Los Angeles Chargers Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

2019 Proven Performance Escalators

January 13th, 2019 at 1:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.

If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $2MM in 2019. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2019 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:

Bears: RB Jordan Howard, LB Nick Kwiatkoski

Bengals: LB Nick Vigil

Broncos: G Connor McGovern, S Will Parks, S Justin Simmons

Browns: S Derrick Kindred, LB Joe Schobert

Buccaneers: G Caleb Benenoch, DE Carl Nassib, CB Ryan Smith

Chargers: LB Jatavis Brown

Chiefs: CB Kendall Fuller, WR Tyreek Hill, S Eric Murray, WR Demarcus Robinson

Colts: QB Jacoby Brissett, T Joe Haeg

Cowboys: CB Anthony Brown, DT Maliek Collins, QB Dak Prescott

Dolphins: RB Kenyan Drake

Eagles: CB Jalen Mills, T Halapoulivaati Vaitai

Falcons: LB De’Vondre Campbell, TE Austin Hooper, G Wes Schweitzer

Jaguars: DE Yannick Ngakoue

Jets: LB Jordan Jenkins, CB Rashard Robinson, T Brandon Shell

Lions: C Graham Glasgow

Packers: LB Kyler Fackrell, DE Dean Lowry, LB Blake Martinez, LB Antonio Morrison

Patriots: G Joe Thuney, LB Elandon Roberts

Rams: G Austin Blythe, TE Tyler Higbee

Ravens: DE Matt Judon, OL Alex Lewis, CB Tavon Young

Saints: DT David Onyemata

Steelers: DT Javon Hargrave

Texans: DT D.J. Reader

Titans: S Kevin Byard, WR Tajae Sharpe

OverTheCap.com was essential in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Hunter Henry Expected To Play Today

January 13th, 2019 at 10:00am CST by Rory Parks

After being activated on Monday, Chargers TE Hunter Henry is expected to play in the team’s divisional round showdown in Foxborough this afternoon, per Albert Breer of SI.com.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/11/19

January 11th, 2019 at 7:13pm CST by Micah Powell

Here are today’s minor moves:

Los Angeles Chargers

Waived: RB Troymaine Pope

Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL:

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: K Sam Ficken

Chargers Sign K Nick Rose

January 10th, 2019 at 7:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers are signing kicker Nick Rose ahead of their upcoming Divisional Round matchup against the Patriots, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Rose will handle kickoffs while incumbent kicker Michael Badgley will continue to manage field goals and extra points.

Badgley has been immensely successful on field goals, as he ranks fifth in the NFL with a 93.8% conversion rate. Additionally, he’s only missed a single extra point on 28 attempts. However, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com notes, Badgley has turned only nine of his 54 kickoffs into touchbacks, which translates to an NFL-worst 16.7% touchback rate.

Badgley’s problem on kickoffs could lead to issues against the Patriots, who deploy former All-Pro special teamer Cordarrelle Patterson on kick returns. This season, Patterson averaged 28.8 yards per kick return (tied for fifth in the league), while New England as a whole ranked fifth in Football Outsiders‘ kick return metric.

Rose, 24, split time between the Chargers and Redskins in 2017, appearing in 10 total games. During that time, he made 11-of-14 field goal attempts while converting 23-of-26 extra points. Most recently, Rose signed on to play for the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football, which debuts in the spring.

Chargers To Activate TE Hunter Henry

January 7th, 2019 at 12:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have officially activated tight end Hunter Henry to the 53-man roster. He’ll eligible to play on Sunday against the Patriots, just eight months after tearing his ACL. To make room for Henry on the active roster, the team placed linebacker Jatavis Brown, who went down with an ankle injury in the team’s Week 17 win over the Broncos, on injured reserve.

Monday was the deadline for Los Angeles to activate Henry thanks to the 21-day window that opened when he resumed practicing. If he was not activated, the third-year tight end would have been forced to spend rest of the season on the PUP list. The good news is that Henry was not held out of Saturday’s game against the Ravens due to any setback. Instead, the Chargers simply decided to play it safe with one of their star offensive players.

Assuming he’s fully healthy, or somewhat close to it, the Chargers are expected to get Henry involved in the passing game. The Bolts could exploit the Patriots’ weak coverage across the middle of the field and give their D something extra to think about in addition to their other aerial weapons and Melvin Gordon‘s slick running.

After hauling in 81 catches for 1,057 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first two seasons of his career, Henry was primed for a breakout campaign in 2018. His offseason injury robbed him of a chance to truly shine in the regular season, but he’ll now have an opportunity to contribute when it really counts.

Hunter Henry Will Be Activated If Chargers Win

January 6th, 2019 at 12:21pm CST by Rory Parks

The Chargers will remain without tight end Hunter Henry for today’s playoff bout in Baltimore, but if LA wins today, Rapoport says that Henry will be activated tomorrow in the hopes of suiting up against New England next week.

Hunter Henry Won’t Play Vs. Ravens

January 5th, 2019 at 3:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hunter Henry received first-team reps this week, but the Chargers evidently have not seen enough to send their top tight end back into action.

They will not activate Henry from the PUP list Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). This will keep Henry sidelined for the Bolts’ first-round matchup against the Ravens. Henry could still be activated for the divisional round if the Chargers advance, but for now, Antonio Gates and Virgil Green will continue to be Los Angeles’ main tight ends.

Los Angeles has until Monday to activate Henry, because of the 21-day window that opened when he resumed practicing. If that does not happen, the third-year tight end must spend the rest of the season on the PUP list.

Henry did not experience a setback, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Instead, the Chargers are being cautious and extending this as long as possible.

Henry is attempting to make it back from a torn ACL less than eight months after the injury occurred. Expected to be a key component of the Bolts’ passing game, Henry went down in late May. He’s been rumored to be a potential X-factor for the Chargers in these playoffs, but the opportunity for that to occur is dwindling.

Latest On Hunter Henry

January 3rd, 2019 at 8:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After being designated for return from injured reserve and participating in seven-on-seven drills at the end of December, Chargers tight end Hunter Henry took first-team snaps in practice this week, Los Angeles announced. However, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn still declined to commit to Henry playing against the Ravens in the first round of the NFL postseason, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com tweets. If Henry does play, he’ll be on a “pitch count,” meaning fellow tight ends Antonio Gates and Virgil Green will still see time. Henry tore his ACL in May, but Los Angeles held out hope he’d be available if the club made it to the playoffs.

NFL Workout Updates: 1/3/19

January 3rd, 2019 at 8:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Chicago Bears

T Dakoda Shepley; G Ethan Cooper; LB Sam Eguavoen; K Ty Long

Detroit Lions

DEs Avery Ellis, Tony Nelson; LB Sam Eguavoen

Green Bay Packers

WR Devin Smith

Houston Texans

S Kurtis Drummond

Indianapolis Colts

QBs Jon Jennings, Bo Levi Mitchell; WRs Sammie Coates, Greg Ward, Taj Williams; T Dakoda Shepley; LBs Sam Eguavoen, Jameer Thurman

Kansas City Chiefs