Team Report - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

The SportsXchange – 16 hours ago

INSIDE SLANT

After two preseason games, it appears the San Diego Chargers need to go back to the drawing board -- literally.
They need to formulate a protection plan.
That's not to say there have not been glimmers of sunshine during this San Diego summer, such as running back Ryan Mathews.
But among the Chargers' glaring weaknesses only eight preseason quarters into rookie coach Mike McCoy's tenure has been the ability -- or inability -- to protect the quarterback.
"The lack of protection, we really need to improve that," McCoy said Friday, confirming the obvious.
If quarterback Philip Rivers is going to shed two so-so seasons, he needs some help. But on the heels of getting sacked an AFC-high 49 times last year, the blocking has been spotty.
In 12 drop-backs during the first half of Thursday's loss to the Bears, Rivers was knocked to the ground three times. He also threw a pick. He also lost a fumble.
This isn't a good peek of what might be on the horizon for Rivers, after he turned the ball over 47 times in the last two years. Only the Jets' Mark Sanchez has more and he has been the butt of jokes.
But the Chargers aren't laughing. Even beyond protection, they have other issues.
The wide receivers' names are there on the roster, but seldom show up on the stat sheet. The Chargers went nearly the entire first half in Chicago before a wide receiver got his mitts on the ball.
The secondary has three new members and it shows.
The special teams has been dreadful.
The only good news is that McCoy and his staff have two more games to figure all this out.
Mathews at least gives them something to count on. He rushed for 45 yards on nine carries in Chicago and has been opening some eyes with the way he is hitting the hole as his line opens running lanes.
He has been among the highlights this preseason, running with conviction and a knowledge of a gravity -- he's running downhill on nearly every play.
Meantime, the team is still facing that uphill battle on trying to protect the quarterback.
NOTES, QUOTES
--Wide receiver Vincent Brown has returned to action after sitting out last season with a broken ankle. He had one catch for 9 yards and quarterback Philip Rivers said if he would have read the oncoming rush better on one of his sacks, Brown was open for a touchdown.
--Running back Ryan Mathews rushed for 45 yards on nine carries in Chicago and has been opening some eyes with the way he is hitting the hole as his line opens running lanes. "The way he ran the football, that is what we're looking for," Rivers said. Mathews is feeling confident. "I feel good, I really do," he said.
--Wide receiver Danario Alexander, who suffered a torn ACL in camp, underwent surgery in a procedure done by Dr. James Andrews. Alexander is out for the year. He was waived/injured late Friday and will be placed on injured reserve if he clears waivers.
--Wide receiver Malcom Floyd sprained his knee in camp and isn't expected to play again in the preseason. There are no guarantees he will be fit for opener against the Texans on Sept. 9. "I dodged a bullet," Floyd said, after getting tangled up with CB Shareece Wright in a one-on-one drill.
--Inside linebacker Bront Bird has been doing a decent job filling in for rookie Manti Te'o. Bird made the team last year because of his play on special teams; he could see considerable action in the base defense on early downs if Te'o is out for an extended period of time.
--Keep an eye on safety Jahleel Addae, an undrafted rookie out of Central Michigan. He has shown he has a nose for the ball and is making the most of his opportunities. His No. 37 is well known to Chargers fans, a digit once worn by All Pro Rodney Harrison.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I thought we did some good things. We moved the ball well.We just can't turn the ball over." -- QB Philip Rivers on what he took away from the team's 33-28 loss in Chicago.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Chargers announced Saturday that wide receiver Eddie Royal, who left practice Saturday in an ambulance, has a bruised lung and a concussion.
Royal fell hard to the ground while trying to make a catch during a drill. He was able to get up and walk to the trainer's area before going back down. He was treated with an oxygen tank with coach Mike McCoy, general manager Tom Telesco and teammates surrounding him.
Royal was then carted off and taken away in an ambulance that arrived on the scene.
McCoy said that Royal was having trouble breathing before he was transported to the hospital.
Royal is in his second year with the Chargers. He had 23 catches for 234 yards with a touchdown last year. He spent the first four years of his career with the Denver Broncos.
It was not immediately known how long he will be out.
The Chargers are also without wide receivers Malcom Floyd and Danario Alexander. Floyd (knee) is expected back by the start of the regular season but Alexander is on injured reserve with an ACL tear. He was placed on waivers.
Also, rookie cornerback Steve Williams is expected to miss the entire season with a torn pectoral muscle he sustained during Thursday's preseason loss to the Chicago Bears.
The Chargers signed wide receiver Seyi Ajirotutu Friday. Ajirotutu, 6-3, 215 pounds originally joined the Chargers in 2010 as an undrafted rookie from Fresno State and spent time with the Chargers during each of the 2010-12 seasons. Ajirotutu has played in 13 career games for the Chargers and he played in 14 for the Carolina Panthers in 2011. Last season, he played in three games with one start for the Bolts, catching three passes for 45 yards. For his career, Ajirotutu has 17 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns.
In March, the Chargers did not tender Ajirotut as a restricted free agent and has been unsigned throughout the entire offseason.
SURPRISE OF THE SUMMER: Running back Fozzy Whittaker. Whittaker might be the biggest beneficiary of Ken Whisenhunt being named the Chargers' offensive coordinator. Whittaker lanquished on the Cardinals' practice squad last year, but during practice it's clear he caught the eye of Whinsenhunt, then the Cards' head coach.
The Chargers brought him in as a fallback back with Ryan Mathews, Ronnie Brown and Danny Woodhead ahead of him on the depth chart. But sometimes a player produces in the summer that one has to rearrange the depth chart. Whittaker has been consistent in the two preseason games; he also has his cause aided by Woodhead and Brown being slowed by injuries. Whittaker, who was a solid running back at Texas before wrecking his knee, could be this summer's Chargers surprise. Whittaker had a touchdown run and 33 yards on nine carries against the Bears.
BATTLE OF THE WEEK: King Dunlap vs. Max Starks at left tackle
This has been the competition from the camp's onset and it remains the most watched battle.
Dunlap won and lost the starting job last year when he was in Philadelphia. But he has run with the first team basically the entire time in camp and seems to have a foot up on the job.
Starks got a start in the Chicago game, and it did not go well. Not only did he allow a sack which resulted in a lost fumble as well.
Neither player is showing the quick feet that a solid left tackle needs to have. But for now, it remains Dunlap's job to lose as Starks didn't help his cause in Thursday's loss in Chicago.
MEDICAL WATCH
--ILB Manti Te'o (foot) remains day-to-day and has yet to shed his walking boot.
--DE Corey Liuget (shoulder) could see his practice time limited this week.
--WR Malcom Floyd (knee) isn't expected to play again until Week One.
--RB Danny Woodhead (leg) didn't play against the Bears but has slowly been working himself into practice.
--RB Ronnie Brown (undisclosed) didn't play against the Bears and has been missing some practice time.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
--C/G Rex Hadnot (not tendered as UFA).
--G Reggie Wells (not tendered as UFA).

