Tag: JK Scott

Game Balls: 5 standouts from Chargers’ blowout Week 8 victory over Saints

Rookie Ladd McConkey had the best game of his young career in the Chargers’ 18-point win in Week 8.

The Chargers’ roller coaster season continued on Sunday in a dominant 26-8 victory. Simply put, Jim Harbaugh’s squad took care of a depleted Saints team that has now lost six consecutive games.

Plenty of players stood out in the decisive victory that improved the Chargers to 4-3. With that, here are the five that shined above the rest on Sunday:

QB Justin Herbert

Once again, No. 10 delivered an outstanding performance. In two games since the bye now, Herbert has thrown for 628 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over. He’s now put together his two best performances of the season in consecutive weeks, and it’s clear that the bye week helped him get healthy. Herbert even ran for 49 yards on Sunday, his most in a game since Week 10 of last season. With him healthy, this team suddenly has a much higher ceiling.

WR Ladd McConkey

There’s no doubt as to who the star of the game was. McConkey racked up career bests in catches (6), receiving yards (111), and touchdowns (2). The former Georgia product continues to stand out as Los Angeles’ best wideout, and he continues to get better each and every week. In seven career games, he now has 376 receiving yards.

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu

It was a rough Week 7 performance for Tuipulotu, but he responded in a big way this weekend. He racked up his first sack of the season in addition to a tackle for loss and pass deflection. Not only was he exceptional as a pass rusher, but he contributed quite well in the run game as well.

CB Ja’Sir Taylor

The Chargers’ cornerback room has been banged up this season, but several guys have stepped up. Taylor was just the latest example of this in Week 8, as he was the Chargers’ best cornerback without a doubt. The 2022 sixth-rounder was exceptional in coverage all day, which included two pass breakups.

P J.K. Scott

Special teams don’t get recognized enough, and Scott was massive in this game. On six attempts, Scott averaged over 57 yards per punt, which included a long of 67 yards. He had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line, and it allowed the Chargers to control field position on Sunday.

4 matchups to watch in Chargers vs. Broncos

Here are a few matchups to keep an eye on in the game.

The Chargers’ extended audition for 2024 continues on Sunday with a matchup against the Broncos, a team that has only recently entered the “looking ahead to next year” tier.

Here are a few matchups to keep an eye on in the game.

Chargers 2023 roster review: Punter JK Scott

JK Scott was a key piece of the Chargers special teams last season.

Training camp is nearing, and with a few more weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

As the Chargers looked to shore up their special teams last offseason, they signed punter JK Scott, who began his career with the Packers and spent a season with the Jaguars before landing in Los Angeles.

With his monstrous leg, Scott averaged 43.6 yards on 73 punts with a 41.1-yard net average. Only 19 of his punts were returned in 2022, and Los Angeles yielded the fewest punt-return yards in the NFL with 58.

Additionally, Scott won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award for his performance in the Bolts’ 25-24 victory over the Cardinals on Nov. 27.

In March, Scott signed a two-year, $4 million contract.

Contract (2023): Scott signed a 2-year, $4,000,000 contract, including a $820,000 signing bonus, $820,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,000,000. In 2023, he will earn a base salary of $1,080,000 and a signing bonus of $820,000 while carrying a cap hit of $1,490,000 and a dead cap value of $820,000.

Acquired: The Chargers signed Scott on Mar. 21, 2022.

Quote: Special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken on Scott:

“I was very excited [for him to come back]. I think the whole organization was, too. We’re very fortunate to be able to bring him back, have the organization support him. He believes in the organization, too. We feel he had a really good year, but he complemented our unit and what we were trying to achieve as a unit. You saw the success that we were able to have.”

Highlight:

Chargers re-sign punter JK Scott

A key member of the Chargers’ special teams will return in 2023.

A key member of the Chargers’ special teams will return in 2023.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday that Los Angeles had come to terms with punter JK Scott on a new contract. The deal is worth $4 million over the next two seasons and ensures that the Chargers maintain continuity on special teams. Long snapper Josh Harris and kicker Dustin Hopkins remain under contract and kicker Cameron Dicker was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent.

After spending 2021 mostly out of football before joining the Jaguars late in the season, Scott signed with the Chargers under the recommendation of new special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken. He immediately turned around what had been one of the worst punting units in the league. The Chargers allowed just 66 punt return yards all season with Scott at the helm after allowing 323 in 2021 with Ty Long at punter.

While Scott doesn’t kick the ball far, as evidenced by his paltry 43.6 yards per punt, he kicks it high and prevents returns. Now, he’ll continue to flip the field for the Chargers.

4 pending free agents Chargers must prioritize re-signing

The Chargers have 15 pending free agents heading into the offseason.

The 2023 free agency period on the NFL calendar begins on March 15, but it will be before you know it. The Chargers have 15 pending free agents heading into the offseason.

