Good morning.
San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon participated in 11-on-11 drills this week for the first time since his January microfracture surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Gordon showed he could cut and accelerate, but he still has problems hitting the breaks at this point in his recovery, leading some to question whether the Wisconsin product will be fully healthy for the start of training camp at the end of July.
However, in this interview with Judson Richards of Xtra 1360 Fox Sports Radio, Chargers president of football operations John Spanos said Gordon remains on schedule.
“We feel good about him being on track,” Spanos said. “Obviously, injuries are a very unfortunate part of this game. And he suffered one last year with the knee injury, and had the surgery. And when that happens, of course there’s a timetable that’s created.
“You follow along the timetable and hope that he’s where he’s supposed to be or ahead. And that’s the case here. And to his credit, he has really attacked this rehab. He’s worked very hard. He’s been in here all of the time doing extra. And so given this stage and where he’s supposed to be, I think it’s very encouraging.”
But with both Gordon and Branden Oliver (turf toe) rehabbing injuries, Spanos did not rule out the possibility of adding another running back to the mix.
“We’re always looking at ways to make our team better, regardless of what the position is,” Spanos said. “A lot of that just depends on who’s available and who’s out there. Our pro personnel department does a very thorough job of tracking, so of course it’s something we’re going to look at. Are we actively looking or is anything imminent? I wouldn’t say that’s accurate.”
My take: There’s still nearly two months before the start of training camp, so Gordon has plenty of time to get his knee right. The Chargers also have solid depth at the position with Oliver, Danny Woodhead, Dreamius Smith and Kenneth Farrow. They don’t need to bring in another player just to have a familiar name on the depth chart that most fans can recognize.
In this ESPN Insider piece, K.C. Joyner writes that Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa is one of five players who could compete for defensive rookie of the year honors in 2016. Myles Jack of the Jacksonville Jaguars tops the list.
My take: Bosa certainly will get the opportunity to compete for that award, depending on what his production is like in 2016. The Chargers will work to find ways to make sure Bosa is successful on game days.
NFL Nation examines which veteran players could be on the roster bubble for every team. For the Chargers, defensive lineman Sean Lissemore will have to fight to make the roster.
My take: A starter at nose tackle last season, Lissemore is now a rotational player with the addition of Brandon Mebane. Lissemore missed five games last season and is 29 years old, so the Chargers could look to other options. However, Lissemore’s versatility and experience could be valuable assets in San Diego’s young defensive line group.
Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune writes that after totaling 10.5 sacks in 2015, it’s time for Melvin Ingram to show last year’s performance wasn’t a fluke. “When the season starts, everyone is going to see. It’s fixing to get real,” Ingram said.
My take: It usually takes a couple seasons for pass-rushers to figure it out at the next level. If Ingram can stay healthy, he should have a repeat performance of 2015.