Tag: Corey Linsley

For better or for worse: Evaluating Chargers offense ahead of training camp

A quick rundown of each position on offense and whether the Chargers are better, worse or neutral at that spot.

The Chargers lost some key starters from last season but added a few in correspondence via free agency and the draft.

But how do they compare from the end of the 2023 regular season to now?

Let’s break it down by position, starting with the offense.

Quarterback

Offseason moves: Re-signed Easton Stick.

Summary: The Chargers are locked in with Justin Herbert. Herbert is coming off a down year, as he was hit with injuries to both hands, with his throwing hand being season-ending. Another year, another offense for Herbert, marking his fourth in five seasons in the league. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman want to run the football, so it’ll be enticing to see how they design this offense to accomplish that and allow Herbert to flourish as a passer. They brought back Stick to serve as Herbert’s backup. Stick was the backup with zero experience as a starter until last season when Herbert was sidelined with his finger injury. Stick went on to start the final four games and finished with 1,129 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 144 rushing yards and a score on 27 carries.

Verdict: Same

Running Back

Offseason moves: Lost Austin Ekeler (signed with the Commanders). Signed Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins (previously with the Ravens). Drafted Kimani Vidal (sixth-round pick)

Summary: After playing with the Chargers for seven seasons, Ekeler departed and eventually reunited with former head coach Anthony Lynn, who is now Washington’s running backs coach. With the vision of the offense pounding the rock and wearing defenses on the ground, Los Angeles went out and got guys familiar with Roman’s gap/power scheme. Edwards is coming off a year where he set career highs in rushing yards (810) and touchdowns (13). Dobbins has struggled to stay healthy, but his most productive season came under Roman in 2020 when he rushed for 805 yards, nine scores and 6.0 yards per carry. Vidal was productive at Troy, rushing for 1,661 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns on 295 carries.

Verdict: Better

Wide Receiver

Offseason moves: Traded Keenan Allen (Bears). Lost Mike Williams (signed with the Jets). Drafted Ladd McConkey (second round), Cornelius Johnson and Brenden Rice (seventh round). Signed D.J. Chark (previously with the Panthers).

Summary: Once a strength of the Chargers, now the wide receiver room lacks top-end talent after the losses of Allen and Williams. Joshua Palmer has the most experience in the group, and he is expected to take a big step in his contract year. McConkey, who Los Angeles traded up for to get in Round 2, is expected to be a significant contributor in his rookie season. He and Herbert have already started to develop a rapport. The team is hopeful that Quentin Johnston can shake off his rough rookie campaign and provide the offense with a legitimate yards-after-the-catch threat. Chark hasn’t had a productive season since 2019 with the Jaguars when he earned Pro Bowl honors. He offers elite speed to serve as a vertical threat. Johnson and Rice will compete for roster spots.

Verdict: Worse

Tight End

Offseason moves: Lost Gerald Everett (signed with the Bears). Signed Will Dissly (previously with the Seahawks) and Hayden Hurst (previously with the Panthers).

Summary: In two seasons as a Charger, Everett was vital in the passing game with his yards-after-the-catch ability and clutchness on money downs. They found their replacement for Everett with Hurst, who played under Roman for two seasons in Baltimore. Hurst offers the upside as a receiver but can also block. In a new offense where blocking tight ends are integral, they signed one of the best in that department in Dissly. The offense hasn’t had a good blocking tight end since 2020. Parham returns for another season and should be reliable in the red zone with his 6-foot-8 frame.

Verdict: Better

Offensive line

Offseason moves: Lost Corey Linsley (likely to retire). Drafted Joe Alt (first round)

Summary: The Chargers felt the loss of Linsley throughout last season when he was sidelined with his heart issue. Filling Linsley’s void was arguably the most critical offseason move. They did so with Bozeman, who has seven years of starting experience and is familiar with Roman’s scheme, having played under him for four seasons. Los Angeles struck gold with Rashawn Slater. They hope they do the same with Joe Alt, who will start opposite Slater. Alt should make a difference in the run game from Day 1. Now it’s just a matter of how he holds up against NFL pass rushers. With Alt sliding in at right tackle, Trey Pipkins will move inside to right guard. Despite never playing the position, Pipkins has the athleticism, length and football IQ to make the transition seamless.

Verdict: Slightly better

Chargers center retires after a few weeks with Jim Harbaugh as head coach

The news was reported yesterday by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

Jason Kelce of the Eagles was the best center in the league for a long time, but he announced his retirement from the NFL back in March. The next-best center was arguably Corey Linsley of the Chargers, but he’s also decided to retire after just a few weeks of having Jim Harbaugh as his head coach.

The news was reported yesterday by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

Cutting Linsley saves the team $1.2 million in cap space and they’ll space out his dead money hits ($2.5 million each) over the next two years.

It’s a pretty brutal blow for an offensive line that Harbaugh wants to be the focal point of the Chargers offense. Bradley Bozeman is the next man up for LA at center.

