Tag: JT Woods

Eagles sign defensive back JT Woods to the practice squad

Philadelphia Eagles sign defensive back JT Woods to the practice squad after placing James Bradberry on injured reserve

In the wake of James Bradberry’s tendon injury, the Eagles have added another defensive back to the roster.

The team announced the signing of JT Woods to the practice squad ahead of next Friday night’s season opener in Brazil against the Packers.

https://Twitter.com/Eagles/status/1829614335947124790

Woods (6-2, 193 pounds) was a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022 out of Baylor. Over his first two seasons, Woods played in 13 games (one start), logging eight tackles.  In his final season at Baylor, Woods tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions; Woods clocked in at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.36-second time in the 40-yard dash.

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5 thoughts on the Chargers’ initial 53-man roster

Here are five quick thoughts on the decisions the Chargers made to get to their initial roster for the 2024 season.

The Chargers announced their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.

This roster is subject to change as waiver wire claims are made on Wednesday and other players are moved around.

Here’s what we learned from Los Angeles’ initial 53-man roster:

Easton Stick is the backup…at least for now

After showing promise in the final few games of the 2023 season while Justin Herbert was on the injured reserve, Stick took a massive step back this summer. While Herbert was out of practice for a few weeks with the plantar fascia injury in his right foot, Stick struggled to engineer a productive offense in training camp, which then carried over to the preseason. If Herbert were to go down in the season, the Chargers would be in trouble with Stick under center based on his showing. That’s why I expect Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh to be active in calling teams looking to make a trade or sign an available one.

Seven wide receivers

I thought that Hortiz and Harbaugh would only keep six wideouts. However, they made the right decision by rewarding Brenden Rice and Simi Fehoko for their hard work this summer. Rice had an outstanding camp but was limited in preseason play due to the inefficient quarterback play. He showed not only route-running prowess but also high effort as a blocker. It was hard to keep Fehoko off the roster after a productive preseason. He finished with seven catches on nine targets for 170 yards. On top of that, Fehoko shined on special teams.

Donald Parham’s time is over

As much of a reliable target for Herbert over the past four seasons, Parham did not make the cut because he struggled to stay healthy consistently and still left much to be desired as a blocker, something Greg Roman wants from his tight ends. Stone Smartt made the roster after showing growth in the blocking department while managing to be an asset in the passing game. The Chargers would still benefit from another player in this position room, particularly a plus blocker.

Does not have the EDGE

I thought the Chargers would keep five edge rushers, with that spot going to Tre’Mon Morris-Brash. However, they elected to roster four players at the position. Morris-Brash showed proficiency as a pass rusher and capped off a sensational summer with a pick-six against the Cowboys. He should be a practice squad player. Chris Rumph II was making his case to earn a spot on the roster before suffering a foot injury against the Seahawks. He won’t play this year as he was placed on season-ending reserve.

11 defensive backs

I was under the assumption that the Chargers would only keep ten defensive backs, but they ultimately decided to start with 11. Rather than choosing between Tony Jefferson and JT Woods, the team kept both. Jefferson had a quiet summer until the final preseason game, where he played out of his mind, posting 14 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. He brings another veteran presence and experience to a fairly young defensive back room. Woods’ ability to play safety and cornerback and his signs of improvement, especially as a tackler, earned him a spot.

Chargers 53-man roster projection: Final prediction before cutdown day

Here’s one final guess at what the initial Chargers 53-man roster will look like.

Training camp and preseason play are over, so now the Chargers coaching staff will use them as their resources to get the roster from 91 players to 53 ahead of the 2024 regular season.

The team will have until 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday to make their cuts.

With that being said, here is our final projection of what we believe the initial roster will look like.

Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

Stick had the opportunity all summer to show he’s a serviceable backup, but he failed to do so. I believe he will make the initial roster, but Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh will see which quarterbacks are available once cuts are made and end up signing one and letting go of Stick.

Running back (4): Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson, Kimani Vidal

No changes from my last projection. Despite being a mainstay on special teams, Isaiah Spiller did not do much on the ground. Patterson was a summer standout. Vidal was productive upon returning from his injury, rushing for 49 yards on 11 carries against the Rams in Week 2.

