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Los Angeles Chargers News & Rumors

Chargers' HC On CB Depth

August 2nd, 2018 at 12:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Chargers, Seahawks Interested In DRC

July 30th, 2018 at 11:32am CST by Zachary Links

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie may be closer to finding an NFL home. The free agent is receiving interest from the Seahawks and Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 

The Seahawks are showing the most interest in DRC, Rapoport reports, but the Chargers’ are also in the mix thanks to their recent cornerback injury. Now that Jason Verrett is done for the year with an Achilles injury, DRC could step in as the club’s first cornerback off of the bench to support Desmond King and Casey Hayward.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, just recently waived DeAndre Elliott, leaving them thin at slot cornerback. DRC would help address that issue and he might also be able to contribute at safety when needed.

Last year, Rodgers-Cromartie earned a 77.2 overall score from Pro Football Focus, his lowest showing since 2012. He graded out as the 58th ranked cornerback in the NFL, portraying him as someone who is on the fringe of starter quality. His on-field performance was problematic, but there were also behavioral issues. Rodgers-Cromartie clashed with former coach Ben McAdoo on four separate occasions before being suspended “indefinitely” for conduct detrimental to the team. He was brought back after just one game, but teams could still be wary of his locker room influence.

Chargers Lose Another TE For Season

July 29th, 2018 at 9:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/29/18

July 29th, 2018 at 12:28pm CST by Rory Parks

Here are today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Waived: DE Moubarak Djeri

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: C Erick Wren

New York Giants

  • Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
  • Placed on injured reserve: CB Sam Beal

Seattle Seahawks

Chargers’ Jason Verrett Tears Achilles

July 29th, 2018 at 12:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett suffered a torn Achilles during a conditioning test, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via ESPN colleague Josina Anderson on Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was the first to report (via Twitter) that Verrett sustained an injury that would likely cost him the season. Injuries have limited Verrett to just five total games over the past two seasons, so this is obviously devastating news for the 27-year-old. 

Verrett was a full participant in June’s minicamp and reportedly looked like his old self. The Bolts were cautiously optimistic about Verrett after he flashed the ability that earned him a Pro Bowl nod in 2015.

“We can be real special,” Verrett said recently when asked about the Chargers’ secondary. “I know it’s a tough for the coaches to make a decision on who’s going to go out there, just because of how deep we are. But I think just how tight we are as a group, it’s going to allow us to keep feeding off each other. Everyone’s going be wanting to get better each and every day because you know the guys behind you are going to want to be where you are.”

Without Verrett, the Bolts will lean more heavily on the likes of Casey Heyward, Trevor Williams, and Desmond King. It’s conceivable that they could also explore outside help, such as free agent Bashaud Breeland. Anderson reports that the team is keeping another big name free agent, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, in mind, but that there is no rush to bring DRC in at this time.

Verrett, a 2014 first-round selection, is entering the walk year of his contract. Between his two knee surgeries and this latest setback, Verrett’s future is very much in flux.

Extra Points: Gates, Chargers, Manziel, Richardson, AAF, Anthem

July 27th, 2018 at 6:08pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

“Chargers GM Tom Telesco acknowledged ongoing talks with TE Antonio Gates’ representation Thursday, but no deal” tweets Eric D. Williams of ESPN. Telesco also added that he believes Gates “can still be effective in the Chargers’ offense.” The Chargers looked set to move on earlier this offseason, but then Hunter Henry was lost for the season with a torn ACL. The team immediately expressed interest in bringing back Gates, but things have been slow moving ever since.

It’s unclear what is holding up contract talks, but it’s not a huge deal for a player who’s been around as long as Gates has to miss some of training camp. Perhaps he just wants to wait as long as possible and put little wear on his body before returning right before the regular season. Gates has said he has no intention of retiring, and it’s extremely unlikely he signs with any other team than the Chargers. A deal should get done at some point, and it would be a surprise if it isn’t announced soon. The future Hall of Fame inductee turned 38 in June.

