Kyler Fackrell – Page 2 – Syndication Server

First injury report for Chargers ahead of matchup vs. Cowboys

The Chargers had six players who did not practice on Wednesday.

The Chargers had their first practice of the week in preparation for the Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys.

The first injury report of the week had a slew of players listed.

Safety Nasir Adderley, tackle Bryan Bulaga, edge defender Kyler Fackrell, cornerback Chris Harris Jr., safety Derwin James and defensive lineman Justin Jones were non-participants.

Adderley sustained a shoulder injury in Week 1, but it’s his groin that’s giving him issues. Bulaga, who’s dealing with a back issue, is currently day-to-day. James was out of a practice with a toe injury.

Defensive back Trey Marshall (ankle) was a limited participant after missing the season opener.

10 biggest stars of Chargers’ preseason

Highlighting 10 Chargers players who stood out during the three-game preseason slate.

The Chargers concluded their 2021 preseason with a loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night. They are now hard at work to determine the 53 players that will go into Week 1 of the regular season.

Quite a few players made their case for a starting spot, depth role or just the rights to remain on the team. Here’s a look at the 10 biggest stars from the past month of preseason action.

Kyler Fackrell signing paying dividends for Chargers

The Chargers appear to have a gem in Kyler Fackrell.

To add depth to the edge defender room, the Chargers signed Kyler Fackrell earlier this offseason.

Originally seen just as a rotational piece, Fackrell has solidified himself as an integral player at the position.

While Joey Bosa has been sidelined from the preseason action, Fackrell has taken advantage of his playing time – not only making an impact at rushing the passer but defending the run.

In two games, Fackrell has amassed six quarterback pressures, three hurries, two QB hits and a sack. In the run department, he has been disciplined and patient to stack the edge and cut off carries to the outside.

In five seasons in the league, Fackrell has 20.5 sacks, with his most productive season coming in 2018 when he had 10.5 sacks during his time with the Packers.

This summer, he and Uchenna Nwosu have been battling it out for the No. 2 spot opposite Bosa, and it’s been Fackrell who has proven himself as the more superior player.

Regardless of who wins the job, both players are expected to still play often during the season because of the many different packages in head coach Brandon Staley’s defense.

“I want to play as much as possible,” Fackrell said. “I know Uchenna and Joey are great players. It’s hard to go 100 percent playing every snap, but we will have a decent rotation. I will be looking to contribute any way I can.”

Chargers vs. 49ers: Takeaways from first half of preseason, Week 2

Highlighting the first half of the preseason battle between the Chargers and 49ers.

The Chargers currently lead the 49ers in the second preseason exhibition by the score of 10-8.

Here are a few quick takeaways from the first half of play:

Uneven performance for Easton Stick

Stick has the chance to show that he’s worth sticking around, but hasn’t done much. The majority of Stick’s completions were check downs to running backs Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree III. Stick looked to connect with tight end Stephen Anderson a few times but the two have only linked up once. These games are vital for the evaluation of the team’s wide receivers, but there was not much to go off of aside from a 39-yard completion to wide receiver Jalen Guyton.

Right place at the right time

The Chargers posted two interceptions and while they’ve been solely off of dropped passes by the wide receivers, it speaks to head coach Brandon Staley’s ability to put his defenders in a consistently optimal position to make plays on the football.

Signing Kyler Fackrell was a great move

Up to this point, there might not be another defender that’s been as consistent as Fackrell. Looking to solidify a role this season, Fackrell has looked the team’s second-best edge defender to Joey Bosa, with his ability to generate pressure on quarterbacks and set the edge in the run game. He has three quarterback hits and a sack.

Trey Pipkins has struggled

With the opportunity to prove himself as a reliable swing tackle, Pipkins has been unable to step up to the plate. He gave up a sack last weekend and allowed another one today to 49ers EDGE Jordan Willis. In addition, Pipkins was penalized for holding Willis.

K.J. Hill has not moved the needle as a return specialist

Finding a reliable return man is at the top of Los Angeles’ priority list, and Hill has not done anything to make his case. Starting the game as the first kick and punt returner, Hill only managed to pick up 18 yards on his kick return and three yards on his punt return.

