Chargers

Chargers

Player News - Chargers

Date: Team: Pos:

New Chargers pass-rusher Dwight Freeney expects to see snaps at both outside linebacker and defensive end.

"They'll run both (the 3-4 and 4-3)," Freeney said of the Chargers, who operate out of a 3-4 base. "They're willing to feature me and free me up to make plays. And they're going to put me in good matchups in the 3-4." Freeney's play slipped as a stand-up outside linebacker in Indianapolis last season, but the Chargers didn't sign him to put him in position to fail. He should get opportunities to put his hand in the dirt.
May 20 - 9:19 AM

The Union-Tribune San Diego confirms OLB Larry English is a candidate for an expanded role.

The Chargers are desperate for linebackers with Melvin Ingram (ACL surgery) out for the year. Dwight Freeney was signed on Saturday and will replace Ingram in a pass-rushing role, but English is still expected to see an increase in defensive snaps. The 16th overall pick in 2009, English has been a massive bust to this point. He had a career-low 1.5 sacks in 14 games last season.
May 18 - 9:00 PM

The Chargers could save $1.5 million against the cap by releasing Eddie Royal.

Royal and Robert Meachem were signed to multi-year contracts last spring, and both were colossal busts in 2012. Royal was always battling a hamstring injury, and he finished the season with just 23 grabs for 234 yards and a touchdown in ten games played. The Chargers have depth at receiver, and the team could use some money to go get a free agent left tackle like Max Starks.
May 18 - 4:14 PM

Chargers agreed to terms with DE/OLB Dwight Freeney, formerly of the Colts, on a two-year contract.

33-year-old Freeney recorded 12 tackles and five sacks in the Colts' 3-4 defense last season, but it wasn't a particularly strong fit for his skill set. He was expected to eye a return back to the 4-3, but money talks and the Chargers had a huge need for a pass rusher after losing Melvin Ingram to a torn ACL. Freeney should see significant snaps opposite Jarret Johnson, and the Chargers have already stated that they could tinker their defense to better suit the veteran. Freeney will not lack scheme familiarity. He played in Chuck Pagano's defense in 2012, and Chuck's brother John is the Chargers' defensive coordinator.
May 18 - 11:27 AM

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports the Chargers are closing in on a deal with free agent Dwight Freeney.

Freeney, 33, met with the Chargers on Wednesday and Thursday before skipping town without a deal. His fit in the 3-4 defense is questionable, but the Chargers are desperate for pass-rush help after losing OLB Melvin Ingram to a torn ACL. Pro Football Focus credited Freeney with 34 hurries last season.
Source: CBS Sports
May 18 - 9:15 AM

Free agent Dwight Freeney's dad says he wants to play for the Giants, but can't because they're "broke."

The Giants are up against the salary cap, but are far from "broke." It's just another indication that Freeney's asking price is out of whack. He'd fit the Giants' scheme, but the G-Men don't have a compelling need up front. Freeney left his Chargers visit without a contract, but the sides could still be talking. He doesn't have any other visits lined up.
May 17 - 9:41 AM

Free agent Dwight Freeney left his Chargers visit without a contract.

Freeney took a physical on Wednesday, and the two-day visit reportedly "went well." The Chargers are interested in adding the 33-year-old, but money is the likely hang-up in a deal. Also, there are concerns from Freeney's camp that San Diego's 3-4 defense isn't a good fit. Freeney is said to be seeking $4.25 million, and it's uncertain if he has any other visits lined up.
May 16 - 10:30 PM

Chargers signed OLB Thomas Keiser, formerly of the Panthers.

Keiser (6-foot-3, 261) was cut by the Panthers three days ago. The 24-year-old undrafted free agent out of Stanford has 4.5 career sacks in 311 defensive snaps, and he'll compete at a wafer thin outside 'backer spot in San Diego.
May 16 - 6:16 PM

Free agent Dwight Freeney's visit to San Diego is still ongoing.

Freeney arrived Wednesday and took a physical. He's staying overnight and will continue the visit Thursday, possibly to hammer out a contract. The Chargers appear desperate to get something done after losing Melvin Ingram to a torn ACL Tuesday. They will have roughly $9.5M in cap space come June 1 and Freeney recently lowered his contract demands to around $4.25M annually.
May 16 - 8:16 AM

Chargers OLB Melvin Ingram (torn ACL) will undergo surgery next week, and is expected to miss the entire 2013 season.

Dr. James Andrews will perform the operation. Even if Ingram made an Adrian Peterson-style recovery, there's almost no way he'd have a realistic chance of contributing this year. Disappointing 2009 first-rounder Larry English is a candidate to take Ingram's place in the starting lineup, but not as the edge rusher San Diego desperately needs. Free agent Dwight Freeney will visit Wednesday.
May 15 - 7:04 PM

Free agent Dwight Freeney will visit the Chargers on Wednesday.

That didn't take long. There was immediate speculation Chargers GM and former Colts VP of football operations Tom Telesco could bring in Freeney for a visit after Melvin Ingram tore his ACL on Tuesday, and now Freeney will be in Southern California less than 24 hours after Ingram went down. Complicating matters is the fact that San Diego runs a 3-4 defense, the same scheme Freeney struggled to adapt to last season. Freeney will also have to find a price he likes, something he's yet to even come close to.
May 15 - 1:36 AM

Chargers OLB Melvin Ingram suffered a torn left ACL in OTAs Tuesday.

He's almost certainly out for the season. It's a crushing blow for a Chargers' pass rush that was already perilously thin, and major setback for a player coming off a mediocre rookie campaign. The No. 18 pick of last year's draft, Ingram should be stashed on injured reserve some time in August. The only silver lining is that he'll have well over an entire calendar year to get back to 100 percent. As for the Bolts' pass rush, new GM Tom Telesco will likely at least consider making a run at free agent Dwight Freeney. Telesco was the Colts' VP of football operations before heading to Southern California. John Abraham and Israel Idonije are two other possibilities. The rush linebacker market is comically thin.
May 14 - 8:13 PM

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the Chargers "fear" second-year OLB Melvin Ingram has suffered a torn ACL.

The Union-Tribue San Diego reports Ingram will receive a "couple more opinions" before the Chargers decide what to do. A torn ACL would be a big blow for the rebuilding Bolts, who are "hopeful" the 2012 first-rounder can take a big step forward this season after they let Antwan Barnes and Shaun Phillips walk in free agency. Ingram played just 475 snaps as a rookie, notching one sack and 41 tackles. The Chargers' pass-rush is about to go from an area of need to an area of crisis.
May 14 - 7:16 PM

Jeromey Clary opened OTAs as the Chargers' starting right guard.

Clary has started 78 career games, all at right tackle. After the selection of RT D.J. Fluker with the No. 11 overall pick last month, Clary is trying to make the switch to the interior. The 29-year-old graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 14 right tackle last season, but his pass blocking has long been sub-par. The Chargers current offensive line looks like this: LT King Dunlap, LG Chad Rinehart, C Nick Hardwick, RG Clary, RT Fluker.
May 13 - 6:36 PM

The Chargers have formally converted Marcus Gilchrist to strong safety.

Gilchrist (5'10/193) is smallish for a strong safety, but he's always been a solid tackler and adds coverage skills to San Diego's backend. Strong safety has been a weak spot in the Chargers' defense since Rodney Harrison left in 2003. Gilchrist will be a major IDP sleeper should he hold off 2012 third-rounder Brandon Taylor. Taylor is a long shot coming off of a torn ACL.
May 13 - 3:44 PM


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