The Los Angeles Chargers have made some big roster moves heading into the next few games. Running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Asante Samuel have both been placed on injured reserve, which means they will be sidelined for at least the next four games. This is certainly a blow to the team as they look to maintain their winning streak.
Samuel injured his shoulder during practice before the season opener, but he toughed it out and still played. He had been dealing with the injury ever since, but it seemed like he was improving with each passing week. However, this week, things took a turn for the worse as Samuel didn’t practice on Wednesday or Friday, although he did have a full practice on Thursday.
When asked about Samuel’s injury, coach Harbaugh was his usual cryptic self. “We’ve gone over this many times, right? I’m not qualified to go into the medical details of it,” Harbaugh said in response to inquiries from ESPN’s Kris Rhim. It’s clear that the team is being cautious with Samuel’s injury, and they want to make sure he is fully recovered before he returns to the field.
The Chargers will also be without starting nickel cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, who is dealing with a fibula injury. This means that rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still will have to step up and take on more playing time. Deane Leonard and Kristian Fulton are both questionable with hamstring and knee injuries, respectively, but if they are able to play, they will be expected to start.
On the offensive side of the ball, Edwards will be sidelined with an ankle injury. This opens up an opportunity for Hassan Haskins to back up J.K. Dobbins, with Kimani Vidal set to be active for the first time this season as the third back. It will be interesting to see how the running back rotation shakes out in Edwards’ absence.
In a positive move, the Chargers have activated linebacker Nick Niemann from injured reserve, signed safety Tony Jefferson to the 53-player roster, and elevated cornerback Dicaprio Bootle from the practice squad. These additions should provide some much-needed depth and experience to the defense as they face some tough opponents in the coming weeks.
Overall, the Chargers are facing some adversity with these injuries, but they have the depth and talent to overcome these challenges. It will be crucial for the young players to step up in the absence of key starters and prove that they can compete at a high level in the NFL. The team will need to rally together and continue to push forward as they look to make a playoff push in the competitive AFC West.
