Chargers Sign K Chase McLaughlin
With Michael Badgley still ailing, the Chargers have added another kicker. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles has signed rookie Chase McLaughlin.
Badgley has missed his team’s first four games as he recovers from a groin injury. As Pelissero notes, the 24-year-old recently suffered a setback that will keep him on the shelf for several more weeks. Punter Ty Long has filled in for the first month of the season, and he’s been solid through four games; the 26-year-old has converted seven of his nine field goal attempts and all nine of his extra point tries.
Long was caught limping during Sunday’s win over the Dolphins. The Chargers presumably don’t want to suffer another special teams injury, and with Badgley out longer than expected, the front office finally decided to add a kicker.
In comes McLaughlin, an undrafted rookie out of Illinois. The former walk-on ended up having a standout college career, earning a Bakken-Anderson Big Ten Kicker of the Year award and a First-Team All-Big Ten nod. He was waived by the Bills at the end of the preseason before catching on with the Vikings practice squad. He was cut by Minnesota in mid-September, and he’s had a single workout (with the Colts) since that time. The 23-year-old will presumably make his NFL debut against the Broncos this weekend.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/19
We don’t dance now, we make minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Pharoh Cooper
- Released: DT Miles Brown
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Jerry Attaochu
- Signed: OT Calvin Anderson
- Waived: LB Keishawn Bierria
Houston Texans
- Released: TE Jerell Adams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Trevon Coley
- Waived: DT Jihad Ward
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: TE Stephen Anderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived from reserve/injured: S Isaiah Wharton
New York Giants
- Suspended (four games, PEDs): TE Isaiah Searight
New York Jets
- Waived from exempt/left squad: TE Bucky Hodges
Oakland Raiders
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: DT Eddie Vanderdoes
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Ryan Lewis
- Released: CB Ajene Harris
Washington Redskins
- Waived: WR Robert Davis
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/19
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Ahmad Thomas, OT Lukayus McNeil
- Released: P Matt Wile, DE Austin Larkin
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Nick Easley
- Released: WR Jordan Veasy
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Bradley Sowell
Houston Texans
- Signed: OT Elijah Nkansah
- Released: OT Christian DiLauro
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Marcus Johnson
- Released: DT Brian Price
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Braxton Hoyett
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DB Quenton Meeks, TE Matt Sokol, DE Jeff Holland
- Released: OL Chris Brown, S Adarius Pickett
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Nate Meadors
New England Patriots
- Released: LB Scooby Wright
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Devante Downs, Da’Mari Scott
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Brandon Hitner
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT Jaryd Jones-Smith
- Released: OT Ryan Pope, OL Will Holden
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OLB Jamal Davis II
- Released: DL Lyndon Johnson
Washington Redskins
- Released: CB Adonis Alexander
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Abdullah Anderson
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: S Kavon Frazier
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers: DE Chris Peace (from Chargers)
Chargers’ Melvin Ingram To Miss Games
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
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
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
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
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
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.