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Los Angeles Chargers News & Rumors

Chargers’ Melvin Ingram To Miss Games

September 30th, 2019 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another high-profile Charger will be out due to injury. Melvin Ingram suffered a pulled hamstring Sunday against the Dolphins, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (via Twitter) the veteran defensive end is expected to miss time — probably more than one game.

Ingram joins a lengthy list, even for what’s been an injury-prone team as of late, of ailing Chargers. This stands to strip the Bolts of one of their top defenders, with Ingram and Joey Bosa forming one of the NFL’s premier edge-rushing tandems.

The Chargers have defensive backs Derwin James, Adrian Phillips and Trevor Williams on IR. Wideouts Mike Williams and Travis Benjamin missed Sunday’s game. Hunter Henry is without a return timetable, and Russell Okung is on the Bolts’ reserve/NFI list. The Bolts have not had kicker Michael Badgley this season yet, either.

Los Angeles has deployed Ingram as a key edge piece since selecting him in the 2012 first round. He’s posted two double-digit sack seasons and has one this year. For much of last season, Ingram operated without Bosa. Now, the Bolts will see that scenario flip. They do catch a bit of an apparent schedule break while dealing with these myriad maladies, though. Their next two games are home tilts against the winless Broncos and Steelers.

Chargers TE Sean Culkin Tears Achilles

September 29th, 2019 at 6:02pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Chargers’ depth took yet another blow during their win over the Dolphins on Sunday. After the game, head coach Anthony Lynn announced that tight end Sean Culkin had torn his Achilles.

Obviously, he’ll miss the rest of the season. Due to injuries Culkin had been thrust into a pretty big role, playing 58 percent of the team’s offensive snaps last week against Houston. He had one catch for 12 yards against the Dolphins before going down. Culkin originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri back in 2017. With Culkin out for the year, the Chargers’ tight ends room is now extremely thin.

Starter Hunter Henry is still at least a couple of weeks away with his knee injury, and normal backup Virgil Green missed the Miami game with a groin injury. Los Angeles recently signed veteran Lance Kendricks, and he’s now the only healthy tight end on the roster. Naturally, people will start buzzing about Antonio Gates, but the Chargers have resisted any talk of a reunion up to this point.

Chargers Reduced Melvin Gordon’s Fines

September 28th, 2019 at 6:26pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Melvin Gordon is officially back with the Chargers. Not only has he reported to the team and ended his holdout, but he’s been activated and appears set to suit up and play in Week 4 against the Dolphins. However, contrary to earlier reports, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Gordon will only play in an emergency, which means Chargers fans may need to wait until next week to see him in action.

Gordon recently addressed the media for the first time, and revealed some interesting information. For starters, Gordon said that Los Angeles cut his fines in half to help entice him to report, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Gordon didn’t seem to be too peeved that he still had to pay some fines, and struck a conciliatory tone. “It comes with consequences siting out,” Gordon said. “To think the fines would be completely washed away, I knew if I got in this situation, it wouldn’t be. You do something against the rules, you pay the consequences.”

In a separate tweet, Williams notes that Gordon said he is retaining his same agent Fletcher Smith and Damarius Bilbo despite the tumultuous times. Gordon also revealed that his agents didn’t play any role in his holdout, and that they wanted him to report. “I was the reason I didn’t come in,” Gordon said. “They wanted me to come in, and I was like, ‘No.’”

The Chargers have limped to a 1-2 record, although the backfield hasn’t really been the problem so far. Head coach Anthony Lynn has said that Gordon will resume his normal featured role when he’s back in game-shape, and that current starter Austin Ekeler will go back to being the change-of-pace back.

Chargers Activate Melvin Gordon

September 28th, 2019 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Melvin Gordon looking likelier to make his debut earlier than expected, the Chargers took the official step by activating him in advance of their Week 4 game against the Dolphins.

The team announced the activation, along with the promotion of wide receiver Andre Patton from their practice squad. The Bolts waived cornerback Dontae Johnson and defensive end Chris Peace to make room on the 53-man roster.

Los Angeles’ initial Gordon plan was for a Week 5 debut, but with Justin Jackson out with a calf injury, Gordon is expected to play in a limited capacity. This is indeed the plan, per USA Today’s Mike Jones (on Twitter). The Bolts pulled a contract offer off the table and said they would not negotiate with Gordon until after the season, which stands to push the two-time Pro Bowler to free agency. But for now, the fifth-year running back will be positioned to help his team move to .500 and re-route its season.

Gordon will team with Austin Ekeler against the woeful Dolphins, who are 14.5-point home underdogs. This duo combined for more than 2,300 scrimmage yards last season. Anthony Lynn confirmed Gordon will return to his starting role soon, but on Sunday, the Chargers will likely keep Ekeler in the lead role.