Lots of beef in the backfield

We knew that Staley’s system would benefit a lot of players by allowing for more one-on-one matchups, but the interior part of the defensive line in particular has taken advantage of it. Cortez Broughton, Christian Covington, Breiden Fehoko and Joe Gaziano have all brought the juice in the pass rush department.

Chargers training camp: OT Rashawn Slater draws rave reviews

The Chargers first round draft pick lived up to his billing on the first day of full pads.

Monday marked the first day in full pads for the Chargers at training camp, which is also significant for the battles in the trenches.

With all eyes on both lines, rookie offensive tackle Rashawn Slater drew the majority of the attention and successfully lived up to his billing.

During one-on-ones, Slater went 4-0 against edge defenders Joey Bosa, Kyler Fackrell and Uchenna Nwosu on two occasions.

When Los Angeles went into 11-on-11, Slater lost a couple of reps but he still maintained a high level of play, appearing to be technically sound with his hands to keep rushers at bay and showing a high football IQ to pick up stunts.

Slater’s dominance in pass protection comes by no surprise. In his final year at Northwestern, he allowed zero sacks against elite competition against the likes of Chase Young (Football Team), Zack Baun (Saints), AJ Epenesa (Bills).

Following Monday’s session, head coach Brandon Staley lauded Slater, saying that “he’s a really fun player to coach,” and adding that he’s stayed after each practice to get extra work in with offensive line coach Frank Smith.

Even though one practice isn’t going to gauge how a player is going to pan out in this league, Slater dominating against premiere pass rushers is a good sign for what could be to come.

Chargers training camp: Uchenna Nwosu vs. Kyler Fackrell an underrated battle

As the Chargers are set to throw on the pads, this will be one of the more monitored position battles.

Heading into Chargers training camp, Uchenna Nwosu was the presumed starting edge defender opposite Joey Bosa. However, the job is not guaranteed for him.

Instead, Nwosu is in the midst of a battle for the spot with Kyler Fackrell, who has been playing with the first-team defense up to this point.

Nwosu has still been rotating in with the 1s, but the coaching staff believes that Fackrell is just as capable to man an expanded role.

Signed this offseason, Fackrell has primarily served as a rotational player in his career, but he has made the most of his opportunities.

Fackrell has 20.5 sacks in five seasons, with his most productive season coming in 2018 when he had 10.5 sacks during his time with the Packers.

Fackrell is long, flexible, savvy with his hands, rangy, and competitive, with the proven skillset as a run defender, pass-rusher and coverage backer.

“I saw a guy in Green Bay who was a sack monster. Then, you turn back and go to New York, and now you have a guy playing in coverage and picking the ball off,” defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said.

His experience and versatility are coveted by the coaches, and they believe he’s going to be a good piece for the defense.

Nwosu, on the other hand, is in the final year of his contract with his eyes set on breaking out after being misused and given limited snaps in former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s system.

Despite his snaps being under 40% in 45 career games, Nwosu has still totaled 10 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 59 quarterback pressures and 44 hurries, showing the upside to be a solid starter.

As the Bolts are set to practice in pads for the first time starting on Monday, this will be one of the more monitored position battles the rest of the way out.

“We’re gonna let those guys go and fight it out,” Hill said.

Hill added that no matter who comes out with the starting job, both players are expected to still play often during the season because of the many different packages.

Chargers EDGE Kyler Fackrell talks about decision to sign with Chargers

Chargers edge defender Kyler Fackrell explains his decision to play for Los Angeles.

To add depth to the edge defender room, the Chargers signed Kyler Fackrell back in March.

Fackrell brings plenty of experience to Los Angeles, having six seasons in the NFL under his belt, four with the Packers and one with the Giants.

The decision to make the move to the West Coast was primarily to play for the defensive-minded head coach Brandon Staley.

“It had a lot to do with coach Staley,” Fackrell said. “I know Corey (Linsley) and I’m very excited to be back on a team with Corey and Bryan Bulaga. I was there (in Green Bay) with Jared Cook, too.

