Brandon Staley‘s criticized decision to play his starters in a meaningless Week 18 game has produced consequences. The Chargers already ruled out Mike Williams for their wild-card game, despite Staley indicating early this week he expected the sixth-year receiver to play. It does not look like the impact wideout would be available in a second-round contest, should the Chargers defeat the Jaguars.
Further testing revealed Williams sustained a fracture in his back, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The injury is likely to sideline Williams for multiple weeks. Williams will not travel with the Chargers to Jacksonville. After Williams had not progressed as the Bolts expected this week, Pelissero reports (via Twitter) a rescan Friday morning revealed a transverse process fracture. A significant injury is not too surprising here, with Williams needing a cart to transport him to the visitor’s locker room last week.
Williams will not require surgery, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports, adding that he should likely be considered done for the season unless the Chargers make a surprising run to Super Bowl LVII. The X-ray on Williams’ back was negative, with Thiry adding the ensuing MRI was as well. MRI No. 2 ended up revealing the fracture.
This is a brutal blow to a Chargers team that perennially battles major injuries. Playing their starters well into the fourth quarter in Week 18, the Bolts did not beat the struggling Broncos and ended the season 10-7. They still secured the AFC’s No. 5 seed, but given that they were locked into that spot regardless of outcome, Staley received an avalanche of criticism. Friday’s news will mark another key chapter into the Bolts’ checkered recent history regarding injuries.
The Chargers re-signed Williams, 28, this offseason, doing well to lock down the former first-round pick before the receiver market exploded. He is attached to a three-year, $60MM deal, but the Clemson product does have a notable injury history — including back trouble. Williams missed the first five games of his Bolts career with a back injury. He suffered a herniated disk in 2017, keeping him out for months ahead of his rookie season.
While that was obviously a long time ago, Williams also missed four games this season due to a high ankle sprain. He returned to action against the Chiefs in November but aggravated the injury and left that game. Williams missed two games after that aggravation. His latest injury could be flashpoint in Staley’s Chargers tenure. Should the Bolts win Saturday, they will likely — with Lamar Jackson almost certainly out for the Ravens, giving the Bengals a clear path to Round 2 and a likely Buffalo trip — face the Chiefs for a third time. Now, it appears they would do so without Williams.
The Bolts are making their first playoff appearance since 2018 — Anthony Lynn‘s second season — and while Staley will receive credit for helping an injury-plagued team bounce back after a midseason swoon had it at 6-6, his seat has been somewhat warm due to the interest Sean Payton is believed to have in this job. Payton, who currently lives in Los Angeles, identified the Bolts job as a potential target months ago. Those rumors have not exactly quieted, Payton’s potential interest in the Broncos position notwithstanding. If the Chargers lose to the Jaguars after Staley played starters for most of a meaningless Denver matchup, his job should probably not be considered safe.
As for the Chargers’ receiving corps, Josh Palmer will be expected to play a bigger role against the Jags. Palmer and return man DeAndre Carter played frequently during Williams and Keenan Allen‘s extended absences this season. Palmer’s 769 receiving yards trailed only Williams (895) this season. Plenty will be on Allen’s shoulders in these playoffs.
Sean Payton smiles! What a dips**t move by the HC.
Even if you can defend Staleys decision to play his starters last week……how do you not wrap Williams of all people in bubble wrap and let him “get a cold” last week. Dude broke his $60mil receiver like Lenny tending the rabbits.
There is no legit defense for Staley’s decision to have his best players playing in that meaningless game. The defense Staley himself gave was so lame (“We only have 48 guys active for the game”) that it would be reason enough to fire him immediately after they lose to Jacksonville.
It’s amazing to me that Staley retains a job. First the 2021 final game now this. What an idiot. Herbert deserves better. Chargers will Charger.
Agree how many games has this clown cost the Chargers. He is the smartest man in the room just ask him
Wasn’t it him who went for it on 4th down (during the ’21 season) on like their own 17 yard line? I don’t remember if they made it, and it shouldn’t really matter. Unless it’s an end-of-game or last play of the half situation, that’s a stupid decision. I don’t care what analytic garbage anyone could come up with to defend it either.
Staley is the reason Herbert has been playing injured (ribs) all season
The decision to play some of these guys is a bad look. However, I’m more concerned that their perennial injury woes aren’t more of the story here. It is beyond just bad luck at this point. They kept the doctor that punctured Tyrod Taylor’s lungs and fortunately Herbert has turned out to be good, but addressing this should become a major priority for the Chargers.
I think there’s a 90% chance Staley gets the boot after the season. Besides the Vikings and Bucs this is the worst playoff team. Eckler is the one who carried the team on his shoulders this year and should get all the credit for making the playoffs.
Hindsight makes everyone an NFL head coach. If you’re trying to win and you have the support of staff, GM and ownership then you put a product that you think can accomplish that endeavor. I think the likely scenario might have been continuity, in that ‘winning is contagious’.
Regardless the team made the ‘dance’ and they can win with the players they’ve rostered. Yeah it’d be nice to have Mike and JC and Rashawn and Jalen but like an older mantra ‘you play the hand you’re dealt’!
Instead of questioning how about support the team no matter the roster.
To have played his starters and especially one with injuries through the year was a stupid move. The game was meaningless in seeding. The goal is to win the superbowl and the desicion he made to play starters as long as he did has hurt that chance.
Think it’d made a difference? Mike was jammed hard in the back needlessly on that play. Conditioning needs to be improved so these guys aren’t so fragile.
Could bosa have been held less on Saturday?
If I were Sean Payton or an in demand coach, I’d want the Chargers job over any of the other openings.
Ownership is too cheap. Would not be surprised if they shop Herbert to avoid paying 50 mil+