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Former Packers center Corey Linsley set to retire from NFL

Former Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley, a fifth-round pick of the team in the 2014 draft, is set to retire from the NFL after being released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday. 

Former Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley, a fifth-round pick of the team in the 2014 draft, is set to retire from the NFL after being released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday.

Linsley played seven seasons with the Packers and three more with the Chargers. The 161st overall pick in 2014, Linsley went on to play over 9,000 career snaps and be named to back-to-back All-Pro teams (2020, 2021).

Linsley started all 132 regular season games and 12 playoff games (144 total) in which he appeared in the NFL.

As a rookie in 2014, Linsley earned the starting center job and played 100 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He played 100 percent of the offense’s snaps in four of his seven seasons with the Packers.

One of the best pass-blocking centers in football over the last decade, Linsley gave up only 18 career sacks and 150 pressures over 6,054 pass-blocking snaps.

After a dominant season in Green Bay in 2020, Linsley earned a $62.5 million deal with the Chargers, making him the NFL’s highest-paid center at the time. He was a three-time captain with the Chargers and didn’t allow a single sack between 2021 and 2023.

In 2023, Linsley was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list because of a heart issue.

One final note: the Packers received a fourth-round compensation pick in the 2022 draft for losing Linsley in free agency. That pick became offensive lineman Zach Tom.

Chargers release Corey Linsley, who is expected to retire

Corey Linsley is expected to hang up the cleats.

The Chargers released center Corey Linsley on Wednesday.

Linsley was diagnosed with a non-emergent heart issue during the 2023 season and missed most of it due to it. As a result, he is expected to announce his retirement from football.

Here is the team’s statement from Chargers president of football operations John Spanos:

Corey is everything you hope for and more in an NFL player. The consummate professional, his mentorship of younger players, work ethic, integrity, leadership, competitive drive and sense of humor all played a role in earning him the ‘C’ on his jersey throughout the entirety of his time with us. And as good of a football player as he is, Corey’s an even better person. . . . While he has taken his last snap in the NFL, Corey’s story is far from being written. We cannot wait to see what the next chapter has in store for the Linsleys, and we wish Corey, Anna, Seamus, Killian, Quinn and Ruth all the best moving forward.

Linsley was selected by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft. With Green Bay, Linsley was a starter in all 99 career regular-season appearances across seven seasons. He was a 2020 first-team All-Pro selection.

Signed by the Chargers in 2021, Linsley was a key cog on the offensive line. In his first season with the Bolts, he was named to the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro selection. Linsley started in 33 games.

Chargers sign OL Bradley Bozeman

The Chargers fill a void at center.

The Chargers are signing offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman.

With Corey Linsley headed toward retirement due to medical issues, Los Angeles needed a starting center. Bozeman will fill that void.

The Bolts are emphasizing the running game, and Bozeman’s strength is paving the way on the ground. His 71.6 run-blocking grade since 2021 is 11th among all Centers over that period.

Selected by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft, Bozeman started 49 games across four seasons, with most being at left guard.

Bozeman joined the Panthers ahead of the 2022 season, and he re-signed with the team on a three-year, $18 million contract last offseason. He started 28 of his 34 appearances.

This past season, Bozeman was chosen as the Panthers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee.

Chargers rework Corey Linsley’s contract

Corey Linsley said there is a “99% chance” that he would retire this offseason.

Chargers center Corey Linsley has agreed to a restructured contract to lower his base salary for the 2024 season, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Linsley was previously set to make $11.5 million. The move creates $10.29 in cap space, putting them at $35 million over the cap.

Linsley said there is a “99% chance” that he would retire this offseason due to a medical issue.

Retirements are like cuts, so this allows Los Angeles to wait until after June 1 to process his retirement and spread out the dead money while being able to use the cap space before that date.

Linsley was diagnosed with a non-emergent heart issue during the 2023 season and missed most of it as a result. He signed a five-year deal to join the Chargers in 2021, the same year he was a second-team All-Pro.

Chargers’ Corey Linsley leaning towards retirement

As the Chargers head into the offseason, the likely retirement of Corey Linsley is one of the first dominoes to fall.

At the Chargers’ locker room clean out on Monday, center Corey Linsley admitted that retirement is under consideration. While he’s appreciated his lengthy NFL career, the 10-year NFL veteran says there is a “99%” chance that he will retire.

Linsley missed 14 games after being diagnosed with a non-emergent heart condition before Week 4’s contest against the Raiders. He transitioned to what could effectively be described as a coaching role in offensive line meetings for the rest of the season, even going as far as breaking down tape packages for each of the Chargers’ offensive linemen.

In 2021, Linsley was signed to a five-year, $62.5 million contract by the Chargers in an effort to rebuild their offensive line. At the time, it was the largest AAV contract for a center in NFL history. He was a Pro Bowler in his first season with Los Angeles and also kept up his high-level play in 2022.

