Chargers 2019 season – Syndication Server

Final stat leaders for the Chargers in 2019

Which Charger led the team in receptions, passes defensed, among others?

All attention has been shifted to what the 2020 season will hold, but it’s still appropriate to reflect on this past season for the Los Angeles Chargers.

With that, here are the final stat leaders from the 2019 regular season:

Offense

Touchdown Passes – QB Philip Rivers (23)

Passing Yards – QB Philip Rivers (4,615)

Rushing Yards – RB Melvin Gordon (612)

Rushing Touchdowns – RB Melvin Gordon (8)

Receptions – WR Keenan Allen (104)

Receiving Touchdowns – RB Austin Ekeler (8)

Total Touchdowns – RB Austin Ekeler (11)

Yards From Scrimmage – RB Austin Ekeler (1,550)

Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Defense/Special Teams

Sacks – DE Joey Bosa (11.5)

Tackles – LB Thomas Davis (112)

Interceptions – S Rayshawn Jenkins (3)

Passes Defensed – CB Michael Davis (9)

Forced Fumbles – DE Joey Bosa (1)

Punt Return Yards – CB Desmond King (118)

Kick Return Yards – CB Desmond King (331)

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What Chargers’ Tom Telesco said at end-of-season press conference

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco spoke to the media on Thursday for his annual end-of-season press conference.

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn spoke to the media on Monday. Three days later, general manager Tom Telesco got the spotlight to express how he felt about the 2019 season, as well as what the future may look like.

Telesco said he is upset with how the season turned out and said there are a lot of factors that cause them to only win five games. He said he needs to do a better job, but they aren’t discouraged moving into the new year.

“We’re disappointed. A bit angry, which is normal for this time of year, but we’re not discouraged at all. I like the culture here, I like the foundation we’ve built, and I love our head coach. Those three things are critical,” Telesco said on the 5-11 season.

A lot of the blame throughout the season fell on Lynn’s shoulders, but Telesco feels that he did a fine enough job and believes that he feels as though he is the right guy to lead the team into 2020 and beyond.

“The contract [extension] will work itself out. I know he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s a leader, and he represents this organization on and off the field like no one else. I love working with him. There’s nobody else I would rather go to battle with than him.” Telesco said.

All eyes are on a few household names that are set to become free agents. Telesco didn’t give anything away. Instead, him and the rest of the coaching staff are in the process of evaluating every position to decide the future for some of those players.

Among the group of is quarterback Philip Rivers.

Telesco didn’t want to look ahead and discuss the future of Rivers too much, but he did say that he thinks he can still compete as a top starter. He said that in a perfect world, 17 is your starting quarterback.

“More than likely, yeah. There’s no doubt,” Telesco said when asked if this is this something they want to get sorted out before the new league year (March 18) so he doesn’t become a free agent.

Another notable player whose future is up in the air is running back Melvin Gordon.

Like everyone else, Gordon will be evaluated to determine if he will be brought back. Telesco said it didn’t make him happy that Gordon held out and that it hurt the team, but added “I love the kid.” He said the running back handled it well when he returned to the team.

From Telesco’s past end-of-season press conferences, he is pretty straight forward when it comes to summing up the year. Even though it may seem like hints with the direction they could go in the offseason, he does a fine job of keeping what the plans are secured.

Chargers LB Thomas Davis blaming defense for losses

Linebacker Thomas Davis isn’t around to throw anyone under the bus.

Sitting with an unexpected 4-7 record, there’s a lot you can list for the reasons why the Chargers are currently in the position that they’re in heading into the 13th week of the season.

Injuries, a coaching change, bad quarterback play are atop of the list. But one thing that hasn’t been in discussion that linebacker Thomas Davis feels like deserves the blame for the team’s losses is the defense.

“Our record says we haven’t played well enough. That’s the ultimate thing that determines how we’ve played as a defense. The offense has put up enough points for us to be more successful,” Davis said, per Los Angeles Times’ Jeff Miller.

“We just haven’t figured it out for four quarters. We’ve played extremely well at times, and other times we’ve been inconsistent. If we do a better job in certain situations, our record could be much, much better.”

In the 17 years that Davis has been playing in the NFL, he has established himself as a leader, which is something Los Angeles coveted him for when making the decision to bring him onboard.

With the leadership skills that he possesses, Davis isn’t going to go around throwing anyone under the bus. The only person he’s going to blame is himself and the side of the football he plays on.

In reality, the defense hasn’t been the issue for their seven losses. The Chargers defense ranks No. 5 in points allowed, fourth in passing yards given up and tied for fifth in big plays allowed this season.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Philip Rivers has tossed 14 interceptions through 11 games and has been unable to get his team points on game-winning or tying drives.

Coach Anthony Lynn says it’s not just Rivers’ fault that the team is 4-7. Lynn said he evaluated everyone during the bye week, and said it’s on everyone.

Los Angeles will look to get finish the season on a strong note starting against the Broncos this Sunday. The team is fresh off a bye and will get some reinforcements with safeties Derwin James and Adrian Phillips back, as well as potentially offensive tackles Russell Okung and Sam Tevi.

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Chargers’ Philip Rivers to weigh decision on future after season

Quarterback Philip Rivers’ future with the Los Angeles Chargers remains to be seen.

Quarterback Philip Rivers is currently focused on the present by helping dig his team out of a hole and get back into the thick of the playoff race.

But while he is doing that, many can’t talk about Rivers without bringing up his future with the Chargers.

Rivers, who will be turning 38 in December, is in the final stint of his four-year contract that he signed back in 2015. He was comfortable with playing out the rest of his contract before dealing with any negotiations.

Earlier this week, Rivers said that he will evaluate where he’s at, physically and mentally before determining the next step that he will make in his professional career.

Rivers said prior to the 2019 season that he wants to remain with the team when they move into their new stadium with the Rams in Inglewood, CA next year.

“I think that is my desire. But I do think that it only seems right to say, ‘All right, let’s take a deep breath and regroup.’ I kept saying, a couple years, a couple years or a handful, and then I went to the ‘one year at a time.’ And I think that’s where it is, and that only makes sense when your contract is up and you’re going to be 38 here in a few weeks.

So I’m just going to have kind of a self and family evaluation of it all, and also know that it’s not solely my decision. But my intention certainly is to be playing in 2020,” Rivers said, per ESPN’s Eric D. Williams.

Entering Week 11, the eight-time Pro Bowl selection, leads the league in completions (240), attempts (364) and passing yards (2,186). He has passed for 14 touchdowns, but has thrown 10 interceptions, which ranks as the second-worst in the league.

Rivers’ play has been plagued by an inexperienced offensive line this season, but there have been signs of regression to his game. His decision-making his been spotty and his arm talent isn’t where it used to be.

There’s no doubt that Rivers would like to continue playing with the Bolts beyond the 2019 season, but how he does the rest of the season will have a big determining factor on what the future may hold for him.

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