Here’s more from around the football universe:

  • The Montreal Alouettes had been targeting Johnny Manziel for a while before they finally ended up trading for him, a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. The Alouettes had tried to acquire Manziel’s rights before he even signed with the CFL, but were rebuffed.
  • Former number three overall pick Trent Richardson will sign with the Birmingham team in the newly created AAF, according to Matt Zenitz of AL.com. Richardson flamed out with the Browns and then Colts, and will be looking to revive his football career in the upstart league.
  • The league and NFLPA have been talking and negotiating about the anthem policy since before the July 4th holiday, a source told Albert Breer of SI.com. Breer disagrees with the league’s course of action, arguing the new “policy was a poor way to try to move the focus back to football.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/18

July 25th, 2018 at 4:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Indianpolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Waived: OL Donavon Clark

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: WR Aaron Lacombe, WR Khadarel Lott, WR JoJo Natson
  • Waived: WR LaQuvionte Gonzalez, WR Ricky Jeune

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Waived/injured: DB Trey Johnson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Chargers Negotiating With Antonio Gates

July 24th, 2018 at 7:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers are “actively negotiating” veteran tight end Antonio Gates‘ return to the club, Gates’ agent Tom Condon tells Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).

Los Angeles told Gates in April that he would not be re-signed for a 16th campaign, but the team’s stance changed when third-year tight end Hunter Henry suffered a torn ACL in May. Since that time, the Chargers have expressed a willingness to reunite with Gates, and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reported earlier today that Los Angeles wanted to re-sign Gates before the beginning of training camp.

Gates is now 38 years old and posted a career-low 316 receiving yards in 2017, but the Chargers’ tight end depth chart is currently devoid of a starting-caliber option. Los Angeles signed Virgil Green earlier this year, but the ex-Bronco is a career reserve who’s never been an offensive force. Other tight ends on the Chargers’ roster include Sean Culkin and Braedon Bowman.

Even if Gates does end up re-signing with Los Angeles, the Chargers will need to lean on their other offensive weapons — receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Tyrell Williams, and Travis Benjamin, plus running back Melvin Gordon — as Gates played on only 47% of the club’s offensive snaps in 2017. Given his age, it shouldn’t be a surprise if his snap count dwindles even further during the upcoming campaign.

Chargers Want Gates To Sign Before Camp

July 24th, 2018 at 12:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Antonio Gates is still on the Chargers’ radar, but the team doesn’t want to wait forever for a deal to come together. It would be the Bolts’ preference for the tight end to re-sign with the team before camp starts, a team source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 

In April, the Chargers announced that Gates would not be re-signed. However, things changed when tight end Hunter Henry went down with a season-ending injury. With a TE group consisting of Virgil Green, Sean Culkin, and Braedon Bowman, the 38-year-old Gates may stand as their best option.

“Losing Hunter was a blow at the time, it is now but you have to overcome it,” GM Tom Telesco said recently. “That’s what you have to do.”

A Gates return would be well received in L.A., and quarterback Philip Rivers is among those pushing for it. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Gates will be re-signed, however.

“Would be a natural fit, right? I saw that Philip voted for it. When it comes to roster moves, we are not a democracy,” Telesco said in June. “But we are not a dictatorship either. His vote was noted and accounted for. Antonio’s accomplishments and contributions to this organization are immeasurable. We will see what the future holds. I don’t have an update at this time.”

Opinion: Bolts Unlikely To Deal For Thomas

July 21st, 2018 at 3:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

If the Seahawks do decide to get serious about a trade, Brooks notes that, beyond the Cowboys, the Chargers, 49ers, Buccaneers and Bengals are the most logical destinations. The Bolts drafted Derwin James and have Jahleel Addae on the books for three more seasons, but Brooks cites the need for a deep centerfielder-type safety nonetheless. And Thomas has a history with Los Angeles DC Gus Bradley. He has a background with San Francisco DC Robert Saleh as well. The Bengals hosted Eric Reid on a visit that went poorly, but they were only in the market for a backup safety at that time. Tampa Bay spent plenty to add to its defensive front this offseason and added three DBs in the draft’s middle rounds. The Bucs boast Chris Conte and second-year man Justin Evans as their top safeties.

  • A Chargers trade for Thomas wouldn’t add up with the franchise’s usual M.O., Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune notes. Tom Telesco and football ops president John Spanos aren’t big on parting with draft capital, with Krasovic adding that extensions for Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon — along with Los Angeles’ approximate $9MM cap-space total — would also impede a move like this.
  • The right side of Seattle’s offensive line figures to be manned by tackle Germain Ifedi and guard D.J. Fluker, per Condotta, who adds Fluker could be an option at tackle if Ifedi struggles. Fluker, though, has not played much tackle since the Chargers shuttled him to guard prior to the 2015 season. However, former left tackle starter George Fant will be thrust into the right tackle competition in training camp, Condotta writes. Fant is expected to be healthy after suffering a torn ACL last summer and would profile as the Seahawks’ swing tackle if Ifedi keeps the top right-edge job.
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