James Jones Likely To Make Chargers' Roster
- Veteran wide receiver James Jones is likely to make the Chargers‘ final roster thanks to his ability to play both in the slot and outside, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. San Diego is dealing with several minor injuries among its receiving corps, so the club might be forced to keep more pass-catchers on its roster than it normally would. The only downside with Jones is that he doesn’t play on special teams, which could force to keep another receiver active on gamedays simply to play teams.
10 Teams That Could Claim RB Karlos Williams
After waiving him yesterday, the Bills “fully expect” another NFL club to land running back Karlos Williams, and we’ll find out tomorrow if any other team decided to place a claim (the waiver period is typically 24 hours, but rolls over until Monday on weekends). If no one else is interested, Williams will become a free agent. But given that Williams’ (minimal) signing bonus will accelerate onto Buffalo’s cap –meaning that any acquiring team would only be on the hook for minimum salaries for the next three years — it seems likely that Williams will get claimed.
Clearly, there are reasons to be concerned about Williams’ future. He’ll be suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season after violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and he’s struggled with his weight throughout the offseason. At one point, Williams was up 261 pounds, and after losing some of that heft, he’d reportedly begun to balloon once again, leaving the Bills to wonder if he was serious about football.
But Williams also flashed dynamic ability during his rookie season, finishing with 613 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs on just 104 touches while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. The 23-year-old also became one of just two players in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first six games in the league. All in all, Williams seemingly defines an old adage: high risk, high reward.
Let’s take a look at several teams that could be interested in Williams, listed in order of their waiver priority:
Cleveland Browns — New head coach Hue Jackson is trying to foster a new culture with the Browns, but he’s also shown a willingness to give players a second chance. He’s embraced wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was recently reinstated from a season-long suspension, and he stood by running back Isaiah Crowell after the latter posted a disturbing image online. Crowell and Duke Johnson figure to get most of the run for Cleveland during the upcoming season, but the club should be stockpiling talent during its rebuild, and Williams would be a cheap upgrade.
San Diego Chargers — San Diego had high hopes for its rushing attack after trading up to select Melvin Gordon in the first round of last year’s draft, but offensive line injuries and Gordon’s own poor play led to the Chargers finishing 31st in rushing DVOA. Gordon then had microfracture surgery in January, and while his long-term prognosis is positive, serious knee injuries are always unwelcome news for young running backs. It looks like Gordon is already losing work to Danny Woodhead during the preseason, and if the Chargers think Gordon is in for another sub-par season, they could take a risk on Williams.
Baltimore Ravens — This is only my speculation, but given that he’s on the wrong side of 30, coming off injury, and due a non-guaranteed $3MM base salary, veteran running back Justin Forsett could be a surprise cut as roster cutdowns approach. Such a move would be made much easier if the Ravens were able to acquire a talent like Williams, who could slot in the backfield after his suspension, teaming with Javorius Allen, Terrance West, Kenneth Dixon, and perhaps Lorenzo Taliaferro. Baltimore has taken chances on character risks in the past, though the club was burned by safety Will Hill, with whom they cut ties after he was handed a 10-game suspension.
Philadelphia Eagles — Like the Browns, the Eagles haven’t been afraid to collect players who are considered character risks, as evidenced by their trade for receiver Dorial Green-Beckham last week. Philadelphia is hoping it can turn around the career of DGB, who struggled with both motivation and learning the Titans’ playbook, and they could place a similar bet on Williams. Like DGB, Williams clearly has talent, and the Eagles could use another option alongside Ryan Mathews, Kenjon Barner, Darren Sproles, and Wendell Smallwood. Turron Davenport of USA Today recently looked at how Williams could succeed in the type of outside zone runs employed by the Eagles.
Chargers’ Jeff Cumberland Done For Season
Chargers tight end Jeff Cumberland will miss the entire 2016 season after tearing his Achilles in Friday’s night preseason game against the Cardinals, as Cumberland himself announced on Instagram (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune).
[RELATED: Updated San Diego Chargers Depth Chart]
Cumberland, 29, agreed to a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal with San Diego earlier this year after being released by the Jets in early March. The Bolts drafted tight end Hunter Henry in the second round of the draft two months after signing Cumberland, so the veteran likely would have been relegated to quite a bit of special teams duty had he made the squad. Indeed, Chargers tight end coach John McNulty said in June that Cumberland was “still carving out” his role as he competed with Sean McGrath, Asante Cleveland, and Tim Semisch.
