Chargers Camp Day 1 and 2
It's not how you start it's how you finish. With season ending injuries to Hunter Henry and Jason Verrett the 2018 Chargers training camp got off to a rough start. Today TE Austin Green joined that list of injured Chargers who didn't even make it to week 1 of the Preseason. Jason Verrett now as a Charger will have played in only 25 games out of 80 in his career. Don't cry for Verrett he will still make a whooping $8.5 million dollars this year. 25 out of 80 games and made an amazing $16,415,002.00 from the Chargers. Good riddance to bad luck.
The team also let Donavon Clark go to free up a roster spot. You thought Antonio Gates didn't you? No, it was to sign offensive lineman undrafted out of Oklahoma Erick Wren. The Antonio Gates news will likely be done in the next week. Last year, Antonio played 500 snaps and was targeted 50 times. He caught 30 balls for 3 TD's and 316 yards. He was targeted 11 times in the redzone in the 16 game season.
Camp started again with Forrest Lamp unable to practice. There is hope he can go sometime in the preseason. Brett Boyko and Derwin James have been held out as well but Derwin should be out there soon. Travis Benjamin was held out of day 2 of camp letting Nelson Spruce and undrafted FA JJ Jones take care of the returning duties.
Keenan Allen and Philip Rivers has not missed a beat from their record breaking 2017 season.
Corey Liuget and Isaac Rochelle have lost some weight and their improved play shows it so far in the two days of practice. TE Sean Cantrell has bulked up substantially gaining around 15 pounds. The TE depth chart is Virgil Green,Sean Culkin and Braedon Bowman. That very well could be Green, Gates,Culkin and Bowman week 1 vs the Chiefs.
Mike Williams in his first camp has dropped balls and caught some amazing catches as well. Dylan Cantrell has struggled badly so far in 2 days. Artavis Scott has played well on a roster deep at WR. He will need to shine on special teams to have any hope of making the 53. He's likely going to be on the practice squad. He will be joined by DB Tony Brown who has struggled so far.
Day one the Chargers played base defense and on day 2 through some nickle packages in there as well. The base defense included Adrian Phillips, Rayshawn Jenkins, Desmond King and Jaylen Watkins. Addae has played every snap at SS. Adrian Phillips has had two good days at FS.
Cole Toner and Scott Quessenberry have played well along with the entire offensive line thus far.
The surprise of camp maybe Russell Hansbrough whipping Justin Jones for the final spot as RB 3 behind Gordon and Ekeler. Jones did better today but the competition is not close thus far.
Bijohn Hines has played well and is calling the defensive plays when he is out there for the 2nd and 3rd string defense. The Chargers have 21 straight years of signing at least one undrafted free agent every year. Hines could be the 22nd player to join that exclusive list.
Brandon Facyson is clearly beating out Tony Brown for the final cornerback spot. Craig Mager will have his work cut out for him if he wants to make this Charger team in 2018.
The other surprise is Geno Smith playing much more improved over Cardale Jones. Jones has the bigger arm but Geno is the veteran and it shows on the field with him playing relaxed and making a much bigger impact than Cardale so far.
Kyzir White and Uchenna Nwosu have more than held their own playing with the 2nd string. defense.
The Chargers open up the preseason with week 1 at Arizona to play the Tre Boston and the Cardinals on August 11.
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