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Here are a few matchups to watch in Week 18.
The Chargers’ roster will go through a final audition on Sunday before the offseason begins, promising a complete overhaul of LA’s roster going into the 2024 season.
With a battle against the Chiefs’ backups on deck, here are a few matchups to watch in the contest.
The Chargers’ third-round pick sustained the injury in the preseason finale.
Chargers rookie linebacker Daiyan Henley is dealing with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Brandon Staley.
After Wednesday’s practice, in which Henley was a non-participant, Staley said that he sustained the injury in the preseason finale against the 49ers and would not offer a timetable for his return.
Before Henley’s injury was made known, Los Angeles claimed LB Tanner Muse. However, Staley said adding Muse was “unrelated” to his injury.
Henley, the team’s third-round pick, is coming off a stellar summer, earning Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded rookie linebacker from the preseason (81.9).
Henley is currently behind Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray on the depth chart. He is slated to be a core special teamer in Year 1, but Henley has flashed enough to get reps on defense in a pinch.
We will continue to update on the status of Henley once further information is released.
Nick Niemann will resume his role as a core special teamer.
Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.
Linebacker Nick Niemann is entering his third season as a Charger. Niemann hasn’t been a contributor on the defensive side of the ball, recording three total tackles in eight defensive snaps in 2022.
However, Niemann has been a key asset on special teams. He made the 2021 All-Rookie Team, and he logged 303 snaps in that department last season, which was the fourth most.
With Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray ahead of him on the depth chart, the only way Niemann sees the field on defense is if an injury were to occur. Instead, he will continue to be a core special teamer.
Contract (2023): $940,000 base salary, $53,502 prorated bonus, $993,502 cap hit.
Acquired: Niemann was selected by the Chargers with the 185th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Highlight:
Nick Niemann is going to be an important part of the Chargers. Even if the defensive snaps don't come in bulk this year – and he grasps that situation fully – he should continue to ball out on special teams, especially under new ST coordinator Ryan Ficken. pic.twitter.com/xa0aiaKTRx
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) July 17, 2022
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 rookie CB Ja'Sir Taylor with an excellent play on punt coverage.
Great release off the snap. Good downfield speed. Excellent open-field tackle.
It also helps when you have JK Scott averaging 5.12 seconds of hang time on his punts. pic.twitter.com/mxkmcpnCfl
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) September 13, 2022
Our Chargers’ NFL draft preview series continues with the linebacker position.
After taking a steady approach in free agency, signing just one external player in linebacker Eric Kendricks and re-signing a handful of their own, the Chargers now have their sights set on the draft where they will look to bolster their roster with their selections and make a deeper run in 2023.
Before, we’re going position by position to break down where Los Angeles stands entering the draft.
Next up is the linebacker group.
Catch the previous previews here:
Linebacker Eric Kendricks spoke to the media on Monday.
The Chargers made just one external free agent signing, adding linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Kendricks returned to California, where he was born and played college football at UCLA after spending the past eight seasons with the Vikings.
Kendricks, 31, spoke with the media for the first time on Tuesday as the offseason program began, and elaborated on why he decided to come home.
“Honestly, they’re a good team,” Kendricks said. “They’re contenders, they have a good quarterback, a great coaching staff. Just having conversations with Coach Staley, I think the first time we talked, we maybe talked for an hour and a half. It was 11 p.m. and I got to know his personality a lot.”
Kendricks reunites with new linebackers coach Jeff Howard, who replaced Michael Wilhoite in that role. Howard spent seven seasons on Minnesota’s defensive staff as an assistant from 2015 to 2019, which was Kendrick’s first five years with the team.
“I’m glad that I can fit into this program, into this system, but also, I don’t have to do too much as I come in. I can get to know the guys, get to know the leaders on the team, like Khalil, and things like that and just play my role.”
Kendricks is one of the more decorated veteran linebackers in this league. And Brandon Staley couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to add not only his play-making to the positional room but his experience and leadership to replace Drue Tranquill, who signed with the Chiefs.
“This is my ninth year in the league. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve done a lot. Hopefully, my experiences can help everybody else around me. Like I said, I’m not pushing for that. I’m just going to come in here, be myself and play the game that I love to play.”
Here is what the Chargers’ linebacker depth chart looks like following the addition of Eric Kendricks.
The Chargers signed Eric Kendricks to a two-year deal on Monday.
Here is what Los Angeles’ linebacker depth chart looks like following the addition of Kendricks.
| Position | Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| ILB | Eric Kendricks | Nick Niemann | Tyreek Maddox-Williams | |
| ILB | Kenneth Murray | Amen Ogbongmebiga | Damon Lloyd |
The signing of Kendricks indicates that Drue Tranquill is all but gone. Tranquill could be seeking $8-9 million, rightfully so, which is out of the Chargers’ price range. Kendricks has defended the run well throughout his career, which Los Angeles needs in the middle of their defense.
Murray, the former first-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie deal after the Chargers chose not to exercise his fifth-year option. Murray is a player who has struggled to live up to his draft status so far, which is why the Bolts chose to sign a player proven like Kendricks to help the room.