Those are all great guys. But really, it was the conversation that I had with coach Staley and learning his passion for football and for defense and it was kind of the energy that he brings.”

Serving as a backup to Joey Bosa and Uchenna Nwosu, Fackrell is a guy that the team will be able to rely on.

Fackrell has 20.5 sacks in five seasons, with his most productive season coming in 2018 when he had 10.5 sacks with Green Bay.

This season, Fackrell will have the opportunity to match his personal best by playing in Staley’s system that will get the most out of him by putting him in one-on-one situations and favorable matchups.

“It’s gonna be great for me, for us as EDGE players, and for us on defense.”

Sleepers to watch at each position on defense in Chargers training camp

Identifying some under-the-radar defensive players who could generate some buzz at Chargers training camp.

Each year, there are a few players for the Chargers who fly under the radar who come to the forefront in training camp.

With that being said, let’s a look at some sleepers at each position on the defensive side of the ball you may want to keep an eye out on this summer.

IDL: Breiden Fehoko

Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones and Christian Covington are the presumed interior defensive linemen to make the 53-man roster. There is likely a fifth and final spot that will need to be filled, however. Last offseason, Fehoko was signed as an undrafted free agent out of LSU. Promoted from the practice squad, Fehoko was active for two games during the regular season. While he didn’t record any stats, he still showed flashes. Look for Fehoko to show off his strength and effort to make plays, as well as his infectious energy to be a highlight of camp.

EDGE: Kyler Fackrell

Starting edge defenders Joey Bosa and Uchenna Nwosu have stolen the majority of the headlines. But Fackrell, who was signed earlier this offseason, could be a valuable rotational defender. Since entering the league in 2016, Fackrell has wreaked havoc in opposing backfields. He has 20.5 sacks in five seasons. Fackrell is tall, long, and flexible with athletic range, closing burst and competitiveness to make plays when rushing the passer and defending the run.

LB: Kyzir White

Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill are slated to start in head coach Brandon Staley’s defense, but White should still see the field quite a bit. Last season, White started in 10 games in which he amassed 77 tackles, four tackles for loss and three passes defensed. This season, White has the versatility to be flexed in the slot (Star) and fill a sub-package safety-linebacker hybrid role (Money). His skillset should allow him to cover tight ends and support the run, which is what he did well coming out of college.

CB: Brandon Facyson

Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr. make up the starters, but Facyson is not to be forgotten. This spring, Facyson impressed the coaching staff, as he worked with the first team at outside corner when Harris Jr. would move in the slot. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds, Facyson is a long press-man coverage CB, which makes him an ideal scheme fit for Staley’s defense. Facyson is an unfinished product, but he has unlocked potential and it will be intriguing to see if he can put it all together under the new coaches.

S: Mark Webb

Drafted in the seventh-round, Webb’s physical mentality and tackling ability were highly coveted to serve as a key special teamer, but like I’ve said before, don’t be surprised to see him make an impact on defense early on in his career. His versatility, athleticism and traits in coverage and against the run will serve him well in the secondary, whether that be in the deep parts of the fields, as a dimebacker or lined up in the slot. Seeing how he’s utilized at camp is something I’m looking forward to.

Projecting the Chargers’ edge defender depth chart in 2021

The Los Angeles Chargers’ edge defender group is led by the imposing presence of Joey Bosa.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be breaking down the depth chart at each position for the Chargers.

Wide Receiver

Next up, I project what the edge defender room will look like heading into the 2021 season.

Starter: Joey Bosa

After becoming the highest paid edge defender in the NFL, Bosa showed why he was worth every penny. Despite missing four games due to various injuries, Bosa was a major contributor on the defensive side of the ball, as he logged 41 quarterback pressures, 27 hits and 7.5 sacks. He also came up clutch on multiple occasions against the run. The outcome was him being named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. This season, Bosa will be an integral piece of head coach Brandon Staley’s defense, where it’s expected that he will play on the edge of the line as an outside pass rusher, and a little bit closer to the ball as an interior defensive lineman because he has the length and strength to anchor, too.

