Tag: Chargers training camp

2020 Chargers roster cuts: Tracking each player released before deadline

Stay up to date with who the Los Angeles Chargers decide to move on from.

The Chargers, along with the other 31 teams in the NFL, will cut their rosters to 53 players by 1 p.m. PT on Saturday.

That means there will be 27 players that have been hard at work the past couple of weeks in a shortened preseason that won’t make the squad.

However, some of those players that don’t make the 53-man roster still have a chance to make the 16-man practice squad.

As Los Angeles makes their cuts down to 53 players, we will keep updating the list, so make sure to keep this bookmarked.

Cuts

(None yet)

Chargers announce uniform schedule for 2020 season

The Los Angeles Chargers unveiled the uniform schedule for the 2020 regular season.

The Chargers announced the uniform schedule for the entire 2020 season Thursday.

Los Angeles will be donning their new highly coveted threads, which emphasizes the franchise’s iconic powder blue. The other jersey will be white.

Two color rush uniforms will also be worn – one in all navy and another in royal blue.

Here’s a look at when the Bolts will wear each uniform, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter account.

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler praises Joshua Kelley, talks Justin Jackson’s injury

There continues to be high praise for Chargers rookie Joshua Kelley.

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler talked to the media on Thursday, which marked the last player press conference of the preseason.

Ekeler is the lead man in a backfield that will be sure to get a lot of work this upcoming season, now that they’re transitioning to a run-heavy system.

Ekeler will have a significant role, both as a ball carrier and pass-catcher, which is why there was a competition for the second back who would compliment the third-year player.

The competition was between Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley.

Jackson, who is entering his third season, is looking to have a bounce back year after dealing with a hamstring injury. But it appears there’s another injury that’s holding him back. Ekeler said that he is dealing with a toe injury, adding that he is “pissed off.”

Jackson missed a few practices during the past couple of weeks. While he was out, Kelley – the team’s fourth-round pick – got a handful of reps as RB2, where he impressed.

Ekeler said he sees Kelley is very talented and that he keeps getting better. He added that he will add a new dynamic to the backfield.

It was expected that it would be a committee in the backfield to start the season, but if Jackson can’t go, there could be a 1-2 punch between Ekeler and Kelley.

Regardless if Jackson is ready to go or not, I expect Kelley to warrant more touches. His showing at camp has suggested a good amount of playing time, and he was praised early and often.

It will be exciting to see Los Angeles’ new offense after some major changes. Ekeler said there’s a “new energy” to the Chargers offense this season.

Fantasy Football: Projecting Chargers running backs’ production in 2020

How will Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley do in 2020?

The Chargers’ offense will shift to a run-heavy system, which means that fantasy football owners should have their eyes on running backs Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley in their drafts.

Ekeler is the clear cut No. 1 RB on the depth chart, but the amount of carries he receives remains to be seen, simply because the team plans to use his versatility as a pass-catcher in the slot and out wide.

The battle between Jackson and Kelley to see who could be the guy who carries the load has been heated throughout training camp.

The third-year Jackson has impressed, but Kelley, the fourth-round pick, has made a statement to have the lead role, showing out as a runner and receiver up to this point.

How does USA Today’s The Huddle see the backfield panning out?

For Ekeler, they have him amassing 1,330 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. Jackson is forecasted to post 400 yards on the ground for four touchdowns. Kelley is projected to rush for 350 yards and three touchdowns.

The Huddle predicts Jackson to enter the season as RB2 behind Kelley while the first-year player provides as a short-yardage specialist. But it wouldn’t surprising to see Kelley take on a bigger role early on in the season.

I’ve mentioned since when the Chargers drafted him that I could see the former UCLA product end up with a good amount of work out of the backfield.

It remains to be seen when the transition will occur, but I expect Los Angeles to give the majority of the load to Kelley after they take more of a committee approach.

The bottom line is Ekeler is worth an early round pick, while Jackson and Kelley both are talented, present plenty of upside, and are worthy of being handcuffed in your fantasy football drafts.

My projection: Kelley outproduces Jackson in 2020.

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Chargers LB Kyzir White proving his worth at training camp

Could Chargers linebacker Kyzir White finally get meaningful playing time?

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After flashing very early on in his rookie season, Chargers linebacker Kyzir White’s year was cut short after sustaining a knee injury.

White used the time off to get healthier, stronger and bigger. He started the 2019 season as the starting middle linebacker while Denzel Perryman was nursing an ankle injury for the first two games.

White struggled in that role, so Perryman took over. With Thomas Davis serving as the starting WILL, that only left White with one option: SAM. With the Chargers playing a lot of nickel and dime packages, that means the SAM doesn’t see the field as much.

Because of that, White didn’t play as much as many were expecting. When White did see the field, though, he was making plays. The former West Virginia product finished with 40 tackles, two passes defensed and one tackle for loss.

Heading into Year 3, White is hoping to not be lost in the shuffle and earn some meaningful playing time.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said that White “is really coming on strong now,” adding that the team has been moving him around a lot and he’s been making a lot of plays throughout training camp.

White’s recent play has suggested that he’s worth an expanded role. Like I mentioned, if he plays the SAM, then he won’t have much of an opportunity to make an impact, given the majority of the time the defense is in a sub-package.

Speaking of sub-packages, there is a void at the dime linebacker spot, which was played by Adrian Phillips the past couple of seasons, that still needs to be filled. White is capable of manning the spot, given his experience at both linebacker and safety.

He could also rotate inside with rookie Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill.

The bottom line is that White needs to see the field more, as long as he can stay healthy. To Bradley, this is the “strongest linebacker group he’s had since he’s been in Los Angeles.”