Injury Roundup: Hilton, Lions, Bolts, Rams

September 27th, 2019 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

It’s looking like the Colts‘ passing attack will have to operate without its top weapon Sunday. T.Y. Hilton drew a doubtful designation on Indianapolis’ Friday injury report. He did not practice all week. The eighth-year wideout left the Colts’ Week 3 win with a quadriceps injury, and although the Raiders enter Week 4 ranked 30th in pass defense DVOA, the Colts went 0-2 without Hilton last season. They are already down previous starter Devin Funchess, who sits on IR. The Colts also ruled Darius Leonard out for a second straight week. The All-Pro linebacker remains in concussion protocol.

Here is the latest from the Week 4 injury front:

  • Matthew Stafford popped up on the Lions‘ injury report Friday; he’s listed as questionable with a hip malady. While Stafford should be expected to play, given that he’s played through injuries in recent years and holds the league’s third-longest active start streak among QBs with 131, this is a less-than-ideal scenario going into a key inter-conference matchup with the Chiefs. Rookie UDFA David Blough has been Stafford’s backup this season, though Jeff Driskel is now on Detroit’s 53-man roster.
  • That matchup will not include Chiefs starting running back Damien Williams, who will miss a second straight game with a knee ailment. LeSean McCoy put together two full practices this week and will likely team up with Darrel Williams, as he did last week, in Detroit.
  • Good news for the Rams‘ offense. Sean McVay said both Austin Blythe and Tyler Higbee will be available against the Buccaneers on Sunday, per Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Blythe missed Los Angeles’ Week 3 game with a sprained ankle, while Higbee has been sidelined with a lung contusion.
  • Another Chargers game will unfold without their primary kicker option. The Bolts ruled out Michael Badgley for a fourth straight contest. Punter Ty Long‘s multipurpose afternoons will continue. Long made both of his field goal tries last week after missing two in Week 2.
  • Additionally for the Bolts, they will be without Mike Williams. He’s been declared out with a back injury. Travis Benjamin will head to Miami as doubtful to play, meaning Dontrelle Inman and Geremy Davis stand as the Chargers’ only two healthy auxiliary wideouts. This marks Williams’ second injury of the season. A knee problem plagued the third-year target earlier this month but did not force him to miss any time.
  • The Vikings‘ No. 2-ranked rushing attack will be tested in Chicago this week, and right guard starter Josh Kline will not play a part in the NFC North contest. The free agent acquisition will miss Sunday’s game with a concussion that kept him out of practice this week. This will end Kline’s 49-start streak. Veteran Dakota Dozier will start, per Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Dozier has started eight games in his six-season career, which included a Week 2 start in place of Pat Elflein.

Melvin Gordon Week 4 Debut Possible

September 27th, 2019 at 2:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

After initially being slated to return to game action in Week 5, Melvin Gordon could get a head-start. The Chargers’ injury situation may move their back-in-the-fold Pro Bowler into action Sunday in Miami.

Anthony Lynn said Gordon could play in a limited capacity against the Dolphins, Eric Williams of ESPN.com tweets. This comes after the 26-year-old back ended his holdout Wednesday. Gordon, however, was to be held out for a week.

Justin Jackson is out with a strained calf, leaving Austin Ekeler and Troymaine Pope as the only running backs currently on Los Angeles’ 53-man roster. Gordon will need to be activated by the Saturday-afternoon deadline in order to play, but the Bolts will do so, it appears. The two-time Pro Bowl back will travel with the team to Miami.

Lynn said earlier this week Gordon will reclaim his starting job upon returning. That would stand to be the case in Week 5, likely with Ekeler retaining a major role in the Bolts’ offense, but the duo’s roles could be reverse in this in-case-of-emergency situation Sunday.

Gordon finished last season with 1,375 yards from scrimmage in 12 games. He will be a major boost to a Chargers team that’s dropped to 1-2.

Chargers Notes: Gordon, Okung

September 26th, 2019 at 7:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Now that he’s back with the Chargers, running back Melvin Gordon will instantly vault to the top of the club’s depth chart. “He’s our starter. No doubt,” said head coach Anthony Lynn, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. “He was our starter for a reason… as soon as Melvin’s ready, he’ll go back. He’ll go back to number one.” Lynn also said backups Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson will continue to get work, but Gordon will become the No. 1 back. Meanwhile, Los Angeles received a roster exemption for Gordon, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Gordon’s exemption ends on October 7, so the Chargers don’t technically have to activate him for either Week 4 or 5.