The retirement of Linsley would save the Chargers approximately $9 million against the 2024 cap. However, it would also open up an All-Pro level hole in the Bolts’ offensive line. Los Angeles would likely have to look towards the draft or free agency for his replacement. Will Clapp is a free agent, while center Brenden Jaimes is entering the final season of his rookie deal.

As the Chargers head into the offseason, the likely retirement of Linsley is one of the first dominoes to fall in the construction of the 2024 roster.

Chargers’ Brenden Jaimes readies for first NFL start

The Chargers are down to their third center.

Brenden Jaimes is preparing for his first NFL start this Saturday against the Bills.

Jaimes will be the starting center going forward after Will Clapp was placed on injured reserve this week.

“I would say I’m more anxious just to get out there, play a full game and show what I can do,” Jaimes said, per the team’s official website. “More so excitement than anything. It’s been a dream of mine to do this and now that it’s finally here, I’m super excited for the opportunity.

After Clapp went down last Thursday against the Raiders, Jaimes came in and played 23 snaps. In 11 pass-blocking snaps, he did not allow a single quarterback pressure.

Jaimes, a 2021 fifth-round pick, has appeared in 34 games. He is a former tackle at Nebraska with 40 consecutive starts, and he also has experience at guard.

“It really makes me appreciate every position now that I’ve played pretty much every position on the O-Line,” Jaimes said. “Being able to play center, I kind know what everybody is going through. I know when to help who, when to help someone if they have this look or if this look is happening then I need to give help to this guy because it’s difficult.

“Just gives me a greater appreciation for everybody who’s on the field with me,” Jaimes added. “It’s funny because I started playing center when I was a little kid and now it’s full circle because I’m at the highest-level playing center. Definitely blessed to be in this position and super excited of playing Saturday.”

As Jaimes is set to enter the fourth season of his pro career in 2024, these reps in the final three games will serve him well as he could show that he’s a viable swing option with the ability to start in a pinch.

“It’s something that he’s waited on for a while here,” Kellen Moore said. He’s earned this opportunity just from continuing to be patient, continuing to develop as a center. He hopped in there this past game. He’ll finish this season off the right way.”

Kellen Moore on Chargers offense: ‘A work in progress’

The Chargers offense has been uneven this season.

When Kellen Moore was hired, the thought was that he would take the Chargers offense to another level. The team is midway through the season, and it has yet to transpire completely.

Specifically, Los Angeles wanted to be more explosive in the passing game and run the ball more efficiently. However, there have not been a lot of shots down the field from Justin Herbert and the running game has been stagnant.

Moore’s offense has only scored two second-half touchdowns in the past five games. His unit ranks 26th in second-half offense.

“It’s a work in progress,” Moore said. “You go through ebbs and flows and you have a few guys go down, navigate some different roles and we would certainly love to play better. It’ll happen over time. We will get better.”

There are some factors in the offense’s inability to be at its full potential, starting with Herbert breaking the middle finger on his non-throwing left hand during the Week 4 game against the Raiders. Since then, he has worn a splint on it, which has hindered him to a certain extent.

Along the offensive line, Corey Linsley has been out with a heart issue. Will Clapp, Linsley’s replacement, has struggled. Herbert has been sacked five times in two of the past three games. Linsley’s absence has negatively impacted the group as a whole, and the consistent pressure has given Herbert little time to throw.

At wide receiver, the Chargers have been without Mike Williams, who suffered a torn ACL against the Vikings in Week 3. Joshua Palmer, who is on injured reserve with a sprained knee, will be out for at least the next three games. Quentin Johnston has shown flashes but has yet to play to his first-round billing.

Furthermore, they have lacked blocking production from the tight end position since the start of the season.

“We are where we are right now. I think that this group is still figuring it out together, but I like the group that we are coaching and I like the way this group’s competing,” Brandon Staley said.

As Los Angeles gets into the second half of the season, they need to quickly figure out the offense if they want to find themselves in the playoffs again.

Brandon Staley on Corey Linsley: ‘He’s helping our team out in a new way’

Brandon Staley made it clear that Corey Linsley won’t be back soon.

Chargers’ center Corey Linsley has been on the injured reserve for about a month following the discovery of a non-emergent heart issue. While he’d technically be eligible to return to the team as he approaches the fourth week of his IR stint, Brandon Staley made it clear that Linsley won’t be back soon.

Will Clapp has played in relief of Linsley now for four games. The results have been a mixed bag. Clapp has graded lower on PFF’s individual Chargers’ grades in the last few games as the pressure numbers have increased. But clearly, there are not many players that could replicate Linsley’s Pro Bowl-level production in general at the position. Midseason line changes aren’t necessarily the easiest to navigate either.

While the full extent of Linsley’s heart condition is not known, it was evident from the beginning that his return was not imminent. JT Woods also remains on the teams’ NFI list with an illness but was seen at the team facility recently.

Unless LA opts for some free-agent signing or shifts the names on their offensive line around a bit, it does seem that Clapp is the center for the foreseeable future. Per Staley’s comments, hopefully, Linsley is still involved with the day-to-day for the rest of the offensive line room. His impact in that regard could prove valuable.