--LB Demorrio Williams (not tendered as UFA).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED (all picks signed)
--T D.J. Fluker (1/11): $11,402,498 guaranteed/4 yrs, $6,672,728 SB.
--LB Manti Te'o (2/38): $5,172,428/4 yrs, $2,141,768 SB/$3,186,878 guaranteed.
--WR Keenan Allen (3/76): $2,813,800/4 yrs, $613,800 SB.

--CB Steve Williams (5/145): $2,352, 800/4 yrs, $192,800.

--LB Tourek Williams (6/179): $2,270,060/4 yrs, $110,060 SB.
--QB Brad Sorensen (7/221); $2,219,400/4 yrs, $59,400 SB.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--WR Seyi Ajirotutu: Not tendered as RFA by Chargers; terms unknown.
--WR Danario Alexander: RFA tendered at $1.323M with no compensation); $1.323M/1 yr.
--RB Ronnie Brown: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Richard Goodman: ERFA; $630,000/1 yr.
--K Nick Novak: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
--LS Mike Windt: Potential RFA; 4 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--WR Deon Butler: Not tendered as RFA by Seahawks; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--CB Derek Cox: UFA Jaguars; $20M/4 yrs, $5.25M SB.
--T King Dunlap: UFA Eagles; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--QB Nathan Enderle: FA Titans; terms unknown.
--LB Dwight Freeney: UFA Colts; $8.75M/2 yrs, $3.25M SB/$4/75M guaranteed.
--FB Chris Gronkowski: Not tendered as RFA by Broncos; terms unknown
--LB Thomas Keiser: FA Panthers; terms unknown.
--CB William Middleton: Not tendered as UFA by Jaguars; terms unknown.
--G Rich Ohrnberger: UFA Cardinals; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--CB Johnny Patrick (waivers Saints).
--TE John Phillips: UFA Cowboys; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

--T/G Chad Rinehart: UFA Bills; terms unknown.

--T Max Starks: UFA Steelers; terms unknown.
--RB Danny Woodhead: UFA Patriots; $3.5M/2 yrs, $1M SB.
--DE Jarius Wynn: UFA Titans; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--LB Antwan Barnes: UFA Jets; $4M/3 yrs, $900,000 SB.
--RB Jackie Battle: Not tendered as UFA/Titans; terms unknown.
--S Atari Bigby (released).
--RB Curtis Brinkley: Not tendered as RFA/Bears; terms unknown.
--CB Chris Carr: Not tendered as UFA/Saints; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--CB Antoine Cason: UFA Cardinals; $1.5M/1 yr, $600,000 SB/$1M guaranteed.

--NT Aubrayo Franklin: UFA Colts; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--T Jared Gaither (released; post-June 1 designation).

--NT Antonio Garay (released).

--G Tyronne Green: UFA Patriots; terms unknown.

--LB Gary Guyton: Not tendered as UFA/Titans; terms unknown.
--CB Quentin Jammer: UFA Broncos; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--S Corey Lynch: Not tendered as UFA/Titans; terms unknown.
--DE Vaughn Martin: UFA Dolphins; $4M/2 yrs, $750,000 guaranteed..
--TE Randy McMichael (released).
--LB Shaun Phillips: UFA Broncos; $1M/1 yr.

--TE Dante Rosario: UFA Cowboys; terms unknown.

--LB Takeo Spikes (released).
--WR/KR Micheal Spurlock: Not tendered as UFA/Lions; terms unknown.
--G Louis Vasquez: UFA Broncos; $23.5M/4 yrs, $5M SB/$13M guaranteed.