Always viewed as more of a blocker than a receiving threat, Cumblerand caught a total of 78 passes for the Jets from 2012 to 2014, starting 38 games for the team during that stretch and racking up 10 touchdowns. However, he saw his number called a whole lot less in 2015, as Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t use his tight ends much. Cumberland had just five receptions on 14 targets in 2015.
Cumberland wasn’t the only Charger to go down in last night’s contest, as Gehlken also reports (Twitter link) that seventh-round rookie Donovan Clark suffered a torn ACL on Friday and will be out for the season. Clark, an offensive lineman out of Michigan State, had been expected to compete for a backup role, or perhaps spend time on the practice squad.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chargers Notes: Stadium, Bosa, Mettenberger
Thought to be trailing in their hopes to receive enough votes for the downtown stadium measure to pass this November, the Chargers mounted an offensive at a city councilman who voiced opposition to the team’s plan.
The Chargers funded a Facebook ad campaign against councilman Chris Cate, who is one of the leaders of a coalition called “No Downtown Stadium – Jobs and Streets First,” David Garrick of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The ads posted Cate’s office phone number and urged fans to call and ask why he wants the Chargers to leave.
The team stated in these ads and through a spokesperson it would leave for Los Angeles without a downtown stadium — Dean Spanos does have an agreement in principle to join up with Stan Kroenke and the Rams in 2017 — but that hasn’t been formally announced since the Chargers are still playing at the Mission Valley site that’s housed them since 1961. So this ad campaign could be another attempt at leveraging the city. This time, that effort is directed at voters. The Chargers, as of now, need a two-thirds majority for the stadium measure to pass.
“The Chargers have spent the past 15 years and tens of millions of dollars trying to find a solution to stay here in San Diego,” team spokesman Fred Maas said, via Garrick. “It is an insult to our fans and all San Diegans to have inexperienced politicians with blind ambition use our initiative as a vehicle to pursue higher office, like mayor. If they want us to leave for L.A, folks have every right to ask why, so please call Chris and ask him.”
A coalition spokesman refuted Maas’ claims that Cate’s political agenda is driving this message.
Here’s more from San Diego.
- In the weeks between now and the elections, the Chargers should be able to outmaneuver their political opposition, at least in terms of getting their message out, Tom Krasovic of the Union-Tribune writes. Four local TV stations in San Diego work under parent companies that are broadcast partners of the NFL, and the team also appears ready to outspend opponents in advertising. The Bolts improving on the field would help their cause, Krasovic notes. Despite the 4-12 record they finished with in 2015, the Chargers hadn’t lost more than 10 games in a season since 2003 and in their most recent effort lost nine games by one-score margins.
- Management and Joey Bosa‘s camp breaking their weeks-long silence — and doing so without many details leaking — shows the sides are serious about finding a resolution this time, Michael Gehlken of the Union-Tribune notes. We heard on Friday the Bolts and Bosa’s agent met this week, and it’s unknown if a new offer emerged after one last went out July 28. Multiple officials involved requested the talks be kept private, per Gehlken.
- Regardless of Bosa’s status come Week 1, Darius Philon will start opposite Corey Liuget at defensive end for the Chargers, Krasovic writes. While Philon saw his rookie season cut short by injury, he’s enjoyed a productive camp, per Krasovic, who adds that plugging Bosa into the Week 1 lineup after everything that’s occurred would send a bad message.
- Kellen Clemens will remain Philip Rivers‘ backup, according to Krasovic, who also notes Zach Mettenberger is not a lock to make the team. Now 33, Clemens looks to have withstood the challenge of new OC Ken Whisenhunt‘s former Titans charge. Mettenberger, whom the Chargers claimed on waivers earlier this year, may now be in a battle with rookie UDFA Mike Bercovici, Krasovic writes. Rivers has not missed a start since taking over for Drew Brees to begin the 2006 season.
- The Chargers claimed wideout Rasheed Bailey off waivers from the Jaguars earlier this week.
Eagles Still Seeking Wide Receivers
Even after acquiring Dorial Green-Beckham from the Titans, the Eagles aren’t done looking for wide receivers. The Eagles put in a claim for wide receiver Rasheed Bailey when he was exposed to waivers by the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. However, the Chargers had higher priority than the Eagles and landed him first. 
[RELATED: Reaction To Dorial Green-Beckham Trade]
The Eagles are familiar with Bailey after he spent the 2015 preseason with them. The undrafted Delaware Valley product did not manage to crack the 53-man roster, but he apparently made a good impression on Philly coaches.
The move to claim Bailey indicates that the Eagles could pursue other wide receivers on the open market or via trade. Of course, there will be tons of wide receivers released between now and the first week of September, giving the Eagles plenty of opportunity to add a WR without giving up any assets.
