Tag: Andre Roberts

7 pending free agents Chargers must re-sign

Here’s a look at the top names the Chargers will have strongly consider re-signing.

The 2022 free agency period is slowly approaching on the NFL calendar, and the Chargers have 21 pending free agents heading into the offseason.

Continuity is critical when it comes to roster management. Still, general manager Tom Telesco will have to be selective when it comes to deciding who’s worthy of being brought back next season.

With that, here’s a look at the top priorities when the team begins that process:

Kyzir White

If there’s one player who benefited quite a bit from playing in Brandon Staley’s system, it’s White. Given more responsibilities to play in space, White was impactful as a run defender, in coverage, and a pass rusher. Starting all 17 games, White finished with 144 tackles, seven for loss, three passes defended, and a sack. Having him back gives the Chargers their energized play-maker in the middle of the defense.

Uchenna Nwosu

It was a slow start for Nwosu. That was until Week 13 against the Bengals when he rose eyebrows with his seven-pressure, four-hurry, and two-sack performance. From that point, Nwosu made a steady impact down the stretch until the season debut against the Raiders, where he went out with a bang, finishing with seven tackles and four for loss. After setting a career-high 40 pressures, four passes defended, and five sacks and set to be only 26 years old during the 2022 season, Nwosu’s best playing days are still ahead of him.

Mike Williams

Williams will be one of the most sought-after free agents, with opinions of what the Chargers should do with him all across the board. But he proved to be an integral piece on the offense in the best season of his career. Williams’ reason for staying is keeping continuity between him and Justin Herbert, the ascend as the X-receiver, and the big-play ability and clutchness he offers. The best bet would be to franchise tag him. While it’s a good chunk of change at $19.1 million, it will allow the team more time to work out a long-term extension decision until 2023 depending on if he can replicate or top this past year’s production.

Justin Jones

The Chargers had one of the league’s worst run defenses, and while it had to do with the lack of talent up front, one player who proved to be viable was Jones. He finished with a career-high 18 pressures, 14 hurries while also adding 18 run stops, some of which came near the goal line. Now, I could also see a scenario where they blow up the defensive line altogether and use free agency and the draft to go into the 2022 season with a clean slate, but a cheap deal for Jones is well within reason.

Andre Roberts

The Chargers struggled to find productivity from their returners until the mid-season signing of Roberts, which paid off down the final stretch. On 19 kick returns, Roberts amassed 624 yards and a 101-yard touchdown. Having him back will be key to stabilizing their special teams department. Speaking of, Dustin Hopkins is another strong candidate to be re-signed after making 90% of his field goals and 93.8% of his extra points.

Oday Aboushi

Signed last offseason, Aboushi was a vital piece of the revamped offensive line before suffering a torn ACL in the season’s fifth game. In 293 snaps, he allowed just five pressures and did not surrender a single sack. Having Aboushi back would offer depth and experience at the right guard position, which would come at a relatively low price.

3 Chargers named second-team All-Pro

Three Chargers players were recognized for their efforts on the field in 2021.

Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, center Corey Linsley and kick returner Andre Roberts were named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press today.

No Chargers made the first team.

Slater, the No. 13 overall selection of the 2021 NFL draft, allowed only 26 pressures and four sacks while imposing will in the run game. He was also named a Pro Bowler.

The anchor of the offensive line, Linsley surrendered just 10 pressures and zero sacks. He was another one of six players named to the Pro Bowl.

Roberts was a midseason signing in hopes of shoring up the special teams, and it paid off down the final stretch of the season. On 19 kick returns, Roberts amassed 624 yards and a 101-yard touchdown.

Stars, studs and duds in Chargers’ 34-13 victory over Broncos

Highlighting the Chargers players who shined and struggled in the victory over the Broncos.

The Chargers are coming off one of their most complete performances with a 34-13 win over the Broncos.

Here are a few players who shined and struggled in Sunday’s victory over Denver.

Star: WR Andre Roberts

Roberts supplied a massive special teams spark with kick returns of 47 yards and one of 101 yards that was returned to the house in the fourth quarter, becoming the only active player with three kickoff return touchdowns and three punt return touchdowns in his career. Roberts was a midseason addition for the Bolts and he showed why he is a strong candidate to be re-signed at the end of the season.

Star: QB Justin Herbert 

Herbert wrote his name in the history books once again, but this time, it was quite significant. His 45-yard touchdown to Mike Williams set a franchise record for most passing touchdowns in a single season with 35. Additionally, the sophomore quarterback became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 800 completions. Herbert managed to do so in just 31 games.

