Vincent Jackson Retires From NFL
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
- 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
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
- Signed: RB Nick Holley, S Afolabi Laguda, TE Codey McElroy, S Steven Parker, LB Brian Womac
- Waived/injured: LB Carlos Thompson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DT Dylan Bradley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB KeShun Freeman, WR Eldridge Massington, FB Ryan Yurachek
- Released: LB Michael Mauti
- Waived from injured reserve: T John Theus
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: CB Jordan Thomas
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Nick Williams
Latest On Chargers OL Forrest Lamp
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
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:
- 2-48: Uchenna Nwosu, LB (USC)
- 4-119: Kyzir White, S (West Virginia)
- 5-155: Scott Quessenberry, CB (UCLA)
- 6-191: Dylan Cantrell, WR (Texas Tech)
- 7-251: Justin Jackson, RB (Northwestern)
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.
Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/18
Here are today’s rookie signings:
- The Buccaneers have signed third-round offensive lineman Alex Cappa, reports Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). The Division II Humboldt State product was the GNAC offensive lineman of the year for four straight seasons, and he was a unanimous All-American in 2017. Cappa primarily played tackle in college, but he could end up being a versatile reserve lineman for the Buccaneers.
- The Chargers announced that they have signed third-round defensive tackle Justin Jones to a four-year contract. Interestingly, the Bolts’ first 2018 pick signing comes from the third round, which generally produces the biggest hiccups in terms of negotiations. Jones played on the N.C. State defensive line on which Bradley Chubb starred and fellow 2018 draftees B.J. Hill and Kentavius Street played. Jones finished with 22.5 tackles in three seasons with the Wolfpack.
OL Orlando Franklin To Retire
A day after the Redskins released him, Orlando Franklin is ready to call it a career.
The former second-round pick and six-year NFL starter will not attempt to play an eighth NFL season. Franklin, 30, posted on Instagram that he will retire to spend time with his wife and son in Denver.
Franklin’s best seasons came with the Broncos, who selected him in the second round in 2011. He served as Denver’s starting right tackle for three seasons before the team relocated him to left guard prior to the 2014 season. That move helped Franklin, who enjoyed a solid contract campaign and signed a five-year, $36.5MM deal with the Chargers that came with $20MM guaranteed.
While Franklin could not replicate the success he had in Denver with San Diego, he started for two seasons with the Bolts. Injuries limited him to 10 games with the Chargers in 2015, but he returned to man their left guard spot for 16 contests in ’16. The Chargers released him last year, which led to short stays with the Saints and Redskins. Franklin played in one game with Washington last season.
Overall, the former Miami Hurricane started 89 of the 90 regular-season games in which he played. He also started for the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Chargers Exercise Melvin Gordon’s Option
No surprise here, but the Chargers have officially picked up Melvin Gordon‘s option for the 2019 season (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). Chargers general manager Tom Telesco indicated last month that he would add the additional year to Gordon’s deal. 
Gordon, the No. 15 pick in the ’15 draft, will earn $5.605MM in the 2019 season. The option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Chargers could theoretically bail on the extra year if Gordon’s performance slips for non-health reasons.
Gordon is coming off a career-high 1,105 yards on the ground, so the Chargers seem pretty likely to move forward with the fifth-year. Gordon also had 58 catches for 476 yards and four touchdowns in 2017.
The Wisconsin product got off to a slow start in his NFL career as he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry as a rookie. Over the last two years, he has stepped that up to a more respectable 3.9 yards per tote average as the Bolts’ primary rusher. He has also shown the ability to perform in the red zone with 18 rushing TDs and six receiving TDs to his credit over the last two years.
Chargers Confirm They're Ending Gates Era
Last week, news broke that the Chargers and Antonio Gates would not reunite for a 16th season. The Bolts confirmed this on Monday.
Last week, news broke that the Chargers and Antonio Gates would not reunite for a 16th season. The Bolts confirmed this on Monday.
“Antonio is not only one of the best Chargers of all-time, but he’s one of the best football players in the history of our game,” Tom Telesco said, via Ricky Henne of Chargers.com. “He has meant so much to this organization — both on the field, off the field, in San Diego, in Los Angeles — and we can’t say enough about the type of person he is, and player.
The Chargers signed former Broncos starter Virgil Green this offseason, and the blocking tight end will pair with Hunter Henry. Gates wants to catch on elsewhere and play what would be his age-38 season. His 114 touchdown receptions are the most by a tight end in NFL history and sixth all-time for any pass-catcher.
Chargers Sign 21 Undrafted Free Agents
The Chargers have agreed to terms with the following 21 undrafted college free agents:
- Tony Brown, CB (Alabama)
- B.J. Clay, CB (Georgia State)
- Zachary Crabtree, T, (Oklahoma State)
- Chris Durant, T (William & Mary)
- Marcus Edmond, CB, (Clemson)
- Brandon Facyson, CB, (Virginia Tech)
- Zack Golditch, G, (Colorado State)
- Bijhon Jackson, DT, (Arkansas)
- Albert Havili, DE, (Eastern Washington)
- D’Juan Hines, LB, (Houston)
- Cole Hunt, TE, (TCU)
- Tevin Lawson, DE, (Nicolls State)
- Ben Johnson, TE, (Kansas)
- J.J. Jones, WR, (West Georgia)
- Anthony Manzo-Lewis, FB, (Albany)
- Detrez Newsome, RB, (Western Carolina)
- Steven Richardson, DT, (Minnesota)
- Nic Shimonek, QB, (Texas Tech)
- Trenton Scott, G, (Grambling State)
- Kent Shelby, WR, (McNeese State)
- Shane Tripucka, P, (Texas A&M)