The Eagles currently have Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Josh Huff, Green-Beckham, Paul Turner, and Rueben Randle at wide receiver, as shown on Roster Resource. Behind them, receivers like Chris Givens, T.J. Graham, and Hunter Sharp are jockeying for roster spots.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chargers, Joey Bosa Talking Again
After weeks of silence, the Chargers are once again talking with Joey Bosa‘s team in an effort to get his rookie contract signed, sources tell USA Today’s Jarrett Bell. It’s not clear if the two sides have made real progress towards an agreement, however. 
[RELATED: Chargers Claim Rasheed Bailey From Jaguars]
The Chargers have been insistent on Bosa accepting offset language in his deal that would take them off the hook in the event that he would be released before the scheduled conclusion of the deal. The Bolts are also pushing for part of Bosa’s signing bonus to be deferred. Bosa’s reps say that they will not accept both of those terms, particularly since four of the players to go in the top 10 of this year’s draft will receive most or all of their signing bonuses in 2016.
In order for Bosa to agree to offset language, agent Todd France reportedly wants the Chargers to pay all ~$17MM) of his bonus this year. San Diego, meanwhile, would rather wait until next March to dole out a “significant portion” of the bonus. At last check, the Chargers want to give Bosa roughly 61 percent of his signing bonus during this calendar year, which is the same payout schedule the Cowboys agreed to with fourth overall selection Ezekiel Elliott, who was Bosa’s teammate at Ohio State and went one pick after him.
Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.
Chargers Claim Rasheed Bailey From Jags
The Chargers have claimed wide receiver Rasheed Bailey off waivers from the Jaguars, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. To make room for Bailey, San Diego has waived/injured fellow wideout Rico Richardson (Twitter links). 
Jacksonville waived the 23-year-old Bailey on Tuesday after he originally hooked on with the organization last October. The 6-foot-1, 209-pounder went undrafted out of Delaware Valley a year ago and also spent time with the Eagles, though he didn’t garner any regular-season experience with either them or the Jaguars. Previously, Bailey racked up 10 receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown with the Eagles last preseason.
Between his stints in Philadelphia and Jacksonville, Bailey was a member of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League for two weeks in October. That ended when the Jags signed him to their practice squad. He’ll now try to earn a spot with the Chargers, whose depth chart at wideout features Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin, James Jones and Dontrelle Inman, among others.
Richardson, meanwhile, is primed to look for work yet again, having already been a member of five organizations since going undrafted from Jackson State in 2013. The 25-year-old signed with the Chargers on Aug. 8, but an injury in practice kept him from attempting to make a mark with the club. Richardson has appeared in six games, all with the Titans from 2014-15, but he hasn’t recorded any stats.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chargers, Cardinals To Talk Trade?
Could the Cardinals and Chargers hammer out a trade? The Cards have some question marks at tackle and cornerback and GM Steve Keim says he isn’t inspired by the options currently available on the open market. At the same time, he says he’ll meet with Bolts GM Tom Telesco this week when the two teams have their joint practices, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. He expects they’ll discuss their respective rosters and deficiencies, in hopes they can ask each other, “Hey, is there an area where we can help each other improve?’”
Chargers Sign Kamal Johnson, Zack Hodges, James Vaughter
- The Chargers have signed defensive tackle Kamal Johnson, linebacker Zach Hodges, and linebacker James Vaughters, and waived waived cornerback Carrington Byndom.
Chargers Place Sean Lissemore On IR
The Chargers have lost a reserve defensive lineman for the season, as the club has placed veteran Sean Lissemore on injured reserve, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Receiver Stevie Johnson, whom previous reports had indicated was going to miss the year, was also placed on IR, per Caplan.
[RELATED: Relationship between Chargers, Joey Bosa damaged?]
Lissemore, 28, has been with the Chargers for the past three seasons, appearing in 41 games and starting 13 during that span. IN 2015, Lissemore, who’s also spent time with the Cowboys, appeared in 11 contests and played on roughly a quarter of San Diego’s defensive snaps. The William and Mary alum wasn’t going to start during the upcoming season, especially given that the Chargers invested money and draft capital in Brandon Mebane and Joey Bosa, respectively, but he might have acted as depth along the club’s front.
Of course, there was no guarantee that Lissemore was going to make the squad, and the Bolts may have chosen to release him, clearing his non-guaranteed $1.75MM salary off the books. San Diego won’t have that option now, as Lissemore and his cap charge will spend the year on the Chargers’ salary cap.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.