  • The Chargers placed left tackle Russell Okung on the non-football injury list prior to the beginning of the regular season, meaning he has to miss at least the first six weeks of the campaign. Lynn says Okung, who is dealing with a pulmonary embolism, could potentially return by Week 7 or 8, but that timeline is unclear, as Albert Breer of The MMQB.com writes. Amid the uncertainty, Trent Scott has taken over as LA’s starter on Philip Rivers‘ blindside, but he’s graded out as a bottom-10 tackle league-wide, per Pro Football Focus.

Melvin Gordon Reports To Chargers

September 26th, 2019 at 11:14am CST by Zachary Links

Melvin Gordon is in the building. On Thursday, the star running back halted his holdout to join the Bolts at their team facility, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 

Gordon’s holdout was always viewed as unlikely to stretch the entire season. Per league rules, Gordon has to report before Week 10 in order to qualify for free agency next season. Early on, many thought that the running back would cut it close. That’s not the case – he’s ready to rock and reported to the team on Thursday. He won’t be suiting up for this week’s game, but he could be placed back into the lineup for the Chargers’ Oct. 6 showdown with the Broncos.

After missing three games, Gordon has lost out on $1MM of his $5.6MM salary for 2019. The Chargers may, or may not, rescind fines levied against him for the missed time.

More importantly – Gordon will be cashing paychecks the rest of the way and paving the way for free agent riches in March. From a football perspective, he’ll provide a major boost for the Chargers, who are presently 1-2.

Beyond this year, Gordon expects 2019 to be his last season with the Chargers, though he has previously indicated a desire to remain in L.A. Worth noting – Gordon was open to being traded to the Texans after they lost Lamar Miller to injury.

Melvin Gordon To Report To Chargers

September 25th, 2019 at 5:56pm CST by Rory Parks

After reports earlier today suggested that Melvin Gordon may be ending his holdout and returning to the Chargers soon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Gordon will indeed report to the team tomorrow (Twitter link). Gordon will not play in the team’s matchup against Miami on Sunday, but he will presumably return to action the following week.

Gordon needed to return before Week 10 in order to qualify for free agency next season, so he is reporting with plenty of time to spare. However, having missed three weeks of action, he will lose out on roughly $1MM of his $5.6MM 2019 salary, not to mention potential fines (which the team may opt to rescind).

Statistically, Los Angeles’ rushing game has not suffered too much in Gordon’s absence, as Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson have 56 carries for 302 yards (good for 5.4 yards per carry) and two TDs. Ekeler is responsible for both of those scores, and he has also been a contributor in the passing game, adding two receiving touchdowns as well.

However, the Chargers have dropped their last two games, and while they are racking up a lot of yardage, they don’t have the points to show for it. Adding another talented and versatile back could certainly help.

The last we heard, Los Angeles was not planning to give Gordon a new contract during the 2019 season, and the Chargers are clearly not willing to give Gordon the type of contract he is seeking. Indeed, per ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Gordon expects 2019 to be his last season with the Chargers (Twitter link).

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com adds that Gordon was open to being traded to the Texans, who were a logical suitor given their running back needs (Twitter link). But despite the fact that the Chargers gave Gordon permission to seek a trade, Fowler says Los Angeles never made a trade a viable option, with the implication being that the Bolts put a prohibitively high price tag on their former first-round pick.

Chargers’ Melvin Gordon To End Holdout?

September 25th, 2019 at 8:55am CST by Zachary Links

Melvin Gordon could be on the verge of suiting up for the Chargers once again. His holdout may end soon, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears, though he has yet to decide on when he’ll report. 

Gordon is considering ending his holdout on Thursday, according to Branson Wright of The Plain Dealer (Twitter link) which may allow him to return to action on Oct. 6 against the Broncos. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) is hearing similar word, though nothing has been firmed up just yet on Gordon’s end. Furthermore, head coach Anthony Lynn said he has not heard from Gordon, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com tweets.

Previously, Gordon planned to return at some point in October. Apparently, Gordon’s itch to get back on the field has advanced his timeline. There’s no word yet on whether his return will come with a new contract from the Chargers, though GM Tom Telesco says that he will not give the running back a new contract during the 2019 season.

Gordon has aimed to protect his football future with his holdout, though a source close to Gordon recently said that this would not evolve into a “Le’Veon Bell situation.” The touchdown machine is hoping to stay with the Bolts for the long run, so it only makes sense for this holdout to end differently than Bell’s in Pittsburgh.

The Chargers have been open to trading the Gordon, but they have not received any known offers worth considering. Recently, the Eagles offered up Jordan Howard and a swap mid-round picks, but the Chargers, understandably, were not interested.

Without Gordon, the Chargers have dropped two in a row to the Lions and Texans.

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