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DJ Chark DJ Chark Joins forces with Bolts
Thu, May 2, 2024, 9:35 PM
Chark and the Chargers agreed to terms on a one-year contract Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Per Rapoport, the deal is worth up to $5 million. Chark visited with the Chargers exactly one week before the 2024 NFL Draft, and his signing with the team comes exactly one week after its first round. With L.A., he'll be providing a veteran presence to a receiving corps that parted with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, meaning Chark will be vying with the likes of Joshua Palmer (knee), Quentin Johnston and second-round rookie Ladd McConkey for reps in the upcoming campaign. In 15 regular-season games with the Panthers in 2023, Chark hauled in 35 of 66 targets for 525 yards and five touchdowns. |
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J.K. Dobbins J.K. Dobbins Feels fully healthy
Tue, Apr 30, 2024, 2:25 PM
Dobbins (Achilles) said he feels 100 percent healthy heading into the offseason program, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: "I've had these injuries, and it's been a storm," Dobbins said. "But I think the storm is over with, and I think I'm going to take off now. There's going to be no setbacks, and the 'injury prone' thing will be gone out of the window." Since being drafted in the second round by the Ravens in 2020, Dobbins has missed a whopping 43 games to various significant injuries, including a torn ACL, torn LCL, severe hamstring strain and a torn Achilles tendon. To say the injury-prone label is behind him might be wishful thinking, as his body has yet to cooperate with him to this point. The 25-year-old Dobbins joined Gus Edwards in following offensive coordinator Greg Roman from Baltimore to the Chargers, so he will at least be in a familiar scheme. |
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Gus Edwards Gus Edwards Projected lead back
Mon, Apr 29, 2024, 2:49 PM
Following the recent NFL Draft, Edwards profiles as the Chargers' lead back as the 2024 season approaches, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: In the wake of the offseason departure of prior lead back Austin Ekeler, the Chargers backfield has undergone an overhaul, with Edwards and J.K. Dobbins -- both former Ravens -- arriving via free agency and Kimani Vidal through this year's draft, joining returnee Isaiah Spiller, a 2022 fourth-rounder. In that context, Popper suggests that Edwards, who GM Joe Hortiz described as a "bell cow" back in March, is in line to get the bulk of the team's work out of the gate this season as Dobbins bounces back from his Achilles' injury and Vidal and Spiller make their cases to carve out complementary roles in the Los Angeles offense. |
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J.K. Dobbins J.K. Dobbins Should be ready for training camp
Fri, Apr 19, 2024, 11:38 AM
Dobbins (Achilles), who agreed to terms with the Chargers on Thursday, "should be" ready for training camp according to GM Joe Hortiz, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Tom Pelissero of NFL Network relayed last month that Dobbins -- who suffered a torn Achilles in Baltimore's regular-season opener in 2023 -- has been cleared for football activities, with previous reports having noted that the running back had resumed running this offseason. Based on the assessment of Hortiz on Thursday, Dobbins is still working his way back from his injury, but if the 2020 second-rounder is able to return to form, he and Gus Edwards (who also came over from the Ravens in free agency) have a chance to provide an effective 1-2 punch in the Chargers' backfield in 2024 under the guidance of offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who both players worked with in Baltimore. |
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J.K. Dobbins J.K. Dobbins Slated to join Chargers
Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 6:40 PM
Dobbins (Achilles) is in line to sign a one-contract with the Chargers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: A second-round pick of the Ravens in 2020, Dobbins had two of his first four pro seasons cut short due to an ACL tear in 2021 and then a torn left Achilles in Week 1 of the 2023 campaign. In his 24 career appearances, he's averaged a robust 5.8 yards on 234 carries, gathered in 27 of 35 targets for 177 yards and scored 13 total touchdowns. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache penned a letter to NFL teams in late March that Dobbins had received medical clearance to participate in football activities, but his new contract will be contingent on a physical. Once the move west to L.A. becomes official, Dobbins will join forces with former teammate Gus Edwards at the top of the RB depth chart, giving him some sway in fantasy working alongside QB Justin Herbert. |
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Hayden Hurst Hayden Hurst Signs with Chargers
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 7:16 PM
Hurst agreed to a deal with the Chargers on Friday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Thursday that Hurst visited Los Angeles after being released by Carolina on Wednesday. The Chargers' pass-catching corps will look very different in 2024 after Keenan Allen (heel) was traded to the Bears on Thursday, Mike Williams (knee) was released Wednesday, and tight end Gerald Everett departed to the Bears on Tuesday. Hurst missed the final eight games of 2023 due to a concussion and recorded 18 catches on 32 targets for 184 yards and one touchdown. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Poised to start
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 3:09 PM
Johnston and Joshua Palmer (knee) are the top wide receivers left on the Chargers after the team released Mike Williams (knee) and traded Keenan Allen to Chicago.