Studs: RBs Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson

Ekeler and Jackson made up more than half of Bolts’ total yards with 173. For much of the season, the run game consisted of Ekeler alone. However, it appears they have finally established a nice one-two punch to boost the offensive output heading into the final game of the regular season and potentially the postseason. Furthermore, this is the eighth time this season that Ekeler has reached 100 yards from scrimmage.

Stud: OT Trey Pipkins

Credit goes to the entire offensive line for allowing just two pressures on 33 dropbacks. But the spotlight specifically goes on Pipkins for stepping in and performing well in his second start this season. While the Broncos were without their top pass rusher, Bradley Chubb, Pipkins still managed to get the job done in pass protection and as a run blocker. Things are looking up for the player who many were writing off.

Dud: Tackling

There wasn’t a player in particular who played poorly enough to find themselves in this category, but rather a specific area. Drew Lock’s stat line of 18-of-25 passing for 245 yards looks decent on paper, but that’s primarily a product of a handful of yards after the catch allowed due to poor tackling by the defensive backs in the open field.

Watch: Scenes after Chargers’ victory over Broncos

Watch as the Chargers celebrated their 37-13 win over the Broncos.

The Chargers improved to 9-7 and are just one win away from making the playoffs after beating the Broncos in Week 17.

Los Angeles dominated in all phases, highlighted by a performance from Justin Herbert, who is now the franchise record-holder for most passing touchdowns in a single season.

Following the 37-13 victory, watch below as the Bolts celebrated, including head coach Brandon Staley’s weekly post-game speech.

Andre Roberts returns kickoff 101 yards for Chargers’ score

Andre Roberts with a 101-yard kickoff return for a Chargers’ score

Andre Roberts has been a superb special teams player everywhere he has gone in his NFL odyssey.

The elite punt and kickoff returner put on another show Sunday as a Los Angeles Charger against the Denver Broncos.

Roberts took a Brandon McManus kickoff a yard deep in the end zone and was in a dead spring to the end zone.

The Broncos’ kicker was the last man to beat and he was no match for Roberts, who has three kickoff return TDs as well as three punt returns for scores.

This was the fourth team Roberts has returned a kick or punt for a score, the Bolts, Washington, New York Jets and Detroit Lions

Chris Rumph II among 4 other Chargers added to COVID-19 list

The Chargers’ COVID-19 outbreak sits at seven players.

The Chargers’ COVID-19 outbreak is up to seven players.

The team announced that Andre Roberts, Tevaughn Campbell, Trey Marshall, and Chris Rumph are joining Joey Bosa, Kemon Hall and Corey Linsley on the COVID-19 list.

Bosa and Hall were ruled out for this weekend’s game against the Texans. Linsley is day-to-day. The status of Roberts, Campbell, Marshall, and Rumph remains to be seen.

In other roster-related news, Los Angeles activated Rashawn Slater from the COVID-19 list and claimed former Bronco Essang Bassey.

An undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest, Bassey appeared in 12 games in 2020 as a rookie and started three contests before suffering a torn ACL. He recorded one interception, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery.

When Seattle came to Washington on a Monday night

Remember the last time the Seahawks came to FedEx Field on a Monday night?

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Many still recall when Washington hosted Seattle at FedEx Field on a Monday Night Football (MNF) contest on October 6, 2014.

Russell Wilson took charge early as the Seahawks jumped to a 17-point lead on their way to a 27-17 win over Washington.

On the game’s very first series, Wilson took off for a 17-yard run and it was a glimpse of what the Washington defense would endure seeing the entire evening.

Wilson would run that Monday night 11 times gaining 122 yards, including a long run of 29 yards and a 9-yard second quarter touchdown run, putting the Redskins in a deep hole, behind 17-0.

Kirk Cousins and DeSean Jackson connected on a 60-yard touchdown, narrowing the Washington deficit to 17-7 at the half.

Trailing 24-10 in the final quarter, Cousins then connected with Andre Roberts on a six-yard score, bringing Washington to within 24-17 with 3:35 remaining.

However, the defense could not stop the Seahawks, as Seattle quickly scored again for the final 27-17 margin.

Not only did Wilson rush for 122 yards, but he also completed 18 of 24 passes for 201 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 127.3 rating.

The Seahawks (3-1) controlled the clock, keeping the Washington defense on the field, rushing for 225 yards, while Washington (1-4) was limited to a meager 35 rushing yards. Marshawn Lynch also averaged 4.2 yards on his 17 carries for 72 yards.

Jackson, Roberts and Roy Helu each had five receptions for Washington, with Jackson leading the way with 157 receiving yards.

Let’s hope this MNF contest has much better results for the Washington Football Team.

Game Balls: Standouts from Chargers’ victory over Eagles

Highlighting the individuals who had the biggest impact on the Chargers’ victory over the Eagles.

The Chargers defeated the Eagles on Sunday, 27-24.