Wide receiver (6): Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, D.J. Chark, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko

No changes. Fehoko capped off an impressive summer with a 78-yard touchdown against the Cowboys. Brenden Rice stood out in training camp, but the same thing can’t be said about his performances in the preseason, mainly due to the lackluster quarterback play. Rice is worthy of a spot. He is a sharp route runner who blocks his tail off. But I can’t see the Chargers rostering seven wideouts.

Tight end (3): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Stone Smartt

Sometimes the best ability is availability, and that does not apply to Donald Parham, who’s struggled to stay healthy. He has also not improved as a blocker, something the Chargers want from their tight ends. Meanwhile, Smartt has improved in this department. He will also make his money on special teams.

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins, Joe Alt, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Foster Sarell

No changes.

Edge rusher (5): Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Tre’Mon Morris-Brash

I have the Chargers starting the season with five edge rushers. Chris Rumph II would’ve been given the nod after having a great summer. Unfortunately, he is dealing with a foot injury and I believe he will begin the season on the injured reserve. Morris-Brash showed some real juice as a pass rusher in training camp and preseason. He capped off his summer with a pick-six against the Cowboys.

Interior defensive line (6): Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Teair Tart, Scott Matlock, Otito Ogbonnia, Justin Eboigbe

No changes. Eboigbe was practically nonexistent during camp and preseason. But the team used a fairly high draft pick on him, and playing defensive tackle in this league as a rookie is a learning curve so I believe he is safe.

Linebacker (5): Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Troy Dye

No changes.

Cornerback (6): Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart

No changes.

Safety (4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, JT Woods

Tony Jefferson had the best performance of the preseason against the Cowboys, finishing with 14 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. But I believe it was a little too late to warrant a roster spot. I expect him to land on the practice squad as he is not subject to waivers if he’s released. Finley played his way to being the third safety. Woods makes the squad, as he showed signs of improvement and intrigued as an outside cornerback, the position he transitioned to toward the end of the summer.

Specialists (3): K Cameron Dicker, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris

No changes.

JT Woods embracing position change as safety transitions to cornerback

JT Woods has the tools to excel as an outside cornerback.

The Chargers drafted JT Woods in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft in hopes of him being a play-making deep safety.

That did not materialize, however.

Now, Woods is taking on the cornerback position, with the new coaching staff hoping it will unlock his true potential.

“They wanted to try me out to see how I felt and how I looked,” Woods said about playing cornerback. “I felt pretty good.”

Woods moved to the position last week and has played there since then, including in last weekend’s preseason game against the Rams, where he logged 23 of 28 snaps at outside corner.

Since making the transition, he feels like it’s been smooth.

“Everyone in the organization has shown confidence in me with the position change,” Woods said. “So, I’m just trying to use each day to better myself and my craft.”

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and having run a 4.36 40-yard dash, Woods possesses elite traits as a defensive back.

“I think when you do stuff like that, it’s for multiple reasons,” Jesse Minter said on Woods’ profile. “It’s to increase his value and see if that’s a good fit for him. “I’m excited about how he’s developed as a man coverage guy.”

While he has the tools to excel at the position, honing in on the technical aspect of it is even more crucial.

“The technique is completely different,” Woods said. “It’s a whole different world out there. There are going to be plays where you’re on an island, but I’m confident I can handle it.”

If Woods can continue to stack up good days at cornerback, he could be a guy they count on this upcoming season.

“There are a multitude of ways we can use him down the road to help us,” Minter said.

Chargers 53-man roster projection: Who’s in, out ahead of final preseason game

Here’s how we see the Chargers’ roster shaping up ahead of the final preseason game.

The Chargers’ second preseason game against the Rams shed more light on some players and position battles.

Here’s an attempt at predicting the 53-man roster ahead of Los Angeles’ preseason finale against the Cowboys:

Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, QB via trade or sign

I have a hard time believing that the Chargers’ backup quarterback is currently on the roster. Despite performing well as a starter in the final few games of last season when Herbert landed on injured reserve with a finger injury, Easton Stick has struggled all summer. Luis Perez has flashed, but I don’t think he’s ready for the backup role. I see Los Angeles adding someone like Tyler Huntley, Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Taylor Heinicke.