This past season, Niemann and Ogbongmebiga combined for nine total tackles and 22 defensive snaps. The two were key special teamers, a role they will predominantly hold again next season.
When looking at the group, it’s not the strongest and depth is needed. The Chargers could bring back Troy Reeder and turn to the draft to take one on Day 3. Someone like Tulane’s Dorian Williams, Auburn’s Owen Pappoe, TCU’s Dee Winters or Tennessee’s Jeremy Banks would be a good addition.
Here’s who showed up and who disappointed in the Chargers’ loss to the 49ers.
The Chargers fell to the 49ers on Sunday Night Football, dropping to 5-4 after a 22-16 loss. While the first half was an encouraging display, the second half brought disappointment and, ultimately, defeat.
Here’s who encouraged and who disappointed on Sunday.
Stud: Justin Herbert
I don’t care that Herbert threw the game-sealing interception, especially because his arm was hit by 49ers defensive lineman Charles Omenihu as he tried to throw the ball. The fact of the matter is that the face of the franchise built upon his momentum from last week and looked like the quarterback we’re used to seeing in powder blue. I counted no fewer than four spectacular throws in the first half to keep the ball moving downfield. And yes, that performance didn’t carry into the second half. But there are reasons for that, namely that the Chargers couldn’t keep their extra blockers in to chip San Francisco’s rushers as they got into more and more obvious passing situations. Bottom line: Herbert is on the right track, and his showing against one of the league’s best defenses is encouraging.
Dud: Bryce Callahan
Callahan has played well this season, and in fairness to him, this has more to do with how Chargers corners have played coverage this season than anything Callahan is doing in particular. In general, LA has played extremely soft coverage, especially in third-down situations. But of the three main corners (Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, and Callahan), the veteran has struggled the most to click and close on receivers to make stops in those situations, which today resulted in a few extra conversions the Chargers could not afford to give up. Callahan was also in position to make a big tackle for loss in the fourth quarter but got caught just enough by 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk to force him out of the play.
Stud: Khalil Mack
Mack is pushing the pocket and disrupting opponents’ timing even without anyone on the defensive line to help him out. Late in the third quarter, Mack came up with a crucial first down sack to put the 49ers behind the sticks, then followed it up with another pressure on 2nd and 20 to force an incompletion. Earlier in the quarter, the former All-Pro also got to the outside and erased a swing pass before it could get going. It was a microcosm of Mack’s season: elite play after elite play after elite play in the passing game. With his seventh sack of the year, he also climbed into the top ten of the league leaderboard.
Dud: Finishing ability
With 6:42 left in the second quarter, the Chargers led this game 13-3. Herbert and the offense were marching up and down the field while the defense was bending but not breaking, as San Francisco failed to convert. For the rest of the game, LA was outscored 19-3 by the 49ers, who found a rhythm running the ball and had Jimmy Garoppolo and Brandon Aiyuk make enough plays to keep the passing game moving. Even as Los Angeles got into advantageous positions, they couldn’t finish the drive: after Aiyuk fumbled in the first quarter, the Bolts went three and out before kicking a field goal. Later in the second quarter, after L.A. blocked a punt, the Chargers had a nine-play drive stall inside the ten and settled for another field goal. San Francisco simply played a better second half than Los ANgeles did on Sunday night, adding to the theme of the Chargers being unable to put teams away.
Stud: Chippers
Especially in the first half, L.A. seemed to have the answers for San Francisco’s pass rush, mostly around keeping both a tight end and running back in the formation to chip edge rushers and help Jamaree Salyer and Foster Sarell. As the game continued, the Chargers had to spread the formation out, leaving their tackles on an island and resulting in what felt like constant pressure on Herbert in the second half. That difference was palpable, and it speaks to the performance of Austin Ekeler, Isaiah Spiller, Gerald Everett, and Tre’ McKitty as those block and release players early on.
Dud: First down runs
We’ve spoken at length about Joe Lombardi’s creativity or lack thereof this season, but I’ve always been on his side as far as the run game scheme is concerned because there has at least been some semblance of new ideas in that department. Tonight, however, Lombardi dialed up a run on 8 of the Chargers’ 22 first downs, gaining an average of one yard with a long of two yards. To be fair to Lombardi, some of that does fall on personnel: it’s hard to run the ball effectively when you’re down to your backup left and right tackles going up against the best-run defense in the league. But all game, the Chargers could not generate any sort of momentum running the ball on first down, and it put them behind the sticks and forced Herbert to bail drives out with heroic plays on second and third and longs.
Stud: Special teams
If you’ve followed any of my work, you know I’m always the first one to give credit to special teams. The Chargers capitalized on an imperfect snap exchange between Taybor Pepper and Mitch Wishnowsky that resulted in the 49ers’ punter turning the ball over before kicking it, giving Nick Niemann time to block the kick and give the Chargers the ball on the San Francisco 46-yard line. Third-string kicker Cameron Dicker stayed perfect in his NFL career with three field goals and an extra point. I thought JK Scott could have been a bit better, and the kickoff return unit still needs tinkering, but by and large, the special teams unit continues to be the only one getting its job done for all 60 minutes week in and week out. Kudos to them.