Chargers’ Nasir Adderley set up for strong sophomore season

Chargers safety Nasir Adderley is looking to make an impact in Year 2.

The Chargers are maneuvering some of the pieces in their secondary after the big loss of Derwin James, who is expected to be out for the entire 2020 season due to a torn meniscus.

One of the most reasonable options is sliding Rayshawn Jenkins from the free safety position to strong safety, and letting second-year Nasir Adderley play the single-high role.

Prior to James’ injury, Adderley had been practicing at multiple spots. But now, the former Delaware product could be set up to start at the position that he was originally drafted to play.

Adderley, who missed the majority of his rookie season with a hamstring injury, is now healthy and is practicing with the same energy that he brought to the preseason finale last year where he posted three passes defensed and an interception.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said that Adderley has caught the coaching staff’s attention, and mentioned he’s taken a big step from this time last year to now.

The team is looking at all options on how their secondary will shape up without their star safety. But it appears that Adderley will be involved one way or another, and he could be due for a impactful season in Year 2, if he stays healthy.

Report: Mutual interest between Chargers, safety Jahleel Addae

The Chargers could be eyeing a reunion with Jahleel Addae.

The Chargers could possibly bring back a familiar face.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there’s mutual interest between Los Angeles and safety Jahleel Addae.

This comes after star safety Derwin James injured his meniscus, leaving his 2020 campaign in jeopardy.

Addae spent six seasons with the Bolts before being released last offseason, where he played the strong safety position with the exception of his last year with the team, as he played free safety.

Addae spent last season with the Texans, posting 45 tackles and two interceptions.

The Chargers could go about filling the void in a variety of ways, including utilizing their in-house options. But the team could be eyeing a reunion with Addae to do so.

We will update as more information rolls out.

HC Anthony Lynn shuts down idea of Chargers signing safety Earl Thomas

It doesn’t appear that the Chargers will dip into the free agency pool to sign the seven-time Pro Bowler.

The Chargers are figuring out how they’re going to go about playing without safety Derwin James after he injured his right meniscus in practice on Sunday.

Among the ways that Los Angeles could address the situation, which has garnered a lot of attention, is by signing free agent Earl Thomas.

However, coach Anthony Lynn put those assumptions to bed when asked by a reporter at today’s media availability, stating he has confidence with the players that are on the roster.

“Since you guys are constantly telling me how stacked my secondary is, why the hell would I be looking anywhere else?” Lynn told reporters Monday, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

The murmurs started because Thomas played for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley with the Seahawks years ago.

This was said before a report came out that said there is mutual interest between L.A. and safety Jahleel Addae, whom played with the team for six seasons.

If the Chargers choose to go into the season with their in-house options, I laid out a few options on how they can line up the defensive backs in the absence of James.

Report: Chargers’ Derwin James to miss significant time with meniscus injury

The Chargers will be without their star safety.

The Chargers will start their regular season without safety Derwin James for the second straight year.

James is likely to miss significant time with a meniscus injury he suffered during today’s practice, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

James was coming up to make a tackle, but stayed on the ground for a little bit. He walked off under his own power and grabbed his hamstring. He walked to the medical tent with trainers with his head down and right before getting there, threw his gloves to the ground.

Last season, the All-Pro safety missed 11 games with a foot injury that he sustained during training camp.

With James out of the action, Los Angeles will now have to figure out how they can replace him in the meantime.

A couple of possibilities include starting his backup, rookie Alohi Gilman. The team could also move down Rayshawn Jenkins from the single-high role while placing Nasir Adderley at free safety.

With exactly two weeks until the season opener against the Bengals, the Chargers will have to act very quickly.

How Chargers can fill Derwin James’ void

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists what Los Angeles can do to replace Derwin James while he misses time.

The Chargers will be without one of their top defensive playmakers for a significant amount of time.

Derwin James sustained a severe meniscus injury at practice on Sunday, and will miss a good chunk of time because of it.

Los Angeles will once again be in a position to fill the void of James. They were forced to do it last season after he suffered a stress fracture in his foot.

Given the fact that he’s one of the best safeties in the league, it won’t be an easy task to get the same amount of production, but the show must go on.

So how will L.A. go about it? There are a few options.

The first is starting sixth-round pick Alohi Gilman. Gilman has been working as the backup strong safety throughout camp after Roderic Teamer was cut from the team.

I wrote about Gilman earlier, stating that he could make an impact in his rookie season. This was before James’ injury, but now the door is open for him to claim a starting role.

The next reasonable option is moving Rayshawn Jenkins from free safety to strong safety, and letting 2019 second-round pick Nasir Adderley play the single-high role.

Jenkins is familiar with the strong safety position, and the coaching staff covets his versatility to be bounced around in the secondary. Prior to the injury, he was a candidate to play the dime linebacker role.

Los Angeles could get Desmond King, who’s the mystery man in the secondary, involved. They could keep Jenkins at strong safety and let King play free safety. King has been working there with the second-team.

If the Bolts aren’t confident with any of these options, they could dip into the free agency pool.

One of the top options is Earl Thomas, who was released by the Ravens last week. Thomas has some familiarity with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, as the two were together with the Seahawks for a few seasons.

Thomas has primarily played the free safety position, but Bradley could get creative with the other members of the secondary to still have him on the field.

Other free agents that could garner the attention of the Chargers include Tony Jefferson, Reshad Jones and Eric Reid.

The Chargers will have to act quickly to fill James’ void as they are two weeks away from the season opener against the Bengals. It will be interesting to see how the team goes about it.