Tag: Junior Colson

Chargers WR Ladd McConkey limited in practice on Wednesday

The stud rookie wide receiver’s status for Week 14 is up in the air.

All the attention is on wide receiver Ladd McConkey ahead of the Chargers’ Week 14 game against the Chiefs.

Despite finishing with a season-high nine catches for 117 yards, McConkey exited last Sunday’s win over the Falcons with a knee issue.

As Los Angeles began its preparation for Sunday Night Football, McConkey was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday. He’s also nursing a shoulder injury.

McConkey leads the Chargers with 58 receptions for 815 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Cornerback Cam Hart (ankle) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) were also limited. The Chargers opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Junior Colson (ankle).

Edge defender Bud Dupree (heel), safety Tony Jefferson (hamstring) and safety Elijah Molden (back) were other limited participants.

Linebacker Daiyan Henley (knee) and edge defender Khalil Mack (rest) did not practice.

Chargers place two on injured reserve

The Chargers made a few roster moves on Wednesday.

The Chargers announced on Wednesday that linebacker Junior Colson and wide receiver Simi Fehoko were placed on injured reserve.

In correspondence, WR Jalen Reagor was signed to the active roster. Reagor takes the spot of tight end Eric Tomlinson, who was released on Tuesday and signed to the practice squad today.

Additionally, LB Shaquille Quarterman was signed to the practice squad and TE McCallan Castles was released from the practice squad.

Reagor, who was signed by Los Angeles earlier this season, has appeared in three games and has caught four passes on five targets for 76 yards.

The Chargers have two open spots on the 53-man roster.

Chargers rookie report card at the quarter mark of the 2024 season

The Chargers’ rookie class has come with a mixed bag. The top two picks have been elite, but there’s been little production beyond them.

Joe Hortiz’s first draft with the Chargers has already produced mixed results. While the top two picks seem to be hits thus far, we’ve yet to see any significant production beyond those two.

The regular season is still early, and we will likely see more of those later-round players deeper into the year. Through four games, here are the grades for the rookies from the 2024 draft class.

OT Joe Alt: A-

Some pundits criticized the Chargers for not going after star playmaker with the fifth overall pick. While Malik Nabers has been playing at a high level, Alt has still proved to be a phenomenal pick. Coupled with Rashawn Slater, the Bolts have arguably the best offensive tackle duo in the NFL. The front office has done a tremendous job building this unit through the draft, and Alt seems to be the latest example. Alt is the highest-graded rookie offensive lineman and top 15 among all offensive tackles in the league.

WR Ladd McConkey: B+

The Chargers opted to wait until the second round to select a wideout. So far, McConkey has been quite solid. In an offense that has been the second-worst passing attack in the NFL, the rookie has been a bright spot. Looking ahead, he’s likely still more suited as a No. 2 option in the NFL, but nonetheless, he’s been better than expected.

LB Junior Colson: C-

Colson has played just 42 defensive snaps so far, so this grade feels more incomplete. The team’s depth at linebacker will allow him to learn and grow this season, which should only help him in the long term. In limited reps, he has shown some flashes in the run game.

DL Justin Eboigbe: Incomplete

It’s unfair to give him any sort of grade, as he has yet to appear on the field. He was active in Week 4, so his first career NFL snaps should be coming up.

Tarheeb Still: B-

Still was active for the first time in his career in Week 4 against the Chiefs. The rookie defensive back appeared in 42 (67.7%) defensive snaps in the loss to the division rival. While he provided a spark with a sack, Still allowed five receptions on the day. There’s plenty of room for improvement for him still, but he will have to see the field with the injuries in the cornerback room.

CB Cam Hart: C+

Hart has only played four defensive snaps, but he’s been a valuable member of the special teams. He’s appeared in 64 snaps there, so his grade gets a nice boost for those contributions. Still, we need to see more from him on defense for this grade to move at all.

RB Kimani Vidal: Incomplete

Similar to Eboigbe, Vidal hasn’t appeared in any snaps for the Chargers in 2024.

Chargers rule out three players for Week 4 vs. Chiefs, including Rashawn Slater

The Chargers will be without key players on both sides of the ball when they host the Chiefs this Sunday.

The Chargers held one last practice on Friday in preparation for their Week 4 game against the Chiefs.

Afterward, three players were ruled out ahead of the matchup.

Los Angeles has ruled out offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (pectoral), edge defender Joey Bosa (hip) and linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring) for Sunday’s game.

Additionally, quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle), tackle Joe Alt (knee), wide receiver Derius Davis (hamstring), and cornerbacks Kristian Fulton (knee), Deane Leonard (hamstring) and Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) are questionable.

With Slater sidelined, the Chargers could start Jamaree Salyer or Foster Sarell at left tackle. If Alt can’t go, Trey Pipkins could move from right guard to right tackle.

Regarding Herbert, who was a limited participant in practice all week, Harbaugh said he felt better today than he did last Friday.

Herbert was able to do 7-on-7 and participate in team drills. Harbaugh added that he was able to do more in practice this week than last week.

“Listed as questionable, we’ll see,” he said.

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.

Chargers defensive depth chart projection ahead of training camp

Our very early prediction for who will make the Chargers’ 53-man roster on the defensive side of the ball

The Chargers begin training camp in a couple of weeks to prepare for the start of the 2024 season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.

There, roster spots will be won and lost at The Bolt, the team’s brand-new training facility in El Segundo, CA.

That said, here is my very early prediction for who will make the 53-man roster on the defensive side of the ball.