General manager Tom Telesco will have to be selective when deciding who’s worthy of being brought back next season since the team does not have a lot of spendings this go around.

Los Angeles is projected to be $19.4 million over the salary cap in 2023, the fifth-worst situation in the NFL. However, they could free up some of that with internal moves.

With that, here’s a look at the top priorities based on their play from this past season when Los Angeles begins that process.

List of Chargers’ 2023 unrestricted free agents

A look at the Los Angeles Chargers’ pending 2023 unrestricted free agents.

Sitting at 10-6, the Chargers are heading to the playoffs. But even like the regular season, the playoffs will zoom by, and the offseason will be here before you know it.

With that, a handful of internal players are set to become unrestricted free agents. General manager Tom Telesco and company will have to start thinking about who is worthy of returning.

Here’s a look at the 15 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the beginning of the 2023 league year.

Chargers’ Thursday injury report ahead of Week 11 matchup with Chiefs

For the second consecutive day, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen were limited participants.

The Chargers had their second practice ahead of the primetime showdown with the Chiefs on Sunday night.

For the second consecutive day, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen were limited participants. On Thursday, there was a new development on their return to the field.

Both players ran routes. That was not the case on Wednesday.

Along with Allen and Williams, Gerald Everett (groin), Trey Pipkins (knee) and Chris Rumph (knee) were listed as limited.

JK Scott did not practice for the second straight day due to an illness.

The Chargers will have one more practice on Friday.

Chargers show why not to underestimate importance of special teams

The Chargers special teams units pushed them to victory over the Broncos.

In what was considered the most exciting yet boring game of the week, the Chargers didn’t beat the Broncos with their offense. Their defense? Yes, in the second half. However, their special teams play through all four quarters ultimately pushed them to victory.

Dustin Hopkins battled a hamstring injury to make four field goals, including the tying one in the fourth quarter and the winner in overtime. Hopkins, who missed last week’s win over the Browns with a quad injury, tweaked his hamstring on a PAT attempt in the second quarter.

Instead of being sidelined, Hopkins knew the game’s trajectory, and how Denver was stifling Los Angeles from finding the end zone, so he pushed through the pain to connect his field goals from 37, 31, 35, and 39 yards outs.

To take some of the pressure off of Hopkins’ leg, punter JK Scott handled the kickoff duties. His five kickoffs all went for touchbacks.

But arguably, the play of the game was made by two rookies, sixth-rounders Ja’Sir Taylor and Deane Leonard. Taylor lined up as a gunner on the outside as the Chargers punted the ball with the score tied at 16 apiece with under five minutes left in overtime.

Taylor beat his man on the outside, sprinting toward punt returner Montrell Washington, who was calling for a fair catch. As he got to Washington, safety P.J. Locke stood between himself and Taylor. Taylor pushed Locke into Washington right before he could make the fair catch.

The block knocked Locke into Washington, and he fell to the ground, unable to haul in the hanging punt from Scott. The football deflected off of Washington, and Leonard was there to recover the ball at Denver’s 29. That led to Hopkins, the hurt hero, making the game-winner.

After years of having special teams be the reason for some of their losses, the Bolts finally found a way to flip the script.

This speaks to Brandon Staley’s moves in this department by signing Hopkins halfway through last season, hiring special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken, adding All-Pro long snapper Josh Harris and Scott via free agency, and drafting and developing contributors on coverage units.

As the saying goes, defense wins championships.

However, if the offense stalls, like it did yesterday, special teams play can and will impact the final score of the game.

Studs and duds from Chargers’ Week 1 victory over Raiders

Here’s who showed out and who was quiet in the Chargers’ season opener against the Raiders.

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The Chargers started their season 1-0 after defeating the rival Raiders 24-19 on Sunday.

While the team performed well, overall, there are always places for the team to improve.

Here’s who showed out and who was quiet in the season opener.

Stud: Asante Samuel Jr.

Yes, Davante Adams finished with ten receptions for 141 yards and put Samuel in a blender more than a few times. But Samuel also seemed to regain his swagger in this one, with a few key pass breakups on the sideline as well as an interception deep down the field. The second-year corner wasn’t afraid to get into it with Adams, either, as the two jawed with one another early and often. With the CB2 spot still up for grabs once JC Jackson returns from ankle surgery, Samuel’s performance and confident demeanor this week could keep him on the field.

Dud: Mike Williams

Williams was largely shut down in this one, only hauling in 2 passes for 10 yards, both of which came in the fourth quarter. It was a peculiar lack of usage for the big-money receiver, especially after Keenan Allen left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Perhaps Justin Herbert just didn’t look his way, certainly, a possibility considering that nine different receivers had receptions and 11 total were targeted. Still, the lack of established talent in the Raiders’ secondary seemed to make for a good matchup for Williams. It’ll be an interesting exercise later this week to review the tape and see what was going on with him.

