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Los Angeles Chargers News & Rumors

Chargers Won’t Rule Out Antonio Gates

May 23rd, 2018 at 2:44pm CST by Zachary Links

After losing Hunter Henry to a torn ACL, the Chargers say they will search high and low for potential replacements. That could include a reunion with Antonio Gates, even though the team previously told the veteran that he would not be re-signed. 

[RELATED: Chargers’ Henry Suffers ACL Tear, Will Miss 2018 Season]

“We’ll look at all the options that are out there. We’ve got time to do it right now,” GM Ted Telesco said when asked about Gates (Twitter link via Greg Beachem of the Associated Press).

Gates, 38 in June, still intends to play and it would only make sense for him to return to the only NFL team he has ever known. He’s no longer the elite option that he was in his prime, but he showed last year that he still has something to offer and he stands as one of the better available options at this juncture of the offseason.

Last year, Gates saw less targets than Henry and finished out with 30 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Those were his lowest totals in each category since his 2003 season.

Gates’ last deal paid him roughly $11MM between 2016 and 2017. A new deal with Gates would surely be a one-year pact and would likely cost the team less than $5.5MM. Right now, the Chargers’ tight end depth chart is headlined by Virgil Green, who is more of a blocker than a pass-catcher. After that, they have a pair of former UDFAs in Sean Culkin and Braedon Bowman.

Chargers’ Hunter Henry Tears ACL

May 22nd, 2018 at 8:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chargers’ offense received a brutal blow on Tuesday, and barring an impending second opinion revealing a different diagnosis, Hunter Henry will be lost for the season.

Henry suffered a torn ACL during a drill Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The third-year tight end will seek a second opinion on Wednesday, per Schefter, who adds this injury came during a non-contact sequence.

The Bolts have now confirmed the initial diagnosis for their top tight end.

Expected to make a big leap after the Chargers announced they would not bring back Antonio Gates, Henry will now be out until his contract year of 2019. The former second-round pick amassed 579 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season, emerging as the Bolts’ go-to tight end. He has 12 career TDs.

Gates remains a free agent, and with the calculus changing considerably for the Chargers this week, it can’t be ruled out the 37-year-old could be back for one last run with the team. The Bolts signed longtime Broncos tight end Virgil Green in free agency, but the eighth-year player rarely provided much in the way of receiving production. Instead, Green’s more known for his blocking skills. Gates caught 30 passes for a career-low 316 yards last season, but in the two games Henry missed in December, the future Hall of Famer totaled 127 yards and a touchdown.

This marks the latest setback for the Chargers, who have dealt with a string of injuries to skill-position players in recent years. Danny Woodhead, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have seen seasons nullified or disrupted by maladies in recent years. Now, Henry — who has played 29 of a possible 32 regular-season games as a pro — joins the list. Only the stakes are higher now than they were when those previous injuries occurred. The Chargers have drawn buzz as the AFC West favorite after re-routing their season from 0-4 to the playoff bubble last fall. And the events of Tuesday strip Philip Rivers of one of his top weapons.

Melvin Ingram Skipping Bolts' OTAs?

May 22nd, 2018 at 6:13pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • Melvin Ingram may not be attending the Chargers‘ OTA sessions. The star pass rusher missed Tuesday’s session and is training in Florida, Eric Williams of ESPN.com reports, adding that Ingram cleared his absence with Anthony Lynn. Ingram skipped the start of these workouts last year, but he was not under contract because he had yet to sign his franchise tender. He’s now signed a long-term Bolts deal.

Philip Rivers Showing No Signs Of Slowing Down; Rayshawn Jenkins Getting A Shot At FS

May 20th, 2018 at 9:38am CST by Rory Parks
  • In response to a reader’s question as to when the Chargers should plan for Philip Rivers‘ retirement, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com suggests that it won’t be anytime soon, and that Rivers could play for another five years. After all, Rivers, 36, has already indicated he would like to play for a few more seasons, the club has not drafted a QB since 2013, and in addition to his continuing strong performance, he has not lost an ounce of motivation or even mentioned retirement, per quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen. And, as Williams notes, Rivers — who has not missed a start in more than a decade — predicates his game on anticipation and moving within the pocket, so loss of speed is not a huge issue.
  • Rayshawn Jenkins, whom the Chargers selected in the fourth round of last year’s draft, was primarily a special teams contributor in his rookie campaign, but as Williams notes, Los Angeles is giving the Miami product a shot at free safety this offseason. The team is intrigued by his athleticism, speed, and physicality, and the hope is that he can use those qualities to become a consistent presence on the defensive side of the ball.