Analysis: The 2023 first-round pick should have every chance to earn a starting job even if the Chargers end up bringing in another wide receiver via an early pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The lack of target competition is promising for fantasy purposes, while Johnston's rookie-year performance and new coaching staff are considerably less promising. Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman are known for prioritizing the running game, and the team's willingness to move on from both Allen and Williams further hint at that being the plan in Los Angeles despite having QB Justin Herbert under contract long term. Johnston said earlier this offseason that he expects a "breakout" under Harbaugh, after managing just 431 yards in 17 games as a rookie. |
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Joshua Palmer Joshua Palmer Left atop depth chart
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 3:04 PM
Palmer (knee) and Quentin Johnston are the top wide receivers left on the Chargers after the team released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen.
Analysis: The other part of the equation is that the Chargers own the fifth overall pick in a draft with three elite WR prospects. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll end up with Marvin Harrison, Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, but it'll certainly be a common prediction in mock drafts over the next six weeks. Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game in 2023, his third NFL season, albeit while missing six games with a knee injury and a seventh with a concussion. He then hurt his knee in the regular-season finale, but there hasn't been any follow up suggesting it was a serious injury. Palmer now enters the final year of his rookie contract under a new head coach (Jim Harbaugh) and offensive coordinator (Greg Roman), with those hirings and the team's offseason moves hinting at a more run-oriented offense in 2023. That could still work out well for Palmer in fantasy terms given the likelihood of reduced competition for targets relative to his first three seasons. |
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Easton Stick Easton Stick Re-signs with Los Angeles
Fri, Mar 15, 2024, 2:45 PM
The Chargers re-signed Stick on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The North Dakota State product is now in line to remain in Los Angeles after agreeing to a new deal with the Chargers. Stick appeared in five games (four starts) for the Chargers in 2023, throwing for 1,129 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He's expected to remain a serviceable backup quarterback option if Justin Herbert were to go down in 2024. |
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Will Dissly Will Dissly Set to sign with Bolts
Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 4:37 PM
Dissly is slated to sign a three-year deal with the Chargers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Pelissero relays that Dissly's pending contract is for $14 million, including $10 million guaranteed. With Gerald Everett in line to become a free agent, Dissly will bolster the Chargers' tight end corps in 2024, while providing the team with a reliable run-blocking option at the position. During the 2023 regular season, the 27-year-old recorded 17 catches (on 22 targets) for 172 yards and a touchdown over 16 games with the Seahawks, who he joined as a fourth-round draft pick in 2018. |
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Gus Edwards Gus Edwards Headed west to L.A.
Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 3:34 PM
Edwards has agreed to a two-year deal with the Chargers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The pending deal is set to reunite Edwards with former Ravens and current Chargers assistant Greg Roman. In 17 regular-season games with Baltimore in 2023, Edwards carried 198 times for 810 yards and 13 TDs to go along with 12 catches for 180 yards. With Los Angeles, the Rutgers product -- who turns 29 next month -- seems destined to carve out a significant early-down role, though the composition of the Chargers backfield at this stage is TBD, given that Austin Ekeler is slated to become an unrestricted free agent. |
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Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler Not getting tag
Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 4:05 PM
The Chargers don't plan to give Ekeler a franchise tag, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
Analysis: Ekeler was never a serious candidate for the tag, given the Chargers' hesitance to hand him big contracts in the past and his downturn in production during the 2023 season. He'll hope to convince other teams that his high-ankle sprain was a big part of the problem in 2023, along with general dysfunction in Los Angeles that made it difficult to find running lanes and gain yards. Ekeler seems like a questionable fit under new Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman -- best known for powerful running games -- but a return to Los Angeles can't entirely be ruled out at this juncture. If he does end up signing elsewhere, it's hard to say whether Ekeler will be deployed as a lead back or as more of a passing-down guy in a timeshare. |
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Mike Williams Mike Williams A bit ahead of schedule
Wed, Feb 7, 2024, 12:25 PM
Williams (knee) said in January that he's "slightly ahead" of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear, Omar Navarro of Chargers.com reports.
