Chargers Notes: Royal, Johnson, Freeney, Rivers
A win yesterday would have secured the Chargers the sixth seed in the AFC, but the team’s offense couldn’t get anything going against the Chiefs, losing the game and ceding that final playoff spot to the Ravens. That gives the Chargers an early and unwelcome head-start on their offseason. Here’s the latest out of San Diego:
- Chargers wide receiver Eddie Royal earned a $250K bonus yesterday by surpassing 700 receiving yards on the season, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter).
- Jarret Johnson‘s cap hit will jump from $3.5MM this year to $7.5MM in 2015, which raises some questions about his future with the Chargers. Even if San Diego decides to hang onto him, Johnson isn’t sure whether or not he’ll continue his playing career — the 33-year old tells Gehlken, “If I hung it up, I’ll hang it up happy” (Twitter link).
- Another Chargers linebacker, Dwight Freeney, also has an uncertain future, telling Gehlken that he’ll give it about a month before deciding on his next move (Twitter link). Freeney will turn 35 in February, and doesn’t have a contract yet for next season. If the veteran pass rusher decides to retire, he’ll have a future in television, says Gehlken.
- Philip Rivers is headed into the final year of his contract, and San Diego is expected to try to extend him this offseason. However, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the Chargers shouldn’t even bother if they don’t intend to also invest heavily in protecting their franchise quarterback.
Sunday Roundup: Houston, Rivers, Bears
Let’s take a look at some assorted links from around the league as Week 16 gets in gear:
- Although we already learned that there will be no NFL teams relocating to Los Angeles in 2015, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Raiders owner Mark Davis is expected to sign a one-year lease with O.Co Coliseum for the team to play there next season. As Tafur writes, Davis “did reiterate he is steadfast in his desire to keep the team in Oakland.”
- Adam Teicher of ESPN.com believes Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston is destined for the franchise tag.
- ESPN’s Chris Mortensen tweets that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who led his team to an improbable comeback win over the 49ers last night, is dealing with a bulging disk in his lower back that may require surgery after the season.
- Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune makes a case for Bears right guard Kyle Long to stay at guard rather than shifting to tackle in the future.
- Jay Glazer of Fox Sports writes that the Bears are yet another team that could show interest in 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that there were a number of cornerbacks promoted from the practice squad to the active roster last week, and that the Ravens tried to sign five of them before landing the Vikings‘ Chris Greenwood.
- The Packers devote 13.5% of their salary cap to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, writes CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. Of the six teams who devote more to the quarterback position, only one (the Steelers) currently have a winning record.
Injury Updates: Sunday
There were a number of notable injuries today, and PFR’s Dallas Robinson already updated us on some ailing NFC players (Max Unger, Trent Williams and Rafael Bush). Let’s check out the latest on others who were hurt today, as well as a notable NCAA player whose season ended yesterday…
- Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has bruised ribs with possible cartilage damage, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. However, the writer notes that there is no fracture or lung injury.
- Chargers nose tackle Ryan Carrethers dislocated his elbow on Sunday, tweets Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego. He is expected to play through the injury and shouldn’t miss a game.
- Colts tight end Dwayne Allen left Sunday’s game with the assistance of a cart, tweets Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Allen injured his right ankle and will miss the rest of the game, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com.
- Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw left Sunday night’s game in the fourth quarter, and Mike Chappell of RTV6 tweets that the running back will be taken for x-rays on his left ankle.
Earlier updates:
- Georgia running back Todd Gurley suffered a torn ACL in his first game back from suspension, according to Seth Emerson of Macon.com, and the writer notes that Gurley’s college career is likely finished. Regardless, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole tweets that “NFL folks” still believe the running back will be a first-round pick.
- Broncos tight end Julius Thomas suffered a sprained ankle in today’s game, according to NFL.com’ Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). He is set to have an MRI on Monday.
- Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will undergo an MRI on Monday to check out the seriousness of his right MCL injury, writes ESPN’s Ed Werder.
Chargers, Rivers Expected To Open Extension Talks After Season
Like the Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger, the Chargers aren’t expected to work out a new contract with Philip Rivers before the 2014 season, but the team figures to instigate talks with its quarterback after the season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora reports that San Diego is interested in keeping Rivers around beyond 2015, when his current deal expires, and would like to avoid having him play a lame-duck year without an extension in ’15.
With no deal expected until after the 2014 season, Rivers’ play this year could go a long way toward determining what kind of extension he eventually signs. After a solid but unspectacular 2012 campaign, the former fourth overall pick enjoyed perhaps the best season of his career in 2013, completing an NFL-best 69.5% of his passes while racking up 4,478 yards and 32 touchdowns to go along with just 11 interceptions.
If he can build off that success and continue to play well under Mike McCoy in ’14, Rivers should be in line for another lucrative deal, despite the fact that he’ll turn 34 before his current contract expires. With a handful of QBs around the league recently inking extensions, Rivers’ contract ($15.3MM per year) now ranks just outside the top 10 at the position when it comes to annual average value. Another solid year should earn him an extension in the neighborhood of the $18MM-per-year pacts signed by players like Tony Romo and Jay Cutler, though the Chargers may want to limit the years on that new deal, as Rivers enters his mid-30s.
Rivers will earn a base salary of $13.8MM in 2014 and $15.75MM in 2015, with cap hits of about $16.667MM and $17.417MM, respectively.