Tag: Chargers Uchenna Nwosu

Seahawks EDGE Uchenna Nwosu excited to play former team

Seahawks edge defender Uchenna Nwosu makes his return to Los Angeles.

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The Seahawks made Uchenna Nwosu one of their first free-agent signings the offseason. On Sunday, Nwosu returns to Los Angeles, where he started his career with the Chargers and played college football at USC. 

“It’s going to mean a lot,” Nwosu said. “Going back home and being able to play in front of my family and friends like I’ve done my whole entire athletic career, so I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends supporting me in the stands.”

Last season, Nwosu was a key contributor in a starting role opposite Joey Bosa, setting career highs in sacks (five), tackles (40), tackles for loss (8), pressures (30) and quarterback hits (17).

Nwosu’s play deserved a contract extension, but Los Angeles struck a trade for Khalil Mack. Meanwhile, the Seahawks felt that Nwosu would be a great addition to the team, which is what he has been in just his first six games. 

Nwosu has recorded team highs in sacks (three) and quarterback hits (eight) to go along with 24 tackles, 19 pressures, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three passes defended.

While he’s primarily played on the edge, Nwosu has had expanded responsibilities in the box and in the slot covering receivers at times.

When he takes the field in front of his family and friends, Nwosu believes he has something to prove to more than just his former team. 

“Not just the Chargers, but the whole world,” Nwosu said. “I’m just going to keep improving at being this player that I know I can be. I’m a great player and I’m going to keep getting better.”

Chargers EDGE Uchenna Nwosu coming into his own

Chargers edge defender Uchenna Nwosu is coming off the best performance of his career.

Uchenna Nwosu spent the first three seasons with the Chargers in a rotational role behind Melvin Ingram.

Despite averaging just 35% of defensive snaps in 45 games, Nwosu still managed to make the most of his playing time – totaling ten sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 59 quarterback pressures, and 44 hurries.

Entering his fourth season, there were high expectations for Nwosu as the starter opposite Joey Bosa, knowing what Brandon Staley could possibly do with him when factoring in the breakout year of Leonard Floyd he contributed to a season ago.

While he showed flashes, Nwosu did not do anything to raise eyebrows. However, that was until the Week 13 win over the Bengals when the defense posted a season-high six sacks and four turnovers.

With Bosa sidelined with a head injury early on, Nwosu stole the spotlight. He finished with seven pressures, two sacks, a strip-sack which he recovered, and two quarterback hits.

Through 12 games, Nwosu has already topped his pressures (25), hurries (11), and is a sack away from his career-high in a single season (5).

Like Kyzir White, Nwosu is auditioning for a new deal. However, his play as of late is justifying that he’s worthy of garnering an extension, and now he will have to maintain that consistency the rest of the way out for it to come to fruition.

“I was talking to Brandon [Staley] back in OTAs, and he was telling me, ‘You can play in this system. You can do it. I believe in you.’ It’s all starting to come to fruition. I’m starting to trust the process more now, getting into a rhythm. Hopefully, we can keep this thing going,” Nwosu said.

Chargers LB Uchenna Nwosu nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

For his hard work on and off the field, Los Angeles Chargers’ Uchenna Nwosu is a nominee for the prestigious award.

The Los Angeles Chargers selected linebacker Uchenna Nwosu as their nominee for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for community service and other off the field areas, as well as performance on the field.

“It means a lot to be the nominee this year. This award’s very prestigious (and) very hard to win. There’s only one nominee on every team, and I’m sure a lot of these guys in this locker room do a lot of things in the community. For me to be chosen and recognized, it’s an honor,” Nwosu said.

Nwosu has been involved in a handful of team events like Bikes for Kids, the annual food distribution event with Tyson, Play 60 camps and visited high school players at the Chargers’ Coach of the Week.

Along with that, Nwosu has honored the Children’s Diabetes Foundation on his cleats during the league’s “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign.

As a nominee, Nwosu will wear a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the season in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field.

The 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year will be announced during NFL Honors, on Feb. 1, the day before Super Bowl LIV on FOX.

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