Starter: Uchenna Nwosu

Since entering the league back in 2018, Nwosu had only been used as an off-ball strongside linebacker as well as a situational pass-rusher. Despite having a limited load, with his defensive snaps under 40% in 45 career games, Nwosu still totaled 10 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 59 quarterback pressures and 44 hurries. Now in a system that favors his skillset and under the guidance of Staley and outside linebackers coach Jay Rodgers, Nwosu could be in for his biggest season in 2021.

Backup: Kyler Fackrell

Fackrell was among the many additions earlier this offseason after spending last year with the Giants. He brings plenty of experience to the Chargers, having six seasons in the NFL under his belt, both as a starter and a rotational pass-rusher. Fackrell has 20.5 sacks in five seasons, with his most productive season coming in 2018 when he had 10.5 sacks with the Packers. This season, Fackrell will serve as a situational pass-rusher, barring any injury to Bosa or Nwosu. On top of that, he will be a special teams ace.

Backup: Chris Rumph II

Rumph II was drafted in the fourth-round of this year’s draft out of Duke. While he’s undersized for the position at 6-foot-5 and 234 pounds, Rumph demonstrated the ability to rush the passer at a high level. Similar to Leonard Floyd, who Staley coached last year with Rams, Rumph has an excellent feel for getting heat on the quarterback with pure athleticism, explosiveness, length and body flexibility. While the traits are there, he isn’t a true edge-setter due to lack of strength and bulk on his frame. Rumph will likely be a third-down pass-rusher and special teamer early on in his career while he continues to get stronger.

What is Chargers’ biggest red flag heading into 2021 season?

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named the Los Angeles Chargers’ biggest red flag entering the 2021 season.

After a handful of acquisitions this offseason, the Chargers’ roster looks to be in great shape ahead of the 2021 regular season.

However, is there a position group that Los Angeles failed to address that might be an issue when the fall comes around?

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes so.

When assessing each NFL team’s biggest red flag entering this upcoming season, Knox tabbed the pass rush for L.A.

Here’s a look at his explanation:

Getting to the opposing quarterback, however, could remain a problem for the Chargers. Los Angeles produced only 27 sacks in 2020 and did nothing to improve the pass rush in free agency—it also has yet to re-sign longtime starter Melvin Ingram III.

The Chargers didn’t take a pass-rusher in the draft until the fourth round, where they selected Duke’s Chris Rumph II.

Now, the Chargers do have one elite sack artist in Joey Bosa, who has 47.5 sacks in five pro seasons. On the other hand, they lack depth, as Bosa was the only Chargers defender to reach five sacks last season. It’s worth noting that Bosa and Ingram missed a combined 13 games in 2020, but there was nobody to pick up the slack.

Believe it or not, but the majority of the general population believes that one of the Chargers’ biggest losses this offseason was not re-signing Melvin Ingram. However, not keeping Ingram may end up paying dividends because it will lead to more playing time for Uchenna Nwosu.

Last season, Nwosu proved to be the team’s second best pass rusher behind Joey Bosa while Ingram missed time with an injury. With his defensive snaps being under 40% in 45 career games, Nwosu has still totaled 10 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 59 quarterback pressures and 44 hurries.

The starting tandem of Bosa and Nwosu should wreak havoc, and they should only benefit from being under Brandon Staley, who has worked with some of the league’s best edge defenders and he puts his players in the best position to win their perspective matchups.

Knox mentions that the edge defender depth is an issue, but the additions of Kyler Fackrell and Chris Rumph II, who will serve as situational pass-rushers, are sneakily good gets.

Fackrell has 20.5 sacks in five seasons, with his most productive season coming in 2018 when he had 10.5 sacks with Green Bay. At Duke, whenever he was on the field, one out five times Rumph was either hurrying, hitting, knocking down or sacking the quarterback.

In addition, the interior presence of Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery and Justin Jones should be able to generate pressure.

If anything, kicker is arguably one of the biggest red flags heading into the season. The special teams department was a mess last season, and there’s not a bonafide starter at the position.