2020 season. Last year in Staley’s system, Tranquill finished with 79 tackles, five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks and a pass defended in 14 games. When healthy, Tranquill is solid against the run and used to rush the passer in pressure packages.

Troy Reeder

Reeder was signed before the draft. Reeder is familiar with Staley’s defense, having played under him when he was the Rams’ defensive coordinator during the 2020 season. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Rams in 2019, Reeder produced 230 tackles, fives sacks, eight passes defended, and two interceptions over the past three seasons. Last season marked his most productive, as Reeder totaled 91 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.

Nick Niemann

The Chargers’ middle-of-the-pack special teams did not have a lot of veterans; instead, they rolled with their rookie class as the main core last season. Among the crop, Niemann ended up being a bright spot, finishing with 14 special teams tackles on coverage units, which tied for fourth-most in the NFL. While expected to be a major contributor on special teams, Niemann could earn some snaps on defense if he performs in camp.

Amen Ogbongbemiga

Ogbongbemiga was thrust into the action in his rookie season when injuries occurred. In the two games that he started, Ogbongbemiga produced 26 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. Like Niemann, Ogbongbemiga will primarily be a contributor on coverage units, but he could earn snaps if he shows up at camp or players go down with injuries.

Chargers undrafted rookie draws praise from special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II

The Los Angeles Chargers could have a special teams standout on their hands.

One of the areas that the Chargers will need to make sure they are equipped with this upcoming season is special teams competency after finishing as the worst unit in 2020.

Los Angeles has steadily brought in players this offseason that they’re confident will aide in that department, and one of them could be an undrafted rookie.

At Tuesday’s media availability, special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II said former Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga has been a player that has stood out thus far during rookie minicamp and OTAs.

Ogbongbemiga finished as the second-leading tackler for the Cowboys in 2019 and 2020, making a combined 181 stops. Prior to working his way to the field, he was a special teams standout his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Ogbongbemiga, who amassed over 500 special teams snaps in college, would unlikely get snaps at linebacker, but his range and solid tackling ability would make him a valuable asset on coverage units from Day 1.

4 undrafted free agents who could make Chargers 2021 roster

The Los Angeles Chargers have had a great amount of success on bringing in hidden gems that went undrafted.

The Chargers added nine new members throughout the course of the weekend in the 2021 NFL draft. Following the event itself, they notched an additional 10 undrafted free agents who will all be fighting for a spot.

Los Angeles has had a great amount of success on bringing in hidden gems that went undrafted, including safety Adrian Phillips, tight end Antonio Gates and running back Austin Ekeler.

With that, here are four that could see their names on the 53-man roster when the 2021 season rolls around.