Chargers Move 4th-Round S To LB

May 19th, 2018 at 7:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Vincent Jackson Retires From NFL

May 18th, 2018 at 1:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Vincent Jackson is “very happily retired” from the NFL, a representative for the wide receiver tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jackson has played in over a year-and-a-half, so the news was largely expected.

Jackson appeared in three Pro Bowls over the course of his 12-year NFL career with the Chargers and Buccaneers. His last NFL season in 2016, however, did not go according to plan. That campaign ended after just five games due to a serious knee injury.

Now focused on community and business work in the Tampa, Florida area, the 35-year-old has fully transitioned into post-NFL life. He leaves the game with 9,080 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns and six individual seasons with 1,000 yards or more.

Jackson entered the league as a second-round pick of the (then San Diego) Chargers in 2005. Injuries hampered him as an NFL freshman, but he eventually blossomed into a dangerous receiving threat. A contract dispute later soured his relationship with Bolts brass, leading him to sign a five-year, $55.55MM free agent deal with the Bucs in 2012. Things started with a bang in Tampa as he enjoyed a career year with 72 catches for 1,384 yards and eight touchdowns. His eye-popping of 19.2 yards per catch led the NFL that year.

After a successful and lucrative NFL career, Jackson has decided to focus on other endeavors. It sounds like he’s settled into post-football life, even if Jon Gruden calls him up.

Chargers Work Out Cody Keith

May 16th, 2018 at 9:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson
  • Free agent quarterback Cody Keith is working out for the Colts on Wednesday, and previously auditioned for the Chargers and Rams, per Rapoport (Twitter link). A former four-star recruit, Keith was limited by injuries during his collegiate career at East Carolina, and was only attempted just 11 passes before moving to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Since that time, Keith has spent time in the Canadian Football League and in the Spring League, working on Johnny Manziel‘s team in the latter venture.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/18

May 16th, 2018 at 4:45pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: DE Patrick Afriyie, WR Justice Liggins, WR Nelson Spruce

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Latest On Chargers OL Forrest Lamp

May 15th, 2018 at 8:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Forrest Lamp missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn ACL, but the Chargers guard is also recovering from a second knee operation, according to Steve Wyche of NFL.com (Twitter link). While details on the second procedure are slim, it did prevent Lamp from being medically cleared from football activity.

The most recent surgery shouldn’t limit Lamp going forward or place any restrictions on his sophomore campaign, however. Los Angeles had coach Anthony Lynn tells Wyche that Lamp should be medically cleared “soon,” at which point the former second-round pick will likely be installed as a starter. Lamp is expected to line up at right guard opposite fellow 2017 rookie Dan Feeney, who made nine starts a season ago.

Lamp, 24, was widely viewed as a first-round pick coming out of Western Kentucky last year, but he eventually slipped to 38th overall. A versatile athlete capable of playing all over the offensive line, Lamp spent his collegiate career at tackle before shifting to guard in the NFL. In his pre-draft profile of Lamp, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com labelled the 6’4″, 309-pounder an “effective counter-puncher” who “processes quickly when [the] defense runs games up front.”

While the Chargers have expressed optimism regarding Lamp’s health issues, knee injuries are never a cut-and-dry affair. Los Angeles has several options along the interior if Lamp isn’t ready to go for Week 1, including Spencer Pulley, Michael Schofield, and fifth-round rookie Scott Quessenberry.

Chargers Sign Five Draft Picks

May 13th, 2018 at 2:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

First-round safety Derwin James is now the only Chargers 2018 draft pick without a contract, as Los Angeles announced that the following selection have signed their rookie deals:

Third-round defensive tackle Justin Jones is also under contract, leaving James as the sole holdout. NFL rookie deals are now a breeze to negotiate thanks to the league’s most recent collective bargaining agreement, but James will likely sign his deal soon. First-rounders are often able to push for certain contractual issues, such as timing of bonus payments, but James is participating in the Chargers’ rookie minicamp even without a pact.

Most of the players signed by Los Angeles today will likely need to make their rookie mark on special teams duty, but Nwosu could have a chance at playing time in 2018. Although largely an edge rusher at USC, Nwosu probably won’t see much time as a pass-rusher given that the Chargers already employ Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. But the 6’2″, 240-pounder could find a role as a inside ‘backer, an area of weakness for the Bolts.

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