Analysis: Williams also mentioned that he liked playing in former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore's scheme, having caught 19 passes for 249 yards and a TD prior to suffering the ACL tear late in a Week 3 game. He'll have a more run-focused coordinator in Greg Roman if he's back with the Chargers in 2024 -- something that's far from assured given Williams' $20 million in non-guaranteed compensation for the final year of his contract. He had surgery Oct. 25, exactly one month after suffering the ACL injury, and it sounds like he anticipates being ready for Week 1 of 2024. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Expects breakout in 2024
Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 2:22 PM
Johnston recently said he has a "world of confidence" in himself and expects a "breakout" in 2024 under new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, ESPN.com's Kris Rhim reports.
Analysis: Johnston had a disappointing rookie season by the standards of a No. 21 overall pick, catching 38 of 67 targets (56.7 percent) for 431 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games. He had just one outing with more than six targets and none with more than seven, despite making 10 starts and playing 64.6 percent of the Chargers' offensive snaps. Johnston didn't have the best circumstances, to be fair, especially after QB Justin Herbert suffered a season-ending finger injury Week 14. The new coaching staff led by Harbaugh can't possibly be worse than what Brandon Staley and co. offered, though the change does bring about the possibility of more emphasis on the running game after four straight seasons in which Herbert averaged more than 35 pass attempts per appearance. Fellow WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (ACL) also are under contract for 2024, albeit with the possibility for the Chargers to free up $20 million or more in cap space if either is traded or released. |
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Jaret Patterson Jaret Patterson Joins Chargers
Wed, Jan 10, 2024, 6:16 PM
The Chargers signed Patterson to a reserve/future deal Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Patterson wasn't able to make his way onto the field this season, but he'll now get a chance to compete for a spot on the Chargers' 53-man roster for 2024. He probably lacks the size to ever take on a workhorse role. |
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Simi Fehoko Simi Fehoko Lands deal from Chargers
Tue, Jan 9, 2024, 9:45 PM
The Chargers signed Fehoko to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Following Mike Williams' season-ending torn ACL early in the season, Fehoko got some run on offense for the Bolts, playing in six games and catching a nine-yard touchdown on two targets. The former fifth-round pick of the Cowboys will compete for a depth job in the offseason. |
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Max Duggan Max Duggan Signs deal with Los Angeles
Tue, Jan 9, 2024, 9:43 PM
The Chargers signed Duggan to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Selected 239th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of TCU, Duggan was cut ahead of Week 1 and spent the season mostly on the Chargers' practice squad. He was called up a couple times after Justin Herbert's injury but never appeared in a game. Duggan will compete for a backup job in the offseason. |
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Elijah Dotson Elijah Dotson Stays in Los Angeles
Tue, Jan 9, 2024, 9:41 PM
The Chargers signed Dotson to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Undrafted out of North Colorado in 2023, Dotson landed with the Chargers and had a productive preseason, rushing for 18-146-2 to earn a spot on the active roster. Dotson played 16 offensive snaps in the regular season, rushing four times for six yards and catching two passes for 13 yards. He later was cut and joined the Chargers' practice squad. |
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Stone Smartt Stone Smartt Hardly involved in loss
Mon, Jan 8, 2024, 10:38 PM
Smartt caught two of his three targets for 14 yards in the 13-12 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.
Analysis: Smartt played 294 offensive snaps in 2023 often filling in for Donald Parham as the team's No. 2 tight end when the big-bodied target was injured. The second-year undrafted free agent hasn't done much in the NFL to date, and it's possibly his roster spot could be in jeopardy next season as the Chargers undergo a complete transformation in the front office and as a coaching staff. |
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Derius Davis Derius Davis Hardly used as receiver
Mon, Jan 8, 2024, 10:33 PM
Davis caught his only target for 18 yards in Sunday's 13-12 loss to the Chiefs. He also tallied three carries for 17 yards and recorded 69 kick-return yards.
Analysis: Despite all the injuries to Chargers wideouts, the 2023 fourth-round pick was merely a gadget option, as Davis had nearly as many receptions (15) as carries (14) in his pro debut. The speedy target might have been unceremoniously passed over on the depth chart by castoff receivers such as Alex Erickson, Keelan Doss and Jalen Guyton, but Davis did prove to be an effective return man, combining for 760 return yards to go along with one touchdown. Los Angeles' receiving corps could undergo a massive overhaul due to cap woes, which would leave Davis and fellow TCU target Quentin Johnston as one of the last few pass catchers standing entering the 2024 campaign. |
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