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

Misses the cut: Chris Rumph II, Ty Shelby, Andrew Farmer,

Interior defensive line (5): Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Justin Eboigbe, Otito Ogbonnia, Chris Hinton

Misses the cut: CJ Okoye, Jerrod Clark

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

Misses the cut: Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Shane Lee

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

Misses the cut: Chris Wilcox, Matt Hankins

Safety (4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, Tony Jefferson, Akeem Dent

Misses the cut: AJ Finley, JT Woods

Projecting the Chargers’ linebacker depth chart in 2024

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers linebacker room will look like entering the 2024 season.

Over the next few weeks ahead of training camp, I will continue to break down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Offensive line

Edge rusher

Interior defensive line

Next, I project what the linebacker room will look like heading into the 2024 season.

Denzel Perryman

The Chargers needed a veteran presence in the linebacker room, so they signed Perryman. Perryman donned the powder blue and gold for the first six seasons of his career before playing with the Panthers, Raiders, and Texans. He has dealt with injuries throughout his NFL career, but when he is on the field, he provides the defense with a physical and hard-hitting presence when coming downhill.

Junior Colson

Jim Harbaugh got his guy in the third round of the draft. Colson was one of the leaders of Michigan’s defense last season. Now, given his talent and familiarity with Jesse Minter’s defense, he is expected to be the starting Mike linebacker. Colson is a rangy and explosive linebacker whose coverage skills are high-quality NFL traits. He has the speed to stay in phase with tight ends and running backs and is also effective in the run game.

Daiyan Henley

Henley was selected in the third round of last year’s draft. During his rookie campaign, Henley was primarily a special teamer. Heading into Year 2, he should push for playing time, as he offers reliability in coverage, something that Perryman isn’t equipped to do. The team likely envisions Henley starting alongside Colson.

Nick Niemann

While serving as a core special teamer, Niemann had the opportunity to start three games last season when former Chargers Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray were injured. He finished the year with 40 tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass defended and a fumble recovery. Niemann will make his money on special teams this season and can start in a pinch.

Troy Dye

Dye, a fourth-round pick of the 2020 NFL draft, spent the past four seasons with the Vikings. Dye reunites with Ryan Ficken, who was Minnesota’s assistant special teams coach (2020) and special teams coordinator (2021). With the Chargers, Dye will provide a special teams ace and depth at linebacker following the departures of Amen Ogbongbemiga and Tanner Muse.

Pair of Chargers land on projected 2024 NFL All-Rookie Team

The Chargers were represented on both sides of the football.

The Chargers stacked deck with their rookie class and selected a few players who should contribute early in their pro careers.

NFL Media’s Chad Reuter released his projections for the 2024 All-Rookie Team and named offensive tackle Joe Alt and linebacker Junior Colson.

Here is what Reuter had to say about Alt:

First-year Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz decided to bolster the offensive line instead of picking a receiver in April’s first round, so look for the team to run J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and rookie Kimani Vidal (whom I considered for this list) behind Alt. The move from left tackle to the right side should not be an issue for the son of former Pro Bowl lineman John Alt, as Joe Alt’s power, football IQ and agility will allow him to succeed.

Alt was selected with the No. 5 overall pick and will be the team’s starting right tackle. Despite never playing the position, he is a polished and physical lineman with great size/length, overall technique, and strength.

Alt’s services will benefit Justin Herbert, who has been one of the most pressured quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020. He will also improve the ground game, which hasn’t been efficient for over a decade.

Here is why Colson was recognized among the other top rookies:

It seemed like a given that Jim Harbaugh would draft at least one of his former Michigan standouts this year, so seeing Colson land with the Chargers was no surprise. He should be in the mix from Day 1, filling running lanes and chasing backs to the outside whether it’s a stretch play or a throw to the flat. I expect him to crack the 100-tackle mark this season.

Colson is a rangy and explosive linebacker whose coverage skills are high-quality NFL traits. He has the speed to stay in phase with tight ends and running backs and is also effective in the run game.

Colson will compete with Daiyan Henley to start next to Denzel Perryman, but given his familiarity with Jesse Minter’s defense, it would not be surprising and be productive in Year 1.

Highlights from Day 2 of Chargers mandatory minicamp

The Chargers wrapped up their second day of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, which saw standout performances from Justin Herbert and Tarheeb Still.

The Chargers wrapped up their second day of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday.

To experience some of the action that went down at Hoag Performance Center, here are a few clips from the team’s official Twitter account and members of the media.

Jim Harbaugh provides injury updates on Junior Colson and Donald Parham

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh provided some injury updates for a couple of players.

Jim Harbaugh provided some injury updates for a couple of players. Asked about attendance and participation, Harbaugh mentioned that some players are “working through something.”

In a follow-up question, rookie Junior Colson’s status was asked about. Colson left with trainers during OTAs and had been working off to the side when he returned, as opposed to full participation in team drills. Harbaugh confirmed he was “dealing with something physically” but would not give specifics. He followed that up by saying Colson was “back now,” presumably inferring he had been doing better since the injury.

Donald Parham was also asked about. Harbaugh kept it brief with a similar, vague answer: “working through something.” Asked about the nature of his injury, Harbaugh jokingly danced around the question by saying, “I try not to step in the HIPAA grey area.”

Harbaugh said he would give more detailed updates if the injuries resulted in “long-term” absences. But at this stage of the offseason, it doesn’t seem as though he believes Colson or Parham will be hampered in a way that affects later offseason activities like training camp.