Stud: DeAndre Carter

For as underwhelming as Williams was, Carter was just as far above expectations. LA’s presumptive WR4 finished second on the team in receiving yards with 64, including a 30-yard strike on a beautiful Herbert throw and a touchdown just before halftime on which he split the Raiders safeties. Carter added a new vertical dimension to the Chargers’ offense, and Herbert largely had the time to move through his reads and find him downfield. With Allen potentially out multiple weeks with his injury, Carter’s role could continue to expand.

Dud: Matt Feiler

Feiler had an up-and-down game, so maybe it’s a bit harsh to call him a dud. But early on, he seemed to be the one getting beat the most by Raiders defenders, not rookie right guard Zion Johnson or right tackle Trey Pipkins. Feiler did rebound with a few nice run-blocking reps, particularly in the third quarter when he sprung Joshua Kelley for a few big gains. But he false started in the fourth quarter and overall didn’t quite look like the rock-solid player from last season. There’s still plenty of time for Feiler to rebound, and his down performance this week didn’t lead to any painful consequences.

Stud: The veteran additions

Edge defender Khalil Mack had three sacks, including a strip sack on 4th-and-8 that all but sealed the game for the Chargers. Tight end Gerald Everett followed through on the offseason hype with three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. Slot corner Bryce Callahan locked up Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow all game and baited Derek Carr into a fourth-quarter interception. Austin Johnson led the way for a few run stops in the first half while the Chargers stymied Josh Jacobs. Overall, it looked like an incredibly successful free agent class (and trade acquisition, in the case of Mack) from general manager Tom Telesco in Week 1.

Dud: Michael Davis

Davis struggled much more than Samuel did when matched up with Davante Adams and overall had a much quieter game, save for the fourth quarter when Davis committed a pass interference penalty that gave the Raiders a second attempt on their fourth-quarter two-point conversion try. After such a strong training camp, I expected Davis to come out and take the CB2 job behind JC Jackson, especially after he seemed to win it from Samuel during the preseason. Instead, it looks like he’ll be the one starting out with a rotational role while Samuel takes starting reps opposite LA’s big-money corner.

Stud: JK Scott

I wrote in one of my preview pieces this week that special teams always concern me when it comes to the Raiders, but Scott was phenomenal. At least two of his four punts had a hangtime of over 5 seconds, a key factor in consistently pinning the Raiders deep in their own territory. For reference, 2021 punter Ty Long averaged 4.2 seconds of hangtime per punt last season, 18th among punters with at least 40 tries. Scott’s first-half boot that downed the Raiders inside their own five was arguably prettier than any punt a Charger not named Mike Scifres has thrown down in my lifetime.

Dud: Austin Ekeler

Credit the Raiders for a good gameplan, but Ekeler took 18 touches for only 72 yards and was shut out of the end zone for the first time since December 2020 against the Raiders. His 2.6 yards per carry was the worst he’s had in a game since Week 12 last year when he averaged 2.58 on 12 carries against the Broncos. There’s no reason to be concerned about Ekeler’s long-term outlook, of course, but it was a tad bit concerning from a game management perspective that the running game was largely unable to salt the game away in the fourth quarter. Hopefully, Ekeler is granted more opportunity on Thursday against a Chiefs team that allowed 103 rushing yards in a 44-21 victory over the Cardinals.

Ex-Alabama punter JK Scott inks deal with the Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers have themselves a solid boot from the leg of JK Scott

Former Crimson Tide punter JK Scott has found a new home in the National Football League after seeing playing time in just one contest this past season for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Los Angeles Chargers signed the punter to a contract, the team announced today, though the terms aren’t yet available to the public.

Scott began his NFL career as a Green Bay Packer. He was drafted by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and was signed to a four-year, $2.7 million deal.

In 49 career regular-season games, Scott punted 198 times and posted a 44.5-yard gross punting average. He has also registered 63 punts pinned inside the 20 and a 38.8-yard net average. Scott appeared in all 16 games in each of his three seasons (2018-20) with the Packers and saw action in one game last year with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Scott posted a 45.5-yard gross punting average in his last season for the Packers, good for the second-best mark in a single season in team history. As a rookie, he became the first punter in Green Bay history to register a punt of at least 58 yards in each of his first three NFL games. The Alabama product played in four postseason games for the Packers, punting 13 times and averaging 43.6 yards per punt (40.1 net avg.).

While punting for the Crimson Tide from 2014-17, Scott was pivotal in changing field position for the Crimson Tide. Over his college career, he averaged 45.6 yards per punt and assumed kickoff duties during his senior season.

Scott is the all-time UA record holder for career punting yards with 11,074 and attempts at 243 and also holds the Alabama record for career punting average at 45.6 yards per punt. He was selected as a First Team All-SEC honoree from the coaches while being named to the conference’s second team by the Associated Press.

Only five punts off the boot of Scott were returned for 36 yards during his senior year, with two of the five returns going for no gain. He dropped 27 of his 54 punts inside the 20-yard line, with only four touchbacks.

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