Which players had the biggest impact on the game?

A look at a few standouts from Week 9’s victory:

QB Justin Herbert

So much for a sophomore slump, am I right? After back-to-back poor performances, Herbert bounced back in a big way. In order to mask the uneven defensive output, he put the team on his back, finishing 32 of 38 for 356 yards with three total touchdowns and no interceptions (123.2 quarterback rating). Herbert also engineered the final drive, finishing 5 of 6 for 37 yards and eating up nearly six minutes of the clock to ensure the Eagles got the ball back for just a measly one second.

WR Keenan Allen

The offense being slowed the two games prior also meant that Allen’s production took a toll. The 29-year old took advantage of the Eagles’ zone defense early and often, carving up the short to intermediate parts of the field. He caught 12 of 13 targets for 104 yards, marking the fifth time in eight games Allen has seen double-digit targets.

TE Stephen Anderson

The entire tight end group should be spotlighted, but Anderson is deserving of his own recognition. Anderson posted four catches for 39 yards and his first touchdown on the season. But what stood out the most that may have gone unrecognized was his work as a blocker. Not only did he open up holes in the run game and help in pass protection, but Anderson was the one who pushed Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler to help them pick up the first down on a pair of crucial fourth-down situations.

OT Storm Norton

Like the tight-end unit, each member along the offensive line is worthy of being listed. But Norton, in particular, played a solid game after being the primary culprit of the pass protection problems against the Ravens and Patriots. Going up against some good pass rushers, Norton only surrendered a pressure and a hurry throughout the afternoon. He was aided by some chip blocks, but still a promising sign, nonetheless.

NT Linval Joseph

The Eagles might have picked up 176 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but that primarily came in the first half and it was Joseph who came up big in run support in the second half of the contest. The big 330 pounder showed the ability to anchor, control blockers, and make plays near the line of scrimmage, finishing the game with nine tackles, which was the most by any Charger on Sunday.

Special teams unit

I could highlight returner Andre Roberts and kicker Dustin Hopkins, but it goes beyond them. Roberts averaged 24 yards per kick, with a long of 39 yards. He also made something out of nothing on his lone punt return. Despite missing one of his two extra-point attempts, Hopkins had the game-winning field goal. Moreover, the coverage units looked better than prior weeks, allowing an average of just 11.5 yards per kick. Hats off to Derius Swinton’s group.

Chargers add recently-waived WR K.J. Hill to practice squad

The Chargers brought back a familiar face.

Not even 24 hours after being waived, wide receiver K.J. Hill was back.

The Chargers re-signed him to their practice squad, according to Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed.

Hill was briefly let go of for Los Angeles to make room for wideout/return specialist Andre Roberts, who was signed to the 53-man roster on Thursday.

Hill was the team’s primary punt returner, but the second-year player amassed just 6.8 yards on six returns through the first six games.

Despite losing his spot to Roberts, Hill’s special teams ability and insurance in case an injury occurred was still coveted by the Bolts.

Since 2020, Hill has ten catches for 103 yards while returning 18 punts for 124 yards and five kicks for 57 yards.

Signing of Andre Roberts should not stop Chargers from continuing to shore up special teams

The Chargers need to strongly consider bringing in another kicker.

Even after the addition of veteran returner Andre Roberts, the Chargers’ special teams department is far from solidified. The team continues to be haunted by ongoing issues in the kicking game.

Tristan Vizcaino, who was given the nod over Michael Badgley for the starting kicker, has not done much to show he was the right man for the job.

In six games, Vizcaino has missed five extra points, which marks the most in the NFL.

Vizcaino was coveted for his leg strength by the coaching staff, but he has yet to make a field goal over 50 yards, and his kickoff touchback percentage is 41.94, which ranks 30th in the league.

Head coach Brandon Staley acknowledged his struggles with the extra points, adding that a good chunk of it has to do with Vizcaino’s confidence.

His confidence may be shallow because the Chargers have been giving up a ton of pressure off the right side of their field goal and extra point protection.

But the bottom line is that it’s a glaring concern that has been near costly, most notably the missed extra point against the Browns late in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game at 42.

Despite the 25-year-old’s growing pains, Los Angeles might be wise to strongly consider bringing in another kicker to avoid any blunders down the final stretch of the season.

The pool of available kickers is not deep, but a few notables include Dustin Hopkins, Giorgio Travecchio, Stephen Gostkowski, and Eddy Pineiro. Or, a pair of Chargers, Badgley or Josh Lambo, might intrigue.

Would it be surprising to see the coaches roll with Vizcaino following the bye? Not at all, given Staley’s comments on him needing to grow his confidence.

However, it is not worth taking the chance of these types of errors to grow any further, which is why change has to be taken into consideration.