Tag: Jamaree Salyer

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh reveals starting offensive line ahead of minicamp

The Chargers’ offensive line is already beginning to take shape.

The Chargers offensive line has been a topic of conversation since the end of last season. Now, as the 2024 season approaches, five players are cementing their spots as the starting linemen. 

“I think it’s on track to be a top-tier offensive line in the NFL,” Harbaugh said. “Rashawn [Slater], Zion [Johnson], Bradley Bozeman, probably right now Trey Pipkins and Joe Alt. Those five have really separated themselves.”

According to Harbaugh, this group will likely make up one of the best units in the league. 

In team drills, Alt has been playing right tackle, and Pipkins has been positioned at right guard, which is quite impressive since he has only played tackle throughout his career. 

“Extremely capable of doing it,” Harbaugh said about Pipkins. “He’s an outstanding player, he’s an outstanding tackle and he’s an outstanding guard.”

Pipkins’ versatility seems to be paying dividends for the Chargers offensive line; however, the ultimate test will be when the season begins. 

“The idea of getting to our best five at all times and playing that, it may shake out in what the rotation is but you need five really good ones, five best you have, playing as one,” Harbaugh said. “Pretty much every team we play, they have really good edge rushers on both sides.

“They have interior rushers that are good on both sides. Not having a weak link is critical,” Harbaugh said. “I think we’re trending to really having a top-to-bottom outstanding offensive line.”

Training camp will ultimately be when the final starters are chosen but this gives Chargers fans at least a good idea of what’s to come. 

Joe Alt receiving first-team reps at right tackle, Trey Pipkins at right guard at Chargers OTAs

Jim Harbaugh said that they’re going to start their best five offensive linemen.

This early in the process is when different looks and lineups are incorporated to see how players mesh with one another.

But a notable development came during Chargers OTAs. According to the team’s official reporter, Eric Smith, Joe Alt received starting reps at right tackle while Trey Pipkins slid inside to right guard.

Smith mentioned that when the Chargers went to 11-on-11 drills, Brenden Jaimes came in for Zion Johnson. Alt replaced Pipkins, who slid inside to right guard.

Jim Harbaugh emphasized that they’re going to start the best five linemen when the season comes around.

At the moment, left tackle Rashawn Slater, center Bradley Bozeman and Alt are likely the only ones with starting spots locked up. Meanwhile, there will likely be a competition for the guard spots, with Johnson, Salyer, Pipkins and Jaimes in contention for them.

How the offensive line shakes up will be one of the biggest storylines when training camp begins in July.

Former Georgia Bulldogs OL receives big performance-based bonus

Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer received one of the NFL’s biggest performance-based pay bonuses for his 2023 season

Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer has quickly found a role for himself in the NFL. Through two years in the NFL, Salyer has already started 31 games for the Chargers.

In his second season with Los Angeles, Salyer played in 99% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps. Salyer primarily played right guard from the Chargers after playing left tackle a year ago.

Salyer received the NFL’s ninth-highest performance-based bonus. The NFL’s performance-based bonus system is designed to reward players that are paid less than most other NFL players, but still play a ton of snaps. Last season, Salyer received over $840,000 in performance-based bonuses. Salyer had a base salary of $870,000 in 2023 and a $43,982 signing bonus, so his performance-based bonus nearly doubled his pay.

Salyer played college football at the University of Georgia and was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. The Chargers got an absolute steal in Salyer.

Salyer started at left tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs throughout the 2020 and 2021 college football seasons. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound offensive lineman allowed only two hurries and no sacks during his final season with Georgia.

Salyer won’t be an NFL free agent until 2026, so the Chargers have him on a bargain contract for a couple more seasons.

Chargers’ Jamaree Salyer earns salary boost with incentive system

The NFL announced its performance-based pay distribution for the 2023 season, and Jamaree Salyer was among the top 25 users.

The NFL announced its performance-based pay distribution for the 2023 season, and Jamaree Salyer was among the top 25 users.

Salyer earned more than $840,282 in the bonus program, a significant bump from his base salary last season.

The program rewards players with lower salaries who get a lot of playing time.

Salyer started all 17 games for the Chargers and played 99 percent of the team’s offensive snaps at right guard.

In his rookie season, Salyer started 15 games at left tackle in place of Rashawn Slater, who suffered a biceps injury in Week 3 that required surgery.

The top earner in the bonus program was Ravens guard John Simpson, a 2020 fourth-round pick who got $974,613.

A strong offensive line is a priority for Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh talks about the importance of the offensive line.

Going into the 2024 season, a strong offensive line is crucial for Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. He believes the offensive line is directly related to the success of the entire offensive unit. 

“The offensive line to me is important,” Harbaugh said, per the team’s official website. “If I asked you the question like, ‘What position group depends on no other position group to be good, but every other position group depends on them to be good. What position group is that?’. Offensive line

“They’re not relying on any other position group to be good. They go out, yet every other position group relies on the offensive line to be good,” Harbaugh added.

The offensive line struggled last season, which led to several problems for quarterback Justin Herbert. Instead of helping him, the offensive line often became a burden. 

Several starters return from last season, including Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Jamaree Salyer, and Trey Pipkins III. The Chargers also acquired center Bradley Bozeman in free agency. 

Harbaugh believes the key for a strong offensive line is for the group to work together—as one. 

“I think they’re really good, I think they’re really willing and then just the mentality of that group, that’s like a fist, there’s five of them,” Harbaugh said. “There’s one, two, three, four, five, playing as one on that offensive line.