Dud: Injury curses
It’s just ridiculous at this point. The Chargers have tried replacing their training staff. They’ve tried to implement carryover policies from Brandon Staley’s time with the Rams when they were one of the healthiest teams in the league. They’ve tried moving the entire team an hour and a half up the 5! Nothing works; this team attracts injuries like a wounded animal attracts vultures. Otito Ogbonnia, the rookie we were so excited about that we cut Jerry Tillery to give him more playing time? Couldn’t put any weight on his knee. Christian Covington, his replacement? Pectoral injury. Gerald Everett, Justin Herbert’s only target who hadn’t been injured yet? Groin problems. LA finished this game missing their RB2, WR1, WR2, WR4, TE1, TE2, LT1, RT1, DL2, DL4, DL5, EDGE1, EDGE3, CB1, K1, and K2. LB2 Kenneth Murray also missed time being evaluated for a concussion. Walk down the street tomorrow and see if anyone you know can name a Chargers player not named Austin Ekeler that hasn’t gotten injured this season. Spoiler: they can’t.
Chargers LB Kenneth Murray returned to the practice field after undergoing ankle surgery in April.
Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray faced plenty of adversity during his sophomore season.
Since training camp last year, Murray dealt with ankle issues. It worsened during practice before Los Angeles’ Week 4 Monday night game against the Raiders. As a result, he spent five weeks on the injured reserve and some time on the COVID-19/Reserve list.
When on the field, Murray struggled with missed tackles, over-pursuing ball carriers, and struggling to shed blocks and work off contact. He ended up experiencing a new position as an edge defender late in the season when the team was limited with players at the spot, and that was a challenge.
Murray had ankle surgery in early April and opened training camp on the physically unable to prepare (PUP) list. On Monday, it marked him being cleared to come off and his first day of practice since undergoing the procedure.
Murray acknowledged that all of the time in the rehab room by himself while his teammates got work on the field was difficult. All of Murray’s setbacks this past year are fuel to make an impact in 2022.
“I think everything happens for a reason,” Murray said. “Honestly, I truly do believe that everything that I’ve been through up to this point has been preparing me for this moment.”
The Chargers plan to ease him back into football shape, but Murray is confident that he will be ready to play for the season opener against the Raiders.
When he is ready to take the field in full capacity, Murray will start in base packages, while Drue Tranquill and Kyle Van Noy will start in nickel packages.
“He’s a very versatile player. He’s physical, has size and speed. Just really brings a lot more depth to that inside linebacker room,” Staley said on what Murray adds to the team. “He’s been in the NFL for two years now, so he’s acquired some experiences.”
Highlighting why Chargers LB Nick Niemann is someone to keep an eye on this preseason.
Looking at the 2021 Chargers draft class, there are a few obvious standouts. Rashawn Slater was a second-team All-Pro as a rookie at left tackle. Second-round pick Asante Samuel Jr. showed flashes at corner. Wide receiver Josh Palmer looks like a bona fide WR3 behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Yet when you look at the PFWA All-Rookie team from last season, it’s neither Samuel nor Palmer that joins Slater on the list. Instead, the second Chargers player on the list is sixth-round pick Nick Niemann, voted to the team as a special teamer.
Niemann, drafted to Los Angeles out of Iowa, may already be a standout special teamer. But there’s reason to believe he’ll also be a factor at linebacker this season. Listed on the second team behind Drue Tranquill at weakside linebacker, Niemann has a chance to show that he deserves a more significant role during this preseason. Tranquill likely won’t play much this preseason as an established player, especially with Kenneth Murray already on the shelf, which could put Niemann next in line for starting reps.
Brandon Staley’s defense habitually turns late draft picks and UDFAs into starting linebackers. Troy Reeder started seven games as a second-year UDFA out of Delaware for Staley in 2020. 4th round pick Kenny Young started six and fifth rounder Micah Kiser started 9. So there’s precedent for players like Niemann or former UDFA Amen Ogbongbemiga to make an impact in the Chargers’ defense.
With Murray, Tranquill, and Kyle Van Noy all having missed practices this training camp, there’s a possibility that Niemann is pressed into action at some point this season. Van Noy will also be taking some snaps at EDGE, which could open playing time if even one of Murray or Tranquill can’t go. Niemann is also a game-time decision later today against the Rams. But when he’s healthy, he’s an elite athlete with a well-rounded game that should aid him as a run defender and coverage player.
There’s another reason fans should get familiar with the name Nick Niemann this preseason: the future. Tranquill and Van Noy are free agents after the season, while Murray is entering arguably a make-or-break season after a disappointing first two campaigns. We’ve already seen the Chargers let a productive linebacker walk in free agency in favor of their younger homegrown options when Kyzir White left for Philadelphia. If Tranquill suffers a similar fate, it’s not out of the question that Niemann is in the mix to start next season.
Even if Niemann isn’t a defensive contributor this season or next, he will be the primary special teams standout under new coordinator Ryan Ficken. So, if nothing else, Chargers fans should learn his name to have it in mind when Pro Bowl voting rolls around.