Running back (4): Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson, Kimani Vidal

Nothing changes with the first three running backs from my last projection. Patterson has received most of the reps as the third back throughout the summer. I had Isaiah Spiller over Vidal after the first week of preseason, but that changed after Vidal led the team in rushing against the Rams. There’s no denying that Vidal is a talented player who could contribute in his rookie season.

Wide receiver (6): Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, D.J. Chark, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko

No changes to the first five wide receivers listed. But in this projection, I am giving the nod to Fehoko over Brenden Rice. Not only has Fehoko excelled on offense, as a pass-catcher and a blocker, but he’s also flourished on special teams.

Tight end (4): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Donald Parham Jr., Tucker Fisk

Parham has been back on the field after missing some time with an injury early in the summer and has shown what he brings to the table as a receiver. I have Fisk over Stone Smartt and the undrafted free agents Luke Benson and Zach Heins because he showed some real juice as a blocker against the Rams last weekend.

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins, Joe Alt, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Foster Sarell

No changes.

Edge rusher (4): Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree

In my last projection, Chris Rumph II made the roster as the fifth edge rusher. However, he suffered a foot injury in the preseason opener against and has been out since. I think he could end up on the injured reserve to start the season. Tre’Mon Morris-Brash has made his case to make the roster. But ultimately, I think he ends up being a practice squad candidate.

Defensive line (6): Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Teair Tart, Justin Eboigbe, Otito Ogbonnia, Scott Matlock

I had the Chargers rostering five defensive tackles before. But that changed when they signed Tart, who already flashed his playmaking skills this past weekend.

Linebacker (5): Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Troy Dye

No changes.

Cornerback (6): Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still

No changes.

Safety (4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, Thomas Harper

The fourth safety spot between Harper and JT Woods will be a tough decision for the coaching staff. You can make the case for both players. While Woods has shown improvement and is getting reps at outside cornerback, where I believe he is better suited, Harper has made plenty of plays on defense and special teams to warrant a spot.

Specialists (3): K Cameron Dicker, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris

No changes.

Chargers’ Raheem Layne out for season with torn ACL

The Chargers lost a key special teamer for the remainder of the season.

Chargers safety Raheem Layne suffered a torn ACL in the loss to the Cowboys on Monday night, head coach Brandon Staley confirmed.

“Raheem is one of our top special teams players,” Staley said. “This is a tough moment for him, but he’ll be back. He’s proven himself in two years that he can play in the league.”

Layne went down with the injury in the third quarter on a punt play and never returned to the game.

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana last year, Layne appeared in 11 games with one start, which came in Week 4 against the Raiders. He posted seven tackles.

While he did not play much defense, Layne was a core special teamer.

Chargers’ causes for concern vs. Raiders

Reasons why the Raiders could beat the Chargers in Week 4.

On Sunday, the Chargers face their first divisional opponent of the 2023 season, hosting the Raiders in a game that could tip the scales in either direction for LA. With the bye week to follow, Los Angeles needs a win to climb back to .500 before their week off.

Here are four reasons to be worried that they will be 1-3 instead.

5 takeaways from Chargers’ 23-12 win over 49ers

Here’s what stood out from the Chargers’ preseason finale of 2023.

The Chargers wrapped up their preseason on Friday night with a 23-12 win over the 49ers.

Los Angeles rushed for more yards against San Francisco (267) than they had in either of the last two preseasons in their entirety (208 and 227, respectively).

Here are the main takeaways from the Bolts’ performance.

Best photos from Chargers’ preseason loss to Saints

Here are some of the best pictures from the Chargers’ loss to the Saints.

The Chargers fell short in their second preseason game of 2023 to the Saints by the score of 22-17.

To relive some of the action, here are the top photos taken at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

PFF: Chargers’ top defensive players in preseason loss vs. Saints

Here are the top 10 Chargers defensive players and what their grades were in the preseason loss to the Saints.

The Chargers lost to the Saints in the second preseason game of 2023 on Sunday, 22-17.

Despite the loss, they still had some key contributors on defense. Here are the top players on that side of the ball, per Pro Football Focus.