“Just can’t wait to get in the room, get in the weight room, get on the field and coach guys and be around them and build that group. Excited about that as well.”

Chargers OL Jamaree Salyer questionable to return vs. Chiefs

Jamaree Salyer exited the game with an eye injury.

Even Week 18 has not provided a safe harbor for the Chargers.

Starting guard Jamaree Salyer exited the game late in the first quarter with what the team called an eye injury. It’s unclear when the injury occurred, but such a designation suggests that Salyer was likely poked in the eye during a blocking assignment.

Salyer has started every game for the Chargers this season at right guard. He was replaced by Austen Pleasants, who was elevated from the practice squad for the game.

Film room: Breaking down Chargers’ dominant run game vs. Dolphins

Dissecting one of the best overall team rushing performances in team history.

While it may not have been the 1-0 start the Chargers were hoping for, Los Angeles had one of the best overall team rushing performances in team history. In fact, their 66.7% success rate is tied for the seventh-best rushing performance in the league over the past decade.

How did offensive coordinator Kellen Moore scheme it up?

Projecting Chargers’ offensive depth chart for Week 1 vs. Dolphins

Here’s how we project the Chargers depth chart to look for the start of the regular season.

The Chargers are just days away from their season opener against the Dolphins

The positions are set after finalizing their 53-man roster, but the team has yet to release the official depth chart.

So let’s dive into how the offensive side of the ball could shape up heading into the 2023 season, highlighting who is likely to start and serve as depth pieces behind them.

Quarterback

Starter Backup Reserve
QB Justin Herbert Easton Stick

The Chargers elected to roster two quarterbacks instead of three, as they have frequently done in the past.

Running back

Starter Backup Reserve Reserve
RB Austin Ekeler Joshua Kelley Isaiah Spiller Elijah Dotson

Kelley will get most of the carries behind Ekeler to start the season. He earned every bit of the backup job, flashing when he was on the field last year and during the summer. Spiller had a great training camp and preseason, too. He will be playing more snaps as the season progresses. Dotson will likely be an inactive player on game days.

Starter Backup
WR1 Keenan Allen Quentin Johnston
WR2 Mike Williams Derius Davis
WR3 Josh Palmer

Allen and Williams will be the top two receivers, while Palmer gets the majority of the snaps as the third receiver early on. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will draw up plays for Johnston to take advantage of yards-after-the-catch skills. Davis will primarily serve as the return specialist, with some gadget plays and to keep the defense honest with his speed here and there.

Tight end

Starter Backup Reserve Reserve
TE Gerald Everett Donald Parham Tre’ McKitty Stone Smartt

Nothing surprising here. Everett will be the featured tight end, with primarily receiving responsibilities. Parham is another option as a receiver and should have blocking duties, as he was one of the best in that department before dealing with his respective injuries. McKitty will strictly be a blocker, but he will need to show improvement in this area after underwhelming during the summer. Smartt will be a core special teamer, but he deserves offensive snaps after proving to be the best tight end during training camp and preseason.

Offensive line

Starter Backup Reserve
LT Rashawn Slater Foster Sarell
LG Zion Johnson Brenden Jaimes
C Corey Linsley Will Clapp
RG Jamaree Salyer Jordan McFadden
RT Trey Pipkins

The starting five have been set in stone for quite some time, so there aren’t any changes here. Sarell will be the primary swing tackle, meaning he will slide in at the left or right tackle should an injury occur to Slater or Pipkins. McFadden is the swing guard. Clapp is the swing center. Jaimes can play all interior spots.

Chargers OT Rashawn Slater ready to roll after season-ending injury

The Chargers will benefit immensely from the return of their star left tackle.

After one of the best rookie seasons by an offensive tackle, Rashawn Slater was set for a sensational sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, it was cut short by a torn biceps injury that he suffered in Week 3 against the Jaguars.

Slater missed 15 games in total, including the playoff.

Ten months later, fully healthy, Slater is ready to roll and return to his dominant ways. But now

“I definitely want to be like the best version of myself,” Slater said. “I think I’ve improved as a player since then, just in the way that I see the game and in my technique. I definitely think there was a lot to improve upon that year.

“I don’t anticipate taking any steps back, that’s for sure,” Slater added. “The nice thing about this is that it healed up really well, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Slater, the No. 13 overall selection of the 2021 NFL draft, allowed only 26 pressures and four sacks on 752 pass-block snaps while imposing will in the run game in Year 1. He was named a Pro Bowler and earned Second-Team All-Pro.

As Slater prepares to return to live-game action, he’s benefited from going up against the dynamic duo of edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in training camp as the team is now in pads.

“I take away a lot from those like. Joey and Khalil, they’re so smart in the way they play off of O-linemen,” Slater said. “Every training camp it’s like, if you have just one little mistake in your technique here, they’re going to find a way to exploit that. They really keep you honest.”

“The margin for error is so small, I think it really teaches you quickly what you’re doing wrong and what you need to fix because once they see something, it’s over,” Slater added. “They take advantage of it so well.”

Slater will be a key cog in what is arguably the most complete offensive line that the Chargers have had in many years.

Jamaree Salyer, who started in place of Slater last season, will be the starter at right guard, while Zion Johnson moves over to left guard. They also return center Corey Linsley and right tackle Trey Pipkins, who re-signed on a three-year deal.

Projecting the Chargers’ offensive line depth chart in 2023

Projecting the nine players to make up the offensive line room to open the 2023 season.

Over the next couple of weeks leading up to training camp, I will be breaking down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Next up, I project what the offensive line room